Due to fedratinib's significant GI side effect profile and the logistical difficulty of measuring thiamine levels, clinicians should proactively provide patients with thiamine supplements, anti-emetics, and anti-diarrheal therapies. Instructing patients to take the drug with food can also help mitigate GI toxicity.

When combining sacituzumab govitecan (SASE) and pembrolizumab (IO), it's crucial to differentiate the cause of diarrhea. SASE-induced diarrhea is similar to standard chemotherapy, while IO-induced diarrhea often presents with bloody stools and severe abdominal cramping.

When managing drug-induced rash, recurrence is often caused by restarting therapy before the initial rash has completely resolved. Patients may be eager to resume treatment and minimize lingering symptoms, so clinicians must explicitly educate them on the need for full resolution to prevent a cycle of recurrence.

The clinical definition of constipation is not simply how often you poop, but whether you are adequately emptying your bowels. Having small, partial bowel movements—even multiple times a day—is a form of constipation and is the number one cause of chronic gas and bloating.

To determine if fatigue or cognitive dysfunction is caused by enzalutamide, a clinician suggests a practical approach called the "Stevens Maneuver." The patient stops the drug for two weeks. If symptoms don't improve, the cause is likely something else. If they do improve, the drug is the culprit, and it can often be resumed at a lower dose.

The HORIZON-GEA-01 trial for zanidatumab in gastric cancer mandated prophylactic loperamide (4mg BID) for all patients. This was necessary to manage the high rates of diarrhea (up to 80% of patients), a significant GI toxicity associated with the drug's mechanism of action.

The Phase 2 TRAIT study suggests starting adjuvant abemaciclib at a lower dose and escalating over several weeks significantly reduces early discontinuations due to side effects like diarrhea. This strategy helps more patients get through the initial high-toxicity period and remain on the effective dose for the full two-year course.

Despite showing massive weight loss, new obesity drugs from Eli Lilly and others have high discontinuation rates due to side effects. This suggests the industry's singular focus on efficacy may be hitting diminishing returns, opening a new competitive front based on better patient tolerance and adherence.

When patients experience a consistent pattern of diarrhea, clinicians should move from a reactive, per-episode dosing strategy to a proactive, scheduled regimen of loperamide. This provides better control and prevents symptoms from escalating, with the option to de-escalate as the patient stabilizes.