What is the correct usage and dosage of lorlatinib/lorlatinib

Lorlatinib is an oral third-generation ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) and ROS1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is widely used to treat patients with ALK-positive or ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It has a high efficacy, especially in the context of previous treatment failure or the emergence of drug-resistant mutations. In order to ensure that the drug exerts its maximum therapeutic effect, it is important to master its correct usage and dosage.

The recommended dose of lorlatinib is 100 mg taken orally once daily. It should be taken at the same time every day. This medicine should be swallowed whole and not broken, crushed or chewed. Because the tablets are in a film-coated form, unauthorized destruction may affect the stability and release rate of the drug in the body. There is no need to fast when taking the medicine. It can be taken before or after meals. However, it is recommended that the daily time be relatively fixed to maintain the stability of blood concentration.

While taking lorlatinib, patients need to regularly monitor liver function, blood lipid levels and electrocardiogram. Because lorlatinib can cause dyslipidemia (such as increased cholesterol and triacylglycerols), lipid profile should be checked regularly and lipid-lowering drugs should be used if necessary. In addition, if the patient experiences moderate or severe adverse reactions during taking the drug, such as central nervous system adverse events, liver function damage, etc., the doctor may recommend temporarily discontinuing the drug or adjusting the dose, such as reducing it to 75 mg or 50 mg once a day.

Lorlatinib may have drug interactions with other drugs, especially when combined with CYP3A4 enzyme inducers (such as carbamazepine, rifampicin) or inhibitors (such as ketoconazole, clarithromycin, etc.), special attention should be paid to changes in drug metabolism. Grapefruit or grapefruit juice should be avoided while taking the drug because it may interfere with the activity of the CYP3A4 enzyme and affect the plasma concentration of lorlatinib.

References：https://www.lorbrena.com/