Zykadia (ceritinib) is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat a certain form of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in adults.

Doctors prescribe Zykadia to treat NSCLC that’s anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+). It’s used when this form of cancer is metastatic (has spread to other parts of your body).

Zykadia is typically a long-term treatment.

Here are some fast facts about Zykadia:

  • Active ingredient: ceritinib
  • Drug class: kinase inhibitor
  • Drug form: oral tablet

Like other drugs, Zykadia can cause side effects. Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of Zykadia, including details about its uses, see this article.

Zykadia can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Zykadia in clinical trials:

  • fatigue
  • reduced appetite
  • weight loss
  • digestive problems*

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Mild side effects can occur with Zykadia use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Zykadia’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Zykadia include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Zykadia and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Zykadia may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Zykadia’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Zykadia, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after using Zykadia. But this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials.

Zykadia may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

How do side effects of Zykadia and chemotherapy differ?

Zykadia and chemotherapy have some similar and some different side effects.

Chemotherapy is a traditional cancer treatment that kills cells in your body that are multiplying quickly. This includes healthy cells as well as cancer cells. Zykadia is a targeted treatment for cancer that acts more specifically on the cancer cells and has less effect on healthy cells.

Both chemotherapy and Zykadia commonly cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. Other common side effects of chemotherapy include hair loss, mouth sores, and low blood cell counts. In particular, chemotherapy often lowers your white blood cell counts, which can raise your risk of infection.

Zykadia does not cause hair loss or mouth sores, and it’s much less likely to affect your white blood cells than chemotherapy. However, like chemotherapy, Zykadia commonly causes anemia (low red blood cell count).

If you’d like to learn more about what to expect with Zykadia or chemotherapy, talk with your doctor.

Does Zykadia cause any long-term side effects?

It might. Most of Zykadia’s side effects get better in a few days or weeks. But some may last for a long time, even with treatment or after stopping Zykadia. And others may cause long-term problems.

For example, if you have liver damage or an abnormal heart rhythm, these conditions may get better with treatment or after stopping Zykadia. But in some cases, you may have long-term problems even after stopping Zykadia.

It’s not known if taking Zykadia for a long time can increase your risk of developing side effects.

If you’re concerned about long-term side effects with Zykadia, talk with your doctor.

Does anything increase my risk for side effects with Zykadia?

Yes, certain foods, medications, and conditions can increase your risk for Zykadia side effects.

You should not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking Zykadia. Grapefruit contains a compound that can affect the way your body metabolizes (breaks down) Zykadia. It can cause Zykadia to build up in your body, which can raise the risk of its side effects.

Zykadia also interacts with the medication warfarin. This interaction may put you at a higher risk of bleeding. If it’s essential that you take both medications, your doctor will check your liver function more often during treatment. They may need to adjust your dose of warfarin.

Also, taking certain medications with Zykadia can cause it to build up in your body. And certain other medications can increase your risk for heart-related side effects with Zykadia.

Before you start treatment with Zykadia, be sure to tell your doctor about any other medications you take. And always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medications in combination with Zykadia.

To read more about health conditions that may increase your risk for side effects with Zykadia, see “Precautions for Zykadia” below.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Zykadia may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Zykadia.

Heart-related side effects

Rarely, Zykadia might affect your heart. In clinical trials, the following side effects were reported rarely with Zykadia:

Symptoms of these heart problems can include:

  • dizziness
  • lightheadedness
  • fainting
  • chest pain
  • feeling as if your heart is racing, pounding, or fluttering
  • slow heartbeat

If you have an electrolyte imbalance in your body, Zykadia can raise your risk of QT prolongation. Electrolyte imbalance can be due to severe vomiting or diarrhea, which are other possible side effects of Zykadia. See “Digestive problems” below to learn more about these side effects.

You may also have a raised risk of heart-related side effects with Zykadia if you already have certain heart problems. Examples of these include long QT syndrome, heart failure, and a slow or irregular heartbeat.

