How to Take Selpercatinib Correctly

How to Take Selpercatinib Correctly

Selpercatinib is usually taken orally twice daily, with approximately 12 hours between doses. Patients should strictly follow the dosage prescribed by their doctor and should not change the dose or stop taking the medication on their own. Capsules or tablets should be swallowed whole, without breaking, crushing, or chewing. If a patient (especially a child) cannot swallow whole capsules/tablets or uses a feeding tube, a 40 mg tablet can be used to prepare an oral suspension. Refer to the medication guide for detailed preparation instructions. Selpercatinib can be taken with or without food. If vomiting occurs after taking a dose, do not take an additional dose; simply take the next dose as scheduled. If a dose is missed and it is less than 6 hours until the next dose, skip the missed dose; otherwise, take the missed dose. In case of overdose, seek medical attention immediately.

Drug Interactions and Contraindications of Selpercatinib

During treatment with selpercatinib, avoid using certain medications that may affect its absorption or efficacy. These include: St. John's wort; proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole, lansoprazole); H2 receptor antagonists (e.g., famotidine, cimetidine); and antacids containing aluminum, magnesium, calcium, or simethicone. If a proton pump inhibitor cannot be avoided, take selpercatinib with food. If using an H2 receptor antagonist, take selpercatinib 2 hours before or 10 hours after the H2 antagonist. If using antacids, separate the doses by 2 hours. Patients should inform their doctor of all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements they are taking to avoid potential drug interactions.

Clinical Study Comparison of Selpercatinib vs. Other Targeted Therapies

In the treatment of RET-positive medullary thyroid cancer, a pivotal clinical study involving 291 patients aged 12 years and older directly compared the efficacy of selpercatinib versus cabozantinib or vandetanib. Results showed that among the 193 patients treated with selpercatinib, only 14% experienced disease progression, whereas among the 98 patients treated with cabozantinib or vandetanib, 34% experienced disease progression. This indicates that selpercatinib has a significant advantage in controlling tumor growth. Furthermore, selpercatinib demonstrated superior objective response rates and duration of response. It is important to note that each drug has a different side effect profile, and doctors will select the most appropriate option based on the patient's individual condition. This comparative data provides important decision-making evidence for patients with RET-positive medullary thyroid cancer.