Patients who take the cancer drug Tasigna do not know that there may be serious and possibly fatal side effects associated with the drug. Of the many possible side effects of Tasigna, one of the more dangerous may be the risk of atherosclerosis.

What is Tasigna?

Tasigna is a cancer drug that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2007 for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia, or CML. CML is a type of cancer that originates in the bone marrow, prompting a genetic change in the early versions of the cancerous cell.

According to the American Cancer Society, “This change forms an abnormal gene called BCR-ABL, which turns the cell into a CML cell. The leukemia cells grow and divide, building up in the bone marrow and spilling over into the blood.” At first, CML is slow moving but it can move quickly in its acute stages.

The popular cancer treatment did over $1.7 billion in sales in 2016.

Tasigna, generically known as nilotinib hydrochloride monohydrate, is designed to combat the chronic phase and accelerated phase Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myelogenous leukemia. However, it has been found that one of the side effects of Tasigna is that it may cause the arteries to swell which can exacerbate cardiovascular problems.

Side Effects of Tasigna

There are many side effects of Tasigna, but perhaps the most serious is the possibility of atherosclerosis. Many patients allege that they were never warned that one of the side effects of Tasigna could possibly be something as serious as atherosclerosis or other cardiovascular complications such as:

• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
• Coronary artery disease
• Infection
• Heart attack
• Circulatory issues of the legs, arms, heart or brain
• Embolic occlusion
• Stroke
• Amputation
• Death

Tasigna originally included a Black Box warning regarding other side effects of Tasigna, but the atherosclerosis possibilities were not originally included on warning labels for the cancer treatment.

Atherosclerosis can be quite serious. The condition occurs when the walls of the arteries become thick and hard, making it difficult for blood to be pumped through well and for the heart to function correctly. Additionally, if the walls of the arteries are too narrow, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) can result.

Symptoms of PAD include cramping, pain or tiredness in the lower extremities such as the legs or hips. Also, PAD can affect the head, arms and stomach.

If a patient experiences atherosclerosis as one of the side effects of Tasigna, the results are sadly irreversible. Problems that can occur include brittle or inflamed plaque buildup that may break and trigger a blood clot. This blood clot may block the artery or make it even more narrow.

If a blood clot remains in the peripheral arteries such as those in the legs, pain, sores, ulcers and difficulty walking can occur. However, if the legs totally lose circulation, gangrene or the need for limb amputations can be a result.

If you have taken cancer drug Tasigna and have experienced side effects of Tasigna that include atherosclerosis or other cardiovascular complications, you may be eligible for legal compensation.