Description and Brand Names
Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®
US Brand Name
- Brukinsa
Descriptions
Zanubrutinib is used to treat mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) in patients who have received at least one previous treatment for their cancer. This medicine is also used to treat Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM). It is also used to treat marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) that has come back (relapsed) or did not respond to the treatment (refractory) in patients who have received at least one previous treatment (eg, anti-CD20-based treatment). This medicine is also used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).
Zanubrutinib is also used in combination with obinutuzumab to treat follicular lymphoma (FL) that has come back or did not respond to the treatment in patients who have received at least 2 previous treatments.
Zanubrutinib is an antineoplastic agent (cancer medicine). It interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed by the body.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Before Using
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of zanubrutinib in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Geriatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of zanubrutinib in the elderly.
Breastfeeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
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Adagrasib
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Apalutamide
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Aprepitant
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Asciminib
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Atazanavir
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Avacopan
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Belzutifan
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Berotralstat
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Boceprevir
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Bosentan
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Carbamazepine
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Ceritinib
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Ciprofloxacin
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Clarithromycin
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Cobicistat
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Conivaptan
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Crizotinib
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Cyclosporine
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Dabigatran Etexilate
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Dabrafenib
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Daridorexant
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Diltiazem
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Dronedarone
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Efavirenz
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Enasidenib
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Enzalutamide
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Erythromycin
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Ethinyl Estradiol
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Etonogestrel
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Etravirine
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Fentanyl
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Fluconazole
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Fluvoxamine
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Fosnetupitant
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Fosphenytoin
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Givinostat
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Idelalisib
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Imatinib
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Indinavir
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Itraconazole
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Ketoconazole
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Lanreotide
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Letermovir
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Lonafarnib
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Lopinavir
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Lorlatinib
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Lumacaftor
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Mavacamten
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Mavorixafor
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Mitapivat
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Mitotane
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Mobocertinib
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Modafinil
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Morphine
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Morphine Sulfate Liposome
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Nafcillin
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Nefazodone
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Nelfinavir
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Netupitant
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Nilotinib
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Nirogacestat
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Octreotide
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Palbociclib
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Phenobarbital
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Phenytoin
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Posaconazole
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Primidone
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Repotrectinib
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Ribociclib
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Rifabutin
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Rifampin
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Ritonavir
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Saquinavir
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Selpercatinib
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Sotorasib
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St John's Wort
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Taurursodiol
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Telaprevir
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Telithromycin
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Tenofovir Alafenamide
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Tocilizumab
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Tovorafenib
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Tucatinib
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Verapamil
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Vonoprazan
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Voriconazole
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Voxelotor
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
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Bleeding problems or
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Heart rhythm problems (eg, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter) or
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Hypertension (high blood pressure) or
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Liver disease—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
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Infection (eg, hepatitis B, herpes simplex, pneumonia)—May decrease your body's ability to fight an infection.
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Liver disease, severe—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.
Proper Use
Medicines used to treat cancer are very strong and can have many side effects. Before using this medicine, make sure you understand all the risks and benefits. It is important for you to work closely with your doctor during your treatment.
Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.
This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
Swallow the capsule whole with a glass of water. Do not open, crush, break, or chew it.
You may take this medicine with or without food.
Dosing
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
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For oral dosage form (capsules):
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For mantle cell lymphoma, Waldenström macroglobulinemia, marginal zone lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), and follicular lymphoma (FL):
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Adults—The usual dose is 160 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day or 320 mg once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated.
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Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
Precautions
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. If you can get pregnant, your doctor may give you a pregnancy test before you start using this medicine to make sure you are not pregnant. Female patients should use an effective form of birth control during treatment and for 1 week after the last dose. Male patients should use an effective form of birth control during treatment and for 1 week after the last dose to prevent pregnancy in a sexual partner. If you think a pregnancy has occurred with this medicine, tell your doctor right away.
This medicine may cause bleeding problems. Check with your doctor right away if you have bloody or black, tarry stools, red or dark brown urine, severe stomach pain, unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness, or vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.
Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before and after having surgery.
Zanubrutinib may lower the number of some types of blood cells in your body. Because of this, you may bleed or get infections more easily. To help with these problems, avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Wash your hands often. Stay away from rough sports or other situations where you could be bruised, cut, or injured. Brush and floss your teeth gently. Be careful when using sharp objects, including razors and fingernail clippers.
Using this medicine may increase your risk of getting new cancers, including skin cancer. Avoid sun exposure. Use a sunscreen when you are outdoors. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.
This medicine may cause heart rhythm problems (eg, atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation). Check with your doctor right away if you have a fast or irregular heartbeat, trouble breathing, lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting.
Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem (eg, drug-induced liver injury).
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
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Black, tarry stools
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bladder pain
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bleeding gums
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bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
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bloody or cloudy urine
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blurred vision
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body aches or pain
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chest pain or tightness
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chills
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cough
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coughing up blood
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decreased urine
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difficult, burning, or painful urination
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difficulty in breathing or swallowing
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dizziness
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dry mouth
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ear congestion
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fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
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fever
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frequent urge to urinate
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headache
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increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding
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increased thirst
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large, flat, blue, or purplish patches in the skin
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loss of appetite
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loss of voice
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lower back or side pain
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mood changes
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muscle pain or cramps
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nausea or vomiting
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nervousness
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nosebleeds
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numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
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painful or difficult urination
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pale skin
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paralysis
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pinpoint red spots on the skin
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pounding in the ears
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prolonged bleeding from cuts
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runny or stuffy nose
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seizures
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sneezing
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sore throat
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sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
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swollen glands
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unusual bleeding or bruising
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unusual tiredness or weakness
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unusual weight gain or loss
Incidence not known
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Dark urine
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stomach pain, severe
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yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
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Constipation
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diarrhea
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rash
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Portions of this document last updated: Aug. 01, 2024
Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/ar/drugs-supplements/zanubrutinib-oral-route/proper-use/drg-20477009