If you have certain cancers, your doctor might suggest Xalkori as a treatment option. It’s a prescription drug used to treat certain kinds of:

You will take Xalkori long term until your side effects become too bad or your cancer gets worse.

You can take Xalkori as a capsule. It has the active ingredient crizotinib. An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.

For more information about Xalkori, including details about its uses, see this in-depth article on the drug.

Xalkori can cause mild to serious side effects. The drug is not recommended for pregnant women due to the risk of harm. There are other medical conditions that can increase your risk of side effects. Continue reading to learn more.

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during Xalkori treatment. These side effects are common and can vary depending on whether the drug is used for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Xalkori in studies. Other mild and serious side effects are discussed in greater detail below.

People taking Xalkori for NSCLC have more common side effects.

People taking Xalkori for ALCL have more common side effects.

The side effects explained section is where you can learn more about this side effect.

Like most medications, Xalkori can cause mild side effects. Most people who took Xalkori in studies had at least one mild side effect, but were usually able to continue treatment.

Mild side effects have been reported with Xalkori.

* Rarely, changes in liver function tests can be a sign of liver damage. To learn more about Xalkori and liver damage, see “Side effect details” below.

These side effects should be temporary. Some may be easy to manage. If you have any symptoms that bother you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Unless your doctor recommends it, you should not stop taking Xalkori.

Xalkori may cause mild side effects other than those listed above. See the Xalkori prescribing information for details.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Xalkori, visit MedWatch.

There are serious side effects with Xalkori treatment. Some of these are more common than others, and some can be different depending on the condition the drug is being taken to treat.

There have been serious side effects reported with Xalkori.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Xalkori, call your doctor. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you have a medical emergency, immediately call the emergency number.

The side effects explained section is where you can learn more about this side effect.
† An allergic reaction is possible after taking Xalkori, but it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in studies.

Xalkori is prescribed for children and young adults (up to age 21 years) to treat a kind of cancer called anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). In studies of the drug, side effects for treating ALCL didn’t differ greatly from those for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in adults. But there were a few differences.

Hypotension (low blood pressure) is a unique side effect reported in children and young adults in the ALCL studies. This side effect wasn’t reported in adults who took Xalkori for treating NSCLC.

Severe stomach and digestive problems were reported in children and young adults who took Xalkori for ALCL. These included severe There is a lot of diarrhea., nausea, vomiting, and There are There are mouth sores...

Finally, blood clots, including pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs), were more common in children and young adults taking Xalkori.

“If you want to learn more about the drug’s side effects in children, you should talk to your child’s doctor. You can learn more about lung problems in the side effects explained section.”

There are some side effects Xalkori may cause.

Ocular side effects

Xalkori can cause eye-related side effects. There are both mild and serious eye-related side effects with this drug.

Mild eye-related side effects are among the most common side effects reported in Xalkori’s studies. These include:

Xalkori can cause eye-related side effects that are rarely severe. Damage to your eye nerves can cause vision loss.

During the first week of taking Xalkori, eye-related side effects are most likely to occur. They can happen at any time during treatment.

What might help

Your doctor will have you have an eye exam before you start treatment. If you develop eye-related side effects from the drug, this provides information about your eye health. Within the first month of treatment, they will order an eye exam for you. You will get eye exams at least every 3 months for as long as you take Xalkori.

If you notice eye-related side effects while taking Xalkori, contact your doctor. If your symptoms are mild or moderate, your doctor may lower your dose of the drug. They may refer you to a specialist.

If you have a lot of symptoms, your doctor will recommend that you stop taking Xalkori. They will look at your symptoms to see if something else is causing them. If they find that the drug is the cause of your eye problems, they will likely stop you from taking Xalkori permanently.

Lung problems

Lung problems are possible with Xalkori treatment and may be severe. But these weren’t common in the drug’s studies. Lung problems that were reported include:

The most common of these conditions are in the first 3 months of taking Xalkori.

Lung problems caused by Xalkori can be life threatening.