Taking Zykadia in combination with certain other medications can raise your risk of QT prolongation. Examples of these medications include diuretics, certain antipsychotics, and certain drugs that treat an irregular heartbeat.

Also, taking Zykadia along with other medications that slow down your heart rate can raise your risk of bradycardia. Examples of these medications include beta-blockers, digoxin (Lanoxin), and ivabradine (Corlanor).

What you can do

If you have a heart problem or take other medications, talk with your doctor about your risk for heart-related side effects with Zykadia. They can determine if this medication is likely to be safe for you.

During treatment with Zykadia, your doctor may want to check your heart rhythm from time to time with an EKG. They may also order blood tests to monitor your electrolyte levels.

If you have symptoms of heart problems while taking Zykadia, see your doctor right away. But if your symptoms feel life-threatening, call 911 or your local emergency number.

If you have a problem with your heart rhythm or electrolyte levels, your doctor may ask you to stop taking Zykadia temporarily. If the problem gets better, your doctor may ask you to restart Zykadia at a lower dose than you were taking before. But in some cases, you may need to stop Zykadia permanently.

Digestive problems

You may have digestive problems while taking Zykadia. These problems can include:

In clinical trials, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea were the most common side effects reported with Zykadia. Other digestive symptoms were also common, but less so.

For most people, digestive problems are mild and easily managed. But for some people, these side effects can be severe.

Severe vomiting and diarrhea can lead to fluid loss, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance. This can increase your risk of heart-related side effects with Zykadia. See above to read more about this side effect.

What you can do

To help reduce your risk of digestive problems with Zykadia, it’s important to take your daily dose with food.

Nausea or vomiting

If you have nausea or vomiting that’s bothersome, severe, or makes you unable to eat or drink, talk with your doctor. They’ll likely recommend an over-the-counter or prescription anti-sickness medication.

Note that if you vomit after taking a dose of Zykadia, you shouldn’t take another dose. Just take your next dose as scheduled.

Diarrhea

If you have diarrhea with Zykadia, it’s important to drink plenty of fluids to avoid getting dehydrated. Oral rehydration salts, such as Pedialyte, can be helpful. These contain electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, that your body can lose with diarrhea. If you’re unable to drink fluids, talk with your doctor.

For diarrhea that’s bothersome, severe, or lasts longer than 2 to 3 days, talk with your doctor. They’ll likely recommend taking a medication, such as Imodium (loperamide), to help stop the diarrhea.

If you have other bothersome digestive problems while taking Zykadia, talk with your doctor. For digestive problems that do not improve with medication, your doctor may have you stop taking Zykadia temporarily. When your symptoms get better, your doctor may restart your Zykadia treatment at a lower dose than you were taking before.

Liver problems

You may have liver problems while taking Zykadia. In clinical trials, raised liver enzymes were commonly reported with this medication. However, it was rare for a person to stop Zykadia treatment because of liver problems.

Liver enzymes are proteins in your liver that help your liver work properly. If cells in your liver are damaged, liver enzymes can leak into your blood. Doctors measure levels of liver enzymes in your blood to check the health of your liver. If you have increased liver enzymes, this suggests you may have damage to your liver or other liver problems.

Symptoms of liver problems may include:

What you can do

While you take Zykadia, your doctor will order blood tests to check your liver enzymes at least once per month. These tests are called liver function tests. Be sure to keep your appointments for these tests.

If you have symptoms of liver problems while taking Zykadia, talk with your doctor. They may order extra liver function tests.

If your doctor thinks Zykadia may be affecting your liver, they may ask you to stop taking it temporarily. If your liver function improves, your doctor may ask you to restart Zykadia at a lower dose than you were taking before. But if you have severe liver problems, you may need to stop treatment with Zykadia permanently.

Lung problems

Zykadia may rarely cause lung problems, such as interstitial lung disease and pneumonitis. These conditions cause inflammation and scarring in your lungs. They can be serious or even life threatening. In clinical trials, these lung problems were rare with Zykadia.

