Novartis Highlights Tasigna's Effectiveness yet Downplays The Drug's Deadly Side Effects

There is a seemingly endless list of life-threatening side effects from taking the potent, yet highly toxic anti-cancer drug Tasigna and they make a person wonder if the treatment is not even worse than the disease

Thursday, November 8, 2018 - Tasigna is being touted by its maker Novartis AG as a wonder drug capable of extending the life of cancer patients. Tasigna is meant to be taken for a cancer patient's entire life but now patients are being told that the drug can produce "treatment free remission." In other words, for a small percentage of patients, Tasigna is so effective that they can actually stop taking the drug and live to a ripe old age in cancer-free remission. Novartis highlight this benefit and boasts that this is the first time that the FDA has honored an anti-cancer drug with such a designation. The FDA has granted permission to Novartis to put this feature on the labeling of the drug. What you will not find on its labeling, however, unless you dig far down into the fine print on the company's website, is the list of the dangerous, life-threatening side effects of Tasigna.

Of the many dangerous side effects of Tasigna, including the risk of sudden death from developing an irregular heart rhythm, the risk of atherosclerosis should be most feared. An unacceptably high number of Tasigna patients develop atherosclerosis and attempt to rectify the condition with coronary bypass surgery. This atherosclerosis treatment is only a temporary fix if the patient continues to take Tasigna, but of course, the patient could have yet another round of bypass surgery. Novartis warns of Tasigna's potential to cause atherosclerosis in the following manner: "People who have recently been diagnosed with Ph+ CML and take Tasigna may develop decreased blood flow to the leg, the heart, or brain. Get medical help right away if you suddenly develop any of the following symptoms: chest pain or discomfort, numbness or weakness, problems walking or speaking, leg pain, your leg feels cold, or change in the skin color of your leg."

Novartis also warns that taking Tasigna can cause autoimmune system problems that manifests itself in low blood counts. Novartis warns: "Low blood cell counts (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) are common with Tasigna, but can also be severe. Your healthcare provider will check your blood counts regularly during treatment with Tasigna. Call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of low blood counts including, fever, chills or other signs of infection, unexplained bleeding or bruising, unexplained weakness, or shortness of breath." Tasigna attorneys believe Novartis must be held accountable for its disregard of consumer safety.

Almost all patients taking Tasigna experience a feeling of nausea, vomiting, and the resultant extreme weight loss from a lack of appetite. This symptom can lead to pancreatitis, an inflamed pancreas. Because of Tasigna's extreme toxicity, patients can develop liver problems as the liver is forced to process this deadly chemical as best it can. Signs of liver failure include a yellowing of the skin and the white's of the eyes, darkened urine, and abdominal pain. Some Tasigna patients develop kidney failure and need to be put on dialysis treatments while they wait for a kidney transplant.

Aside from these life-threatening side effects, Tasigna's most common side effects are "nausea, rash, headache, tiredness, itching, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, constipation, muscle, and joint pain, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, fever, and night sweats to name just a few. Novartis ends the Tasigna warning page with the following: "These are not all of the possible side effects of Tasigna."

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