Symptoms of lung problems caused by this drug can be similar to those caused by lung cancer. This includes the kind of non-small cell lung cancer Xalkori is used to treat. These symptoms include:

What might help

“If you notice lung problems while taking Xalkori, you should call your doctor. They will want to see you evaluate your symptoms. Depending on your doctor’s findings, they may have you stop taking Xalkori permanently. If you have a lot of symptoms, you may need to go to the hospital. Your doctor will help you decide on the best treatment for lung cancer.”

Abnormal heart rhythm

Abnormal heart rhythm is a serious side effect Xalkori may cause.

There were two specific kinds of abnormal heart rhythm reported in the drug’s studies:

“These heart rhythm problems don’t cause symptoms. It is possible you may notice some.”

What might help

Doctors may not prescribe Xalkori if they have a risk of abnormal heart rhythm. If you:

The time it takes your heart to contract is the QT interval.

If you have any of the above conditions and your doctor prescribes Xalkori for you, they’ll monitor your heart health closely during treatment. This will include checking your heart rate and blood pressure regularly.

If you notice a heart rhythm abnormality while taking Xalkori, contact your doctor. They will probably ask you to come in so they can look at your symptoms. Depending on their findings, they may.

  • If your symptoms go away, lower your dose of Xalkori.
  • temporarily or permanently stop your treatment.
  • A treatment for the abnormal heart rhythm.

Liver damage

While rare, it’s possible to have liver damage as a side effect of Xalkori. This can be severe or life threatening in rare cases.

Changes in liver function tests, which can be a sign of liver damage, are most common during the first 2 months of treatment. But liver-related side effects can occur at any time while you’re taking Xalkori.

“Changes in the function of the liver don’t usually cause symptoms. Below is a synopsis of how your doctor will monitor these results. You may notice symptoms if you have Xalkori damage.”

What might help

Your doctor will order blood tests to check your liver function while you’re taking Xalkori. Specifically, you’ll have these tests every 2 weeks for your first 2 months of treatment. Then your doctor will order them once each month and any other time as needed.

Your doctor may have you if the results of your tests are positive.

  • temporarily stop treatment with Xalkori until your liver function levels improve.
  • Xalkori should be stopped permanently.

If you notice symptoms of damage to the bile duct, contact your doctor. They will want to examine you in person. If they confirm you have damage to the bile duct, you will likely stop taking Xalkori permanently.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Xalkori can cause an allergic reaction in some people. But it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in studies.

Mild to serious symptoms can be present.

  • There is a skin rash.
  • It is itchy.
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • “It’s usually under your skin, but it can be anywhere.”
  • It can be hard to breathe if you have swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat.

What might help

If you have a mild rash, call your doctor. They may suggest a treatment to help you. Examples include:

  • an over-the-counter oral antihistamine, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • You apply a cream to your skin.

If your doctor confirms you have an allergic reaction to Xalkori, they will decide if you should continue taking it.

If you have a severe allergic reaction, you should call the emergency number. These symptoms could be life threatening and need immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you have had a serious allergic reaction to Xalkori, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Keeping track of side effects

Take notes on any side effects you are having during Xalkori treatment. You can share this information with your doctor. This is helpful when you are starting to use a combination of treatments.

Side effect notes can include things.

  • When you had the side effect, what dose of the drug was taking?
  • How soon did you experience the side effect?
  • What are your symptoms?
  • How did it affect your daily activities?
  • What other drugs were you taking?
  • Other information is important to you.

Sharing notes with your doctor will help them learn more about how Xalkori affects you. If needed, they can use this information to adjust your treatment plan.

Get answers to questions about Xalkori.

What should I know about side effects of Xalkori compared with Alecensa?

Alecensa and Xalkori are both prescribed to treat certain kinds of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in adults. They can cause many similar side effects, including:

To learn more about how these drugs compare, check out this article. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Does Xalkori cause hair loss?

No, hair loss wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies and isn’t a side effect expected with Xalkori.

Hair loss is a common side effect caused by chemotherapy drugs (traditional drugs used to treat cancer). Chemotherapy drugs are prescribed to treat many cancers, including lung cancer and lymphoma. Chemotherapy is sometimes prescribed along with Xalkori. There are also reports of hair loss with targeted therapies such as alectinib, which is a drug similar to Xalkori. This medication is also prescribed to treat a certain kind of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

There have been no reports of hair loss with Xalkori alone.