Symptoms of these lung side effects can be similar to symptoms of lung cancer, which doctors prescribe Zykadia to treat. These symptoms may include:

What you can do

If you have new or worsening lung symptoms such as those listed above, see your doctor right away.

If your doctor thinks that Zykadia is causing your lung problems, they’ll likely have you switch to a different treatment for your lung cancer.

Photosensitivity

Taking Zykadia may cause photosensitivity in some people. Photosensitivity is where your skin becomes more sensitive to sunlight or UV light. This can make it easier to get sunburn. However, in clinical trials, photosensitivity was rare with Zykadia.

Symptoms of sunburn can include:

  • redness or deepening of skin color
  • feeling of warmth or tightness in your skin
  • swollen skin
  • skin that’s painful to touch
  • itching
  • skin blistering or peeling

What you can do

To help avoid getting a sunburn while taking Zykadia, you should avoid spending time in the sun and using sunlamps and tanning beds. You should also wear clothing to protect your skin, such as long sleeves, pants, and a hat. Using a high protection factor sunscreen can also help.

If you get sunburn, you can relieve discomfort by applying cooling and moisturizing gels or creams, such as aloe vera. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to recommend a suitable product.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Zykadia can cause an allergic reaction in some people. But this side effect was not reported in clinical trials.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your lips, eyelids, feet, or hands
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Zykadia. But if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Zykadia. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Digestive problems. Zykadia can cause digestive problems such as diarrhea and nausea or vomiting. If you have digestive problems while taking Zykadia, your doctor may have you stop taking the medication temporarily. When you have your symptoms under control, your doctor may restart your Zykadia treatment at a lower dose than you were taking before.

Liver problems. Zykadia can sometimes affect your liver function. If you already have liver problems, Zykadia could make them worse. Talk with your doctor about whether Zykadia is right for you. If you do take Zykadia, your doctor may prescribe a dosage that is lower than usual.

Heart problems. Zykadia can sometimes cause heart-related side effects. You may have a higher risk for these side effects if you already have certain heart problems. Examples of these include long QT syndrome, heart failure, and a slow or irregular heartbeat. If you have a heart problem, talk with your doctor about whether Zykadia is right for you.

Diabetes. Zykadia may cause hyperglycemia (high blood sugar level). If you have diabetes, this could make your blood sugar harder to manage. Talk with your doctor about when you need to get your blood sugar levels checked. If you have high blood sugar with Zykadia, your doctor may need to adjust your diabetes treatment.

Pancreatitis. Zykadia may cause pancreatitis (inflammation of your pancreas). If you’ve had pancreatitis in the past, you may have a raised risk for this side effect. If you already have pancreatitis, Zykadia could make it worse. Talk with your doctor about whether Zykadia is right for you.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Zykadia or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Zykadia. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Alcohol use with Zykadia

Alcohol does not interact with Zykadia. However, if you have digestive problems such as nausea or diarrhea with Zykadia drinking alcohol could make these worse. Alcohol could also worsen side effects such as fatigue, dizziness, or headache that you may have with Zykadia.

Also, both alcohol and Zykadia can cause liver problems. Drinking alcohol while taking Zykadia could increase your risk of liver problems.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much (if any) is safe to drink while taking Zykadia.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Zykadia

Zykadia is not safe to take during pregnancy. If you are able to become pregnant, your doctor will want you to have a pregnancy test to make sure you’re not pregnant before you start taking Zykadia.

Females* who can become pregnant should use birth control while taking Zykadia and for 6 months after stopping treatment. Males* with a sexual partner who can become pregnant should use condoms while taking Zykadia and for 3 months after stopping treatment.

If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

You should not breastfeed while taking Zykadia and for 2 weeks after your last dose. If you’re breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about other healthy ways to feed your child while taking Zykadia.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the terms “male” and “female” in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.

As with many cancer treatments, it’s common to have some side effects with Zykadia. Side effects are usually mild, but some can be more serious.

If you’d like to learn more about Zykadia, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.