Trifluridine and tipiracil (Oral)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 20, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

Lonsurf

Available Dosage Forms:

Tablet

Therapeutic Class: Antineoplastic Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Viral DNA Thymidylate Synthetase Inhibitor

Chemical Class: Pyrimidine Nucleoside Analog

Uses for trifluridine and tipiracil

Trifluridine and tipiracil combination is used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum that has spread to other parts of the body) in patients who have received other cancer medicines (eg, fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, irinotecan).

Trifluridine and tipiracil combination is also used to treat metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (stomach cancer that has spread) that has been previously treated with at least 2 other cancer treatments (eg, fluoropyrimidine, irinotecan, HER2/neu-targeted therapy, platinum medicine, taxane medicine).

Trifluridine and tipiracil is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using trifluridine and tipiracil

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For trifluridine and tipiracil, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to trifluridine and tipiracil or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of trifluridine and tipiracil combination in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of trifluridine and tipiracil combination in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have unwanted effects (including blood problems), which may require caution in patients receiving trifluridine and tipiracil.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Interactions with food/tobacco/alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Trifluridine and tipiracil