Camzyos (Mavacamten)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Camzyos Used For?
Camzyos is prescribed to treat adults with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart condition where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick.
Primary Uses
Camzyos treats obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a condition where the heart’s walls become thicker than normal and obstruct blood flow. This makes it harder for blood to leave the heart and be pumped to the body. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath (especially during exercise), fatigue, abnormal heart rhythms, dizziness, fainting, and swelling in ankles, feet, legs, abdomen, and neck veins.
How It Works
Camzyos works by reducing the excessive contraction of the heart muscle and decreasing the obstruction to blood flow. This helps improve your symptoms and your ability to exercise by allowing blood to flow more easily into and out of your heart.
How to Take Camzyos
Your doctor will determine the right dose of Camzyos for you and monitor your heart function regularly with echocardiograms to ensure safe and effective treatment.
Dosage Instructions
The recommended starting dose is 5 mg taken by mouth once daily. Your doctor may prescribe 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg capsules, with a maximum dose of 15 mg once daily. Swallow the capsule whole with water at the same time each day. Do not chew, dissolve, or open the capsules. You can take it with or without food. Your doctor will monitor your heart with echocardiograms at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and then at least every 6 months, adjusting your dose as needed.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you miss your dose, take it as soon as you remember on the same day, then take your next dose at the usual time the next day. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Always take Camzyos at the same time each day for best results.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Dizziness
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- New or worsening shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Heart palpitations (sensation of heart beating)
- Leg swelling
- Signs of heart dysfunction or heart failure
Important Warnings
Camzyos carries serious warnings, including the risk of heart failure when taken with certain medications. Your doctor will monitor you closely throughout treatment.
Who Should Not Take Camzyos
Do not take Camzyos if you are allergic to mavacamten or any ingredients in the medication. Do not take it with fluconazole, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, rifampicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, efavirenz, ritonavir, apalutamide, dabrafenib, enzalutamide, lorlatinib, or St. John’s Wort.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor about all medical conditions you have. Inform any doctor, dentist, or pharmacist that you’re taking Camzyos, especially before major heart surgery as this could increase your risk of heart problems. Watch for signs of heart dysfunction including new or worsening shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, heart palpitations, or leg swelling, and contact your doctor immediately if these occur.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Camzyos during pregnancy or for at least 4 months before trying to get pregnant, as it may harm your unborn baby. Use effective contraception during treatment and for 4 months after stopping. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant. It’s unknown if Camzyos passes into breast milk, so discuss breastfeeding with your doctor.
Heart Failure Risk: Taking Camzyos with certain medicines may cause heart failure. Never stop, change the dose, or start new medicines without telling your doctor.
Drug Interactions
Many medications can affect how Camzyos works in your body, either increasing side effects or reducing effectiveness. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you take.
Grapefruit interaction: Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking Camzyos as it may cause heart failure.
- Fluconazole (antifungal)
- Fluoxetine, fluvoxamine (antidepressants)
- Rifampicin (antibiotic)
- Phenytoin, carbamazepine (seizure medications)
- Efavirenz, ritonavir (HIV/hepatitis C medications)
- Cancer medications (apalutamide, dabrafenib, enzalutamide, lorlatinib)
- St. John’s Wort (herbal supplement)
- Stomach acid reducers (omeprazole, esomeprazole)
- Other antibiotics (erythromycin, clarithromycin)
- Other antifungals (voriconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, itraconazole)
- Heart medications (beta blockers, calcium channel blockers like verapamil and diltiazem)
- Anti-nausea medications (aprepitant)
- Immunosuppressants (cyclosporine)
- Wakefulness medications (armodafinil, modafinil)
- Heart rhythm medications (disopyramide)
- Goldenseal (herbal supplement)
Alcohol & Driving
Camzyos may cause dizziness, which can affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
Alcohol
The source material does not specifically mention alcohol interactions with Camzyos. However, discuss alcohol use with your doctor as it may affect your heart condition.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before driving or using machines until you know how Camzyos affects you. If you feel dizzy while taking this medicine, do not drive a vehicle, cycle, or use any tools or machines.
Storage
Store Camzyos in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep out of sight and reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date on the package.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Camzyos, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre at 13 11 26, contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, even if you feel fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your doctor will monitor your response to Camzyos using echocardiograms at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks after starting treatment to assess how well it’s working for you.
Yes, you can take Camzyos with food or between meals. It doesn’t matter whether you take it with or without food.
If you miss your dose, take it as soon as you remember on the same day, then take your next dose at the usual time the next day. Never take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.
No, do not stop taking Camzyos unless your doctor tells you to. If you wish to stop, notify your doctor and discuss the best way to discontinue. Camzyos may remain in your body for at least 4 months after stopping treatment.
Your doctor needs to monitor your heart function with echocardiograms to ensure Camzyos is working safely and effectively. These tests help determine if your dose needs to be adjusted and monitor for any heart-related side effects.
No, do not take Camzyos during pregnancy or for at least 4 months before trying to get pregnant, as it may harm your unborn baby. You must use effective contraception during treatment and for 4 months after stopping.
Dizziness is the most common side effect of Camzyos. If you feel dizzy, do not drive, cycle, or use tools or machines. Speak to your doctor if dizziness worries you or affects your daily activities.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.