What is SANCUSO® (granisetron transdermal system)?
What makes SANCUSO different?
SANCUSO is the only skin patch approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients receiving moderately and/or highly emetogenic chemotherapy
The active drug in SANCUSO is called granisetron, which is dissolved in a thin layer of adhesive that sticks to your skin
When applied 24 to 48 hours before receiving the first dose of chemotherapy, the SANCUSO patch slowly and continuously releases the medicine contained in the adhesive through clean and intact skin areas into your bloodstream
SANCUSO can be worn for up to 7 days in a row for chemotherapy regimens of up to 5 consecutive days
Ask your healthcare professional if SANCUSO might be right for you
Some patients treated for cancer experience difficulty swallowing pills, feel nauseated, and are unable to keep pills down. This can be caused by certain cancers or certain cancer treatments that may make it hard for you to swallow medicine that prevents CINV
Some cancer treatments may also reduce the ability of your intestines to absorb or retain the medicine in pills or tablets
Because SANCUSO is a skin patch that enters your system through your skin rather than an oral medication, it might be the right choice for patients who have trouble swallowing or keeping down pills, and those with the reduced ability to absorb or retain medicine in their intestines
Some chemotherapy may irritate cells in the small intestine and/or in your brain.
Once irritated, cells in the small intestine send messages to the brain.
When irritated, cells in one area of the brain send messages to a different area of the brain.
Upon receiving these messages, the brain instructs the body to react through feelings of nausea and/or vomiting.
How SANCUSO helps prevent CINV
From the time that you apply the patch, SANCUSO slowly and continuously delivers granisetron through your skin and into your bloodstream until the patch is removed within 7 days.
Granisetron blocks cells in the small intestine from sending messages to the brain that trigger CINV.
Granisetron blocks cells in one area of the brain from sending messages to a different area of the brain that triggers CINV.
Because the brain does not receive these messages, feelings of nausea and/or vomiting are less likely to occur.
How do I get SANCUSO?
Talk to your healthcare professional about whether this prescription medicine is right for you.
Download and fill out this questionnaire to help guide your discussion.
Either fill the prescription at your local pharmacy or have your doctor or nurse use our Patient RX Solutions program to get SANCUSO mailed directly to your home.
Ask your doctor to e-prescribe Sancuso if it is right for you.
Cumberland Pharmaceuticals is commited to providing services and programs to assist with getting the medications you need.
Patient RX Solutions offers reimbursement assistance, a copay assistance card,a and the SANCUSO patch replacement program.
aThis offer is not valid for prescriptions under Medicare (including Medicare Advantage, Part A, B, and D plans), Medicaid, VA, DOD, TRICARE, CHAMPUS, or other federal or state healthcare programs. Program managed by ConnectiveRx on behalf of Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The parties reserve the right to amend or end this program at any time. Product dispensed pursuant to program rules and federal and state laws. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.
Indication and Important Safety Information For Patients
What is SANCUSO (granisetron trandermal system)?
SANCUSO is a prescription medicine used to prevent nausea and vomiting in adults receiving anti-cancer (chemotherapy) treatment that causes moderate or severe vomiting.
SANCUSO is a skin patch (transdermal system) that slowly releases the medicine into your bloodstream while you wear the transdermal system.
It is not known if SANCUSO is safe and effective in children.
Who should not use SANCUSO?
Do not use SANCUSO if you are allergic to granisetron or any of the ingredients in SANCUSO. See the end of this leaflet for a list of ingredients in SANCUSO.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before using SANCUSO?
Before using SANCUSO, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
have pain or swelling in your stomach area (abdomen).
are pregnant. It is not known if SANCUSO will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if SANCUSO passes into your breast milk.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Other medicines may affect how SANCUSO works. SANCUSO may also affect how other medicines work. SANCUSO contains granisetron. Do not take other granisetron containing products with SANCUSO.
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
How should I use SANCUSO?
Read the Instructions for Use that comes with SANCUSO transdermal system.
Use SANCUSO exactly as your healthcare provided tells you to.
What should I avoid while using SANCUSO?
Do not apply any heat source over or near the SANCUSO transdermal system.
A heating pad or heat lamp should not be used where the transdermal system is applied.
You should avoid long periods of exposure to heat because heat can increase the amount of SANCUSO in your blood.
Avoid sunlight and artificial sunlight. The medicine in SANCUSO may not work as well and may affect your skin if exposed to direct sunlight or artificial sunlight from sunlamps or tanning beds.
Keep the transdermal system covered with clothing if you will be in direct sunlight or artificial sunlight.
Keep the skin where SANCUSO was applied covered for another 10 days after the transdermal system is taken off to protect from exposure to direct sunlight or artificial sunlight.
What are the possible side effects of SANCUSO?
SANCUSO may cause serious side effects, including:
Using SANCUSO may make it harder to identify certain stomach (abdomen) and bowel problems that are from other causes. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any abdominal pain or swelling while using SANCUSO.
Serotonin Syndrome. A potentially life-threatening problem called serotonin syndrome can happen if you use SANCUSO with certain medicines. Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome:
agitation
sweating
seeing or hearing things that are not real
flushing (hallucinations)
confusion
high body temperature (hyperthermia)
coma
shaking (tremors), stiff muscles, or muscle twitching
fast heart beat
loss of coordination
changes in blood pressure
seizures
dizziness
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Skin reactions. Skin reactions can happen at the transdermal system application site or outside the transdermal system application site. Tell your healthcare provider if you get any redness, rashes, bumps, blisters or itching at or near the transdermal system application site, and especially if they spread outside the place where the transdermal system was applied or if they appear outside the transdermal system application site. You may need to stop using SANCUSO.
The most common side effect of SANCUSO is constipation.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of SANCUSO. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.