If you are concerned about hair loss or your cancer treatment, talk to your doctor.

Are older adults at higher risk of side effects with Xalkori?

Older adults (ages 65 years and over) aren’t expected to have a higher risk of side effects with Xalkori. In studies of people taking Xalkori for NSCLC, there were no differences in side effects between older and younger adults.

But certain factors may increase your risk of side effects if you’re an older adult. For example, as we age, we’re more likely to have problems with certain organ functions. For instance, having liver or kidney issues can increase your risk of side effects from Xalkori.

Older adults take more drugs than younger adults. It is possible that drugs you take interact with Xalkori. This can increase the risk of side effects from the medications.

If you are an older adult, you should talk to your doctor about your health conditions and any medications you are taking that could increase your risk of side effects.

If you have a medical condition that affects your health, Xalkori may not be right for you. Before starting Xalkori, you should talk to your doctor about your health history. There are a few factors to consider.

Liver or kidney problems. If you have liver or kidney problems, your doctor will likely prescribe a lower dose of Xalkori for you. This is because your body uses these organs to get rid of Xalkori after you take a dose. And liver or kidney problems can affect your body’s ability to clear Xalkori from your system. This can raise the level of Xalkori in your body and possibly increase your risk of side effects, including nausea and There is a lot of diarrhea..

Lung problems. Xalkori can cause lung problems, including interstitial lung disease (inflammation and scarring in your lungs). While rare, these side effects can be severe or even deadly in extreme cases. Your doctor can determine whether Xalkori is safe for you to take if you have a condition affecting your lungs.

Heart problems, including long QT syndrome. While rare, treatment with Xalkori can cause heart problems, such as an abnormal heart rhythm. This includes a condition called long QT syndrome. Due to this risk, doctors usually won’t prescribe Xalkori if you were born with a long QT interval. (The QT interval is the time it takes your heart to contract and relax.) If you have other heart problems and your doctor prescribes Xalkori, they’ll monitor your heart health closely during treatment.

Eye or vision problems. Rarely, Xalkori can cause ocular (eye-related) side effects. This can include vision loss in extreme cases. If you already have eye or vision problems, you may be at an increased risk of eye-related side effects from Xalkori. This can include existing problems getting worse. Your doctor can determine whether Xalkori is safe for you to take.

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

Alcohol and Xalkori

There are no known interactions between taking Xalkori and consuming alcohol. But alcohol could increase your risk of certain Xalkori side effects, such as There is a lot of diarrhea., nausea, vomiting, and liver problems.

If you drink alcohol, talk to your doctor about how much you can drink while taking Xalkori.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Xalkori

It is not recommended to take Xalkori during pregnancy. If you can become pregnant, your doctor will order a test to make sure you are not pregnant before you start treatment. Birth control should be used at least 45 days after your last dose.

Breastfeeding while taking Xalkori is not recommended. You should not breastfeeding for at least 45 days after your last dose of the drug. Talk to your doctor about safe feeding options for your child while you are taking Xalkori.

Xalkori can cause mild to severe side effects. Most people who took Xalkori in studies had at least one mild side effect. Severe side effects are much rarer.

Talk to your doctor before starting Xalkori. Ask questions that will help you feel comfortable with the drug. Some examples to start.

  • Can any of my drugs increase my risk of side effects?
  • Is there a lower dose I can try if I have side effects?
  • Will my risk of side effects increase as I take this drug?

Q:

Is there any food I should avoid while taking Xalkori?

Anonymous

A:

You should avoid drinking juice or eating grapefruit while you’re taking Xalkori.

Your body breaks down Xalkori after you take a dose of juice. They can cause the Xalkori level in your body to be too high, which can cause side effects. Mild side effects are especially true.

They can also increase your risk of serious side effects, such as an abnormal heart rhythm.

It is important to avoid the following while taking Xalkori.

  • The person is eating a fruit.
  • drinking juice
  • Taking supplements that include grapefruit extract.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Disclaimer: Healthline 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.