How to take LONSURF

Dosing

LONSURF tablets, whether prescribed alone or along with bevacizumab, are swallowed whole (not crushed, split, or chewed):

Twice a day with food

The type of food does not matter

LONSURF comes in 2 strengths: 15‍-‍mg and 20‍-‍mg tablets

Actual tablet size is 7 mm for 15‍-‍mg dose.

Actual tablet size is 8 mm for 20‍-‍mg dose.

Tablets shown are not actual size.

LONSURF 28-day dosing schedule

You will take LONSURF twice a day (with morning and evening meals) for 5 days, and then rest for the next 2 days. This goes on for 2 weeks. Then you will not take LONSURF for 2 weeks (14 days). This completes the 28‍-‍day LONSURF treatment cycle
This is repeated for as long as your healthcare provider says. Always follow all of your healthcare provider's directions carefully

For the majority of patients with colorectal cancer, LONSURF may be prescribed to be used with bevacizumab. Bevacizumab is given as an infusion once every 2 weeks (on days 1 and 15 of your LONSURF treatment cycle) by a doctor or nurse.

Tracking your treatment with LONSURF

Treatment calendar for LONSURF with or without bevacizumab (if prescribed)

Your healthcare provider may prescribe a morning and evening daily dose of LONSURF that requires you to take a combination of 15‍-‍mg and 20‍-‍mg tablets at the same time.

Use the personalized treatment calendar below to help you organize your treatment schedule and keep track of your therapy. Your healthcare provider may give you a treatment calendar as well.

See more dosage directions

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Other things to keep in mind about taking LONSURF

Make sure your caregiver wears gloves when handling LONSURF
Note that there is a packet inside the bottle that helps absorb moisture. Do not swallow this material
Keep LONSURF out of the reach of children
Store LONSURF at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F (20°C to 25°C)
Don't store LONSURF with other medicines. Keep LONSURF in its own container
If you store your tablets outside of the original container, any unused LONSURF tablets should be disposed of after 30 days
Wash your hands after handling LONSURF. Even though it is a pill, it is still chemotherapy

Contact your healthcare provider if:

You miss a dose. Do not take additional doses to make up for the missed dose. Call your healthcare provider for instructions about what to do for a missed dose
You have leftover tablets. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist will tell you how to dispose of them properly

Create your personalized LONSURF treatment calendar

With this simple tool, you can create and print a personalized LONSURF treatment calendar where you can organize your treatment schedule and track your doses, temperature, and any side effects you experience. Make sure to share your calendar with your healthcare provider at your next appointment.

Note: If your doctor changes your LONSURF dosage, be sure to create a new treatment calendar.

Steps for entering your doses into your calendar

LONSURF comes in 2 strengths: 15‑mg and 20‑mg tablets. Your healthcare provider may have to prescribe a combination of both strengths for you in order to achieve your specific dose. Make sure to enter the number of tablets of each strength in the appropriate boxes below for your morning and evening doses even if that number is zero. Remember to carefully follow your healthcare provider's instructions regarding your LONSURF therapy.

Step 1:

Select your start date.

Start Date

Step 2: To enter your morning dose, select the number of 15‑mg and 20‑mg tablets you take in the morning (one number can be zero).

Morning Dose 15-mg Tablets

Morning Dose 20-mg Tablets

Step 3: To enter your evening dose, select the number of 15‑mg and 20‑mg tablets you take in the evening (one number can be zero). For most people, the morning and evening doses will be the same but for a few they may be different.

Evening Dose 15-mg Tablets

Evening Dose 20-mg Tablets

Step 4: If you are taking LONSURF together with bevacizumab (also referred to by the brand name Avastin^®), check this box.

Add bevacizumab to calendar

Step 5: Select “Create Calendar.” Open up the pdf of the calendar to make sure your doses have been entered correctly. Then print.

During your treatment with LONSURF, your healthcare provider may need to change your treatment plan. These changes are often made to help address certain side effects.

LEARN MORE

Indications and Important Safety Information

INDICATIONS

LONSURF is a prescription medicine used:

alone or in combination with the medicine bevacizumab to treat adults with colorectal cancer:
- that has spread to other parts of the body, and
- who have been previously treated with certain chemotherapy medicines
alone to treat adults with a kind of stomach cancer called gastric cancer including adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction:
- that has spread to other parts of the body, and
- who have been previously treated with at least 2 types of treatment which included certain medicines

It is not known if LONSURF is safe and effective in children.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

LONSURF may cause serious side effects, including:

Low blood counts. Low blood counts are common with LONSURF and can sometimes be severe and life-threatening. LONSURF can cause a decrease in your white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Low white blood cells can make you more likely to get serious infections that could lead to death. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests before you receive LONSURF, at day 15 during treatment with LONSURF, and as needed to check your blood cell counts. Your healthcare provider may lower your dose of LONSURF or stop LONSURF if you have low white blood cell or platelet counts

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs and symptoms of infection during treatment with LONSURF: fever, chills, or body aches.

Before taking LONSURF, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

Have kidney or liver problems
Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. LONSURF can harm your unborn baby
- Females who can become pregnant: Your healthcare provider will do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with LONSURF. You should use effective birth control during and 6 months after the last dose of treatment with LONSURF. Tell your healthcare provider immediately if you become pregnant
- Males, while on treatment and for 3 months after your last dose of LONSURF, you should use a condom during sex with female partners who are able to become pregnant. Tell your healthcare provider right away if your partner becomes pregnant while you are taking LONSURF
Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if LONSURF passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with LONSURF and for 1 day after your last dose of LONSURF

Tell your healthcare provider about all the prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements you take.

The most common side effects of LONSURF when used alone include low blood counts, tiredness and weakness, nausea, decreased appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach-area (abdominal) pain, and fever.

The most common side effects of LONSURF when used in combination with bevacizumab include low blood counts, tiredness and weakness, nausea, certain abnormal liver function blood tests, decreased salt (sodium) in your blood, diarrhea, stomach-area (abdominal) pain, and decreased appetite.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that is severe or that does not go away.

These are not all of the possible side effects of LONSURF. For more information, ask your healthcare provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information.