Cancer drugs A to Z list
Osimertinib is a targeted cancer drug. It is pronounced oh-see-mer-tin-ib. It is also called Tagrisso.
Osimertinib is a treatment for non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). You may have it:
after surgery to remove the cancer (for stage 1B to 3A lung cancer). This is called adjuvant treatment
as a treatment for NSCLC that has spread. This is called locally advanced or advanced (metastatic) lung cancer
Find out more about NSCLC and its treatment
Osimertinib is a cancer growth blocker. It blocks proteins on cancer cells that encourage the cancer to grow.
These proteins are called epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR). If you have a cancer that has these receptors it is called EGFR positive. You have tests on your cancer cells to check for these receptors before you can have this treatment.
Osimertinib can help slow down or stop the growth of an advanced cancer for a time. After surgery, osimertinib might help stop the cancer from coming back.
Osimertinib is a tablet. You swallow it whole with a glass of water. You can take it with or without food.
If you have trouble swallowing tablets, you can stir the tablet in a small glass of water (50ml). It will break up into very small pieces which you can then drink.
You should take the right dose, not more or less.
Talk to your healthcare team before you stop taking a cancer drug, or if you miss a dose.
You take osimertinib once a day. You take it at the same time each day.
You usually take osimertinib for as long as it is working and you don’t have too many side effects.
If you have osimertinib after surgery, you take it for up to 3 years.
You have blood tests before and during your treatment. They check your levels of blood cells and other substances in the blood. They also check how well your liver and kidneys are working.
You also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) before starting this treatment and at times during your treatment. An ECG checks the electrical activity of the heart.
Side effects can vary from person to person. They also depend on what other treatment you are having.
Your doctor, pharmacist or nurse will go through the possible side effects. They will monitor you closely during treatment and check how you are at your appointments. Contact your advice line as soon as possible if:
you have severe side effects
your side effects aren’t getting any better
your side effects are getting worse
the side effects are affecting your daily life
Early treatment can help manage side effects better.
We haven't listed all the side effects here. Talk to your healthcare team if you have any new symptoms that you think might be a side effect of your treatment.
Remember it is very unlikely that you will have all of these side effects, but you might have some of them at the same time.
These side effects happen in more than 10 in 100 people (more than 10%). You might have one or more of them. They include:
Increased risk of getting an infection is due to a drop in white blood cells. Symptoms include a change in temperature, aching muscles, cough, headaches, feeling cold and shivery, pain or a burning feeling when peeing, or generally feeling unwell. You might have other symptoms depending on where the infection is.
Infections can sometimes be life threatening. You should contact your advice line urgently if you think you have an infection.
This is due to a drop in the number of platelets in your blood. These blood cells help the blood to clot when we cut ourselves. You may have nosebleeds or bleeding gums after brushing your teeth. Or you may have lots of tiny red spots or bruises on your arms or legs. This is known as petechiae.
Contact your advice line if you have diarrhoea. For example, in one day you have 2 or more loose bowel movements than usual. If you have a , you might have more output than normal. Your doctor may give you anti diarrhoea medicine to take home with you after treatment.
Try to eat small meals and snacks regularly. It’s best to try to have a healthy balanced diet if you can. You don’t necessarily need to stop eating foods that contain fibre. But if your diet is normally very high in fibre, it might help to cut back on high fibre foods such as beans, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, bran and raw vegetables.
Drink plenty to try and replace the fluid lost. Aim for 8 to 10 glasses per day.
Skin problems include a skin rash, dry skin and itching. This usually goes back to normal when your treatment finishes. Your healthcare team can tell you what products you can use on your skin to help.
Less commonly, you may get hives (urticaria). Or rarely, a rash that has a ring around a central blister or crusted area (looks like a target or ‘bulls-eye’). This is called erythema multiforme.
Even more rarely, you may develop a severe skin reaction that may start as tender red patches which leads to peeling or blistering of the skin. You might also feel feverish and your eyes may be more sensitive to light (Stevens-Johnson syndrome). This is serious and could be life threatening.
Your nails may become brittle, dry, painful, change colour or develop ridges. This usually goes back to normal when you finish treatment.
