Asciminib (Scemblix®)

Asciminib comes as tablets you take at home. During treatment, you usually see a:

• blood cancer doctor (haematologist)
• cancer nurse or specialist nurse
• specialist pharmacist.

This is who we mean when we mention doctor, nurse or pharmacist in this information.

During treatment, a nurse or person trained to take blood (phlebotomist) will take regular blood samples from you. This is to check that it is safe for you to keep taking your treatment.

You will speak to a doctor, nurse or pharmacist regularly during treatment. They will ask how you have been feeling and check your blood results are okay.

The nurse or pharmacist will give you the tablets to take home. Always take them exactly as explained. This is important to make sure they work as well as possible for you. You may be given tablets of different strengths.

You take asciminib once or twice a day. Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist will explain how, and when, to take the tablets. Try to take them at the same time every day. 

You should not take asciminib with food. Take the tablets at least 2 hours after eating, then wait at least 1 hour before eating again. Swallow them whole with a glass of water. Do not break, chew or crush them. Take them at the same time every day.

If you forget to take your tablets, do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.

• If you take your tablets once a day and you forget to take a dose, take them as soon as you remember. But if you are more than 12 hours late taking a dose, skip the dose and take your next dose at the usual time. 
• If you take your tablets twice a day and you forget to take a dose, take them as soon as you remember. But if you are more than 6 hours late taking a dose, skip the dose and take your next dose at the usual time. 
• If you are sick just after taking the tablets, do not take another dose. Take the next dose at the usual time.

Other things to remember about your tablets:

• Wash your hands after taking your them.
• Other people should avoid direct contact with them.
• Keep them in the original package and at room temperature, away from moisture, heat and direct sunlight.
• Keep them safe, somewhere children cannot see or reach them. 
• If your treatment is stopped, return any unused tablets to the pharmacist.

This treatment may contain lactose. If you have a lactose allergy or intolerance, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for more information.

This treatment can reduce the number of white blood cells in your blood. These cells fight infection. If your white blood cell count is low, you may be more likely to get an infection. A low white blood cell count is called neutropenia.

An infection can be very serious when the number of white blood cells is low. It is important to get any infection treated as soon as possible. If you have any of the following symptoms, contact the hospital straight away on the 24-hour number:

• a temperature above 37.5°C 
• a temperature below 36°C
• you feel unwell, even with a normal temperature
• you have symptoms of an infection.

Symptoms of an infection include:

• feeling shivery and shaking
• a sore throat
• a cough
• breathlessness
• diarrhoea
• needing to pass urine (pee) often, or discomfort when you pass urine.

It is important to follow any specific advice your cancer treatment team gives you.

You will have regular blood tests during treatment. If your white blood cell count is low, your doctor may stop your treatment for a short time, until your cell count increases. Sometimes they will reduce the dose of your treatment.

This treatment can reduce the number of platelets in your blood. Platelets are cells that help the blood to clot.

If the number of platelets is low, you may bruise or bleed easily. You may have:

• nosebleeds
• bleeding gums
• heavy periods
• blood in your urine (pee) or stools (poo)
• tiny red, brown or purple spots that may look like a rash – these spots can be harder to see if you have black or brown skin. 

If you have any unexplained bruising or bleeding, contact the hospital straight away on the 24-hour number. You may need a drip to give you extra platelets. This is called a platelet transfusion.

This treatment can reduce the number of red blood cells in your blood. Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body. If the number of red blood cells is low, this is called anaemia. You may feel:

• very low in energy
• breathless 
• dizzy and light-headed. 

If you have these symptoms, contact the hospital straight away on the 24-hour number. You may need treatment for anaemia. If you are very anaemic, you may need a drip to give you extra red blood cells. This is called a blood transfusion.

You may get mild pain in your tummy (abdomen) or have indigestion. Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can give you drugs to help improve these symptoms.

Sometimes tummy pain can be a sign of a more serious problem called pancreatitis. Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if the pain gets worse or does not get better.

This treatment can cause inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). You will have regular blood tests to check your pancreas.

Contact the hospital straight away on the 24-hour telephone number you have been given if you have any of these symptoms:

• severe pain in the centre of your tummy area (upper abdomen)
• tenderness or swelling of the tummy
• fast heartbeat (tachycardia)
• rapid breathing
• a temperature of 37.5°C or more (fever)
• yellow skin or eyes
• feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
• indigestion.

This treatment may affect how your liver works. You will have regular blood tests to check how well your liver is working. 

This treatment may cause diarrhoea. Diarrhoea means passing more stools (poo) than is normal for you, or having watery or loose stools. You may also have stomach cramps. If you have a stoma, it may be more active than usual. 

If you are passing loose stools 3 or more times a day and this is not normal for you, contact the hospital as soon as possible on the 24-hour number. Follow the advice they give you about:

• taking anti-diarrhoea medicines 
• drinking enough fluids to keep you hydrated and to replace lost salts and minerals
• any changes to your diet that might help. 

They might also ask you for a specimen of your stool to check for infection.

You may feel sick with this treatment. Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist may prescribe you anti-sickness drugs to help prevent or control sickness. Take the drugs exactly as they tell you to. If you feel sick, take small sips of fluid often and eat small amounts regularly. It is important to drink enough fluids.

If you continue to feel sick, or if you are sick (vomit) 1 to 2 times in 24 hours, contact the hospital on the 24-hour number as soon as possible. They will give you advice. 

You may get pain in your muscles or joints during treatment. If this happens, tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. They can give you painkillers and advice. They can also tell you if any of the painkillers you usually take are suitable.

Tell them if the pain does not get better. Having warm baths and resting regularly may help.

Feeling tired is a common side effect of this treatment. Try to pace yourself and plan your day so you have time to rest. Gentle exercise, like short walks, can help you feel less tired. If you feel sleepy, do not drive or operate machinery.

This treatment can affect your appetite. Don’t worry if you do not eat much for 1 or 2 days. But if your appetite does not come back after a few days, or if you are losing weight, tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. They can give you advice. They may give you food or drink supplements. Or they may suggest changes to your diet or eating habits to help.

This treatment may affect your skin. It might feel dry. You may develop a rash, which may be itchy. Always tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about any skin changes. They can give you advice or prescribe creams or medicines to help.

If your skin feels dry, try using soap-free cleansers and unperfumed moisturising cream every day.

This treatment can cause changes to the lungs. It can sometimes cause fluid to build up in the lining of the lungs. This is called pleural effusion. Tell your doctor if you develop:  

• a cough that does not go away
• wheezing 
• breathlessness. 

You should also tell them if any existing breathing problems get worse. You may have tests to check your lungs. 

This treatment can cause a build-up of fluid in the body. This will slowly get better after treatment ends. Contact the hospital on the 24-hour number if you:

• are gaining weight 
• have swelling in your face, legs or ankles.

They can give you advice and treatment to help.

This treatment can raise the level of cholesterol. This is a fatty substance in the blood. You may have a blood test to check the level of cholesterol. Your doctor may refer you to a dietitian for advice on diet, or prescribe medicines to control your cholesterol levels.

Cancer and some cancer treatments can increase the risk of a blood clot. Contact the hospital straight away on the 24-hour number if you have any of these symptoms during or after treatment:

• throbbing pain or swelling in a leg or arm
• reddening of the skin in the area – if you have black or brown skin, this can be harder to notice, but the skin might become darker
• suddenly feeling breathless or coughing.

Always call 999 if you have:

• chest pain
• difficulty breathing.

A blood clot is serious, but it can be treated with drugs called anticoagulants. These thin the blood. Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can give you more information about preventing and treating blood clots.

Some medicines can affect how this treatment works or be harmful while you are having it. Always tell your cancer doctor, nurse or pharmacist about any drugs you are taking or planning to take, such as: 

• medicines you have been prescribed
• medicines you buy in a shop, pharmacy or online
• vitamins or supplements 
• herbal drugs and complementary or homeopathic therapies
• recreational drugs – for example, cannabis.

Doctors usually recommend that people with cancer have vaccinations for flu and for coronavirus (covid). These help reduce your risk of serious illness from these infections. Most people can have these vaccines, including people with weak immune systems.

If your immune system is weak, you should not have live vaccinations. Live vaccines can make you unwell because they contain a very weak version of the illness they will protect you against. Live vaccines include Zostavax^®, which is a shingles vaccine, and the yellow fever vaccine.

It is important to ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice about having vaccinations. They can explain what vaccines are right for you and when it is best to have them.

If you have had a liver infection called hepatitis B in the past, this treatment can make it active again. Your doctor or nurse will talk to you about this. They will test you for hepatitis B.

Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist will advise you not to get pregnant or make someone pregnant while having this treatment and for some time afterwards. The drugs may harm a developing baby. It is important to use contraception to prevent pregnancy. Follow their advice about:

• what types of contraception to use 
• how long after treatment you should continue to use contraception. 

You are advised not to breastfeed while having this treatment, or for some time after treatment ends. This is because the drugs could be passed to the baby through breast milk. 

Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can give you more information.

Some cancer drugs can affect whether you can get pregnant or make someone pregnant. If you are worried about this, it is important to talk with your doctor before you start treatment.

If you need medical treatment for any reason other than cancer, always tell the healthcare professional that you are having cancer treatment. Give them the contact details for your cancer doctor or cancer team so they can ask for advice.

If you have appointments with a dentist, always tell them you are having cancer treatment. Talk to your cancer team before you have any dental treatment.