Mekinist® Tablets for BRAF-Mutant Melanoma

Mekinist is a prescription cancer therapy used for certain BRAF mutation–positive tumors. It helps block a signaling pathway that can drive tumor growth. If you are comparing options, we provide US delivery from Canada and can show estimated costs without insurance when you sign in.

What Mekinist Is and How It Works

Mekinist® (trametinib) is an oral MEK inhibitor. It targets MEK1 and MEK2 proteins within the MAPK pathway, which can be overactive in BRAF-mutant cancers. By reducing pathway signaling, this medicine may help slow cancer cell growth. It is often prescribed with dabrafenib, a BRAF inhibitor, for select tumors with a confirmed BRAF V600 mutation.

YouDrugstore is a licensed Canadian pharmacy in Manitoba. Pharmacists review prescriptions before dispensing.

Approved uses vary by region. In adults, this treatment is commonly used for unresectable or metastatic melanoma with BRAF V600 mutations, and for some cases of non-small cell lung cancer with BRAF V600E, typically in combination. It may also be used for certain BRAF-positive thyroid cancers when your prescriber deems appropriate. Always confirm your exact indication with your oncology team.

Who It’s For

This therapy is intended for people with a confirmed BRAF V600 mutation, as validated by an approved test. Your prescriber may use it alone or, more often, with dabrafenib for melanoma and other BRAF-positive tumors. If you have a different driver mutation, other targeted therapies may be recommended instead. See our category pages for Melanoma and Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer to explore related treatments.

People with significant heart problems, serious eye disease, or uncontrolled high blood pressure should discuss risks carefully. Those who are pregnant or may become pregnant should talk about birth control and potential fetal risk. Breastfeeding is generally not recommended during treatment. Your clinician will review your history and monitoring plan.

Dosage and Usage

Take this medicine exactly as prescribed. It is usually taken once daily on an empty stomach, at least one hour before or two hours after eating. If used with dabrafenib, follow each drug’s separate schedule. Swallow tablets whole with water. Do not crush or chew.

Your team may modify your plan based on how you tolerate therapy. Blood pressure checks, heart function assessments, eye exams, and skin checks may be part of routine monitoring. If you have questions about timing with other medicines, ask your healthcare professional before making changes. For cost planning by strength, some patients compare Trametinib price 2 mg when discussing options.

Strengths and Forms

Tablets are commonly available in 0.5 mg and 2 mg strengths. Packaging and availability can vary by market and supplier. Your prescriber will select a dose based on your indication, combination regimen, and tolerance. If your plan involves the higher tablet, your team may discuss Trametinib price 2 mg as part of broader budgeting. Availability may differ by region and stock.

Missed Dose and Timing

If you miss a dose and your next one is more than 12 hours away, you may take the missed dose when remembered. If the next dose is within 12 hours, skip the missed dose and resume your usual schedule. If vomiting occurs after a dose, do not take an extra tablet. Keep a written plan or set reminders to support steady adherence.

Storage and Travel Basics

Store tablets at room temperature in the original container with the desiccant, away from moisture and out of reach of children and pets. Keep the bottle closed tightly between uses. When traveling, carry your medicine in your hand luggage with a copy of your prescription label. For time zone changes, keep doses spaced as prescribed; your healthcare professional can help you plan a practical schedule.

Benefits

This treatment targets a signaling pathway that can drive growth in BRAF-positive tumors. Using a targeted approach may allow clinicians to tailor therapy to your tumor’s biology. When used with a BRAF inhibitor, the combination can help address pathway escape mechanisms. Oral dosing offers at-home administration, which many patients find convenient.

Side Effects and Safety

• Skin effects: rash, acneiform changes, dry skin, itching
• Digestive: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, mouth sores
• General: fatigue, fever (more common with combination therapy), headache
• Cardiovascular: swelling in legs, increased blood pressure
• Musculoskeletal: joint or muscle pain

Serious risks can include heart function changes, ocular events such as retinal pigment epithelial detachment or retinal vein occlusion, bleeding, interstitial lung disease, blood clots, and severe skin reactions. With combination therapy, fever can be significant and may require evaluation. New primary skin malignancies have been reported with BRAF inhibitors. Contact your prescriber promptly if you notice changes in vision, chest pain, shortness of breath, unusual bleeding, severe rash, or persistent high fever.

Drug Interactions and Cautions