The skin around your nail might get swollen, red, and sore (paronychia). It may also become infected. Talk to the team looking after you if you notice this.
Mouth sores and ulcers can be painful. It helps to keep your mouth and teeth clean, drink plenty of fluids, avoid acidic foods such as oranges, lemons and grapefruits, and chew gum to keep the mouth moist. Tell your doctor or nurse if you have ulcers or it’s painful to swallow.
These side effects happen in between 1 and 10 out of every 100 people (between 1 and 10%). You might have one or more of them. They include:
an increase in the level of creatinine in the blood. It can give doctors an idea of how well the kidneys are working
hair thinning or complete hair loss
inflammation and scarring of the lung tissue – let your team know straightaway if you develop shortness of breath, a cough or high temperature
redness and peeling on the hands and feet (called hand-foot syndrome or palmer plantar syndrome)
These side effects happen in fewer than 1 in 100 people (less than 1%). You might have one or more of them. They include:
heart problems such as changes in the electrical activity of the heart (QTc prolongation) or heart failure
inflammation of the clear front layer of the eye (cornea) – symptoms might include pain, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, and redness
inflammation of the blood vessels in the skin – this can look like bruises or a rash
We have more information about side effects and tips on how to cope with them.
Read more about how to cope with side effects
Cancer drugs can interact with medicines, herbal products, and some food and drinks. We are unable to list all the possible interactions that may happen. An example is grapefruit or grapefruit juice which can increase the side effects of certain drugs.
Tell your healthcare team about any medicines you are taking. This includes vitamins, herbal supplements and over the counter remedies. Also let them know about any other medical conditions or allergies you may have.
This drug may harm a baby developing in the womb. It is important not to become pregnant or father a child while you are having treatment with this drug and for at least:
2 months afterwards for women
4 months afterwards for men
Talk to your doctor or nurse about effective contraception before starting treatment. Let them know straight away if you or your partner becomes pregnant while having treatment.
It is not known whether this treatment affects in people. Talk to your doctor before starting treatment if you think you may want to have a baby in the future.
It is not known whether this drug comes through into the breast milk. Doctors advise that you don’t breastfeed during this treatment.
If you are having tests or treatment for anything else, always mention your cancer treatment. For example, if you are visiting your dentist.
Don’t have immunisations with live vaccines while you’re having treatment and for up to 12 months afterwards. The length of time depends on the treatment you are having.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist how long you should avoid live vaccinations.
In the UK, live vaccines include rubella, mumps, measles, BCG, and yellow fever.
You can usually have:
other vaccines, but they might not give you as much protection as usual
the flu vaccine (as an injection)
the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the best time to have a vaccine in relation to your cancer treatment.
You can be in contact with other people who have had live vaccines as injections. If someone has had a live vaccine by mouth or nasal spray there may be a small risk the vaccine virus can be passed onto you if your is weakened.
Your healthcare team will let you know if you need to take any precautions if you are in close contact with someone who has had a live vaccine.
Read more about immunisations and cancer treatment
For further information about this treatment and possible side effects go to the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC) website. You can find the patient information leaflet on this website.
You can report any side effect you have to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as part of their Yellow Card Scheme.
Last reviewed: 26 Jan 2023
Next review due: 26 Jan 2026
Lung cancer starts in the windpipe (trachea), the main airway (bronchus) or the lung tissue. Cancer that starts in the lung is called primary lung cancer.
Your treatment depends on several factors. These include what type of lung cancer you have, how big it is and whether it has spread (the stage). It also depends on your general health.
Find out more about Targeted cancer drugs
Cancer drugs have side effects and these can vary from person to person. But there are things that you can do to help you cope.
Coping with cancer can be difficult. There is help and support available. Find out about the emotional, physical and practical effects of cancer and how to manage them.
Our clinical trials aim to find out if a new treatment or procedure is safe, is better than the current treatment or helps you feel better.
About Cancer generously supported by Dangoor Education since 2010. Learn more about Dangoor Education
Search our clinical trials database for all cancer trials and studies recruiting in the UK.
Meet and chat to other cancer people affected by cancer.
Questions about cancer? Call freephone 0808 800 40 40 from 9 to 5 - Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can email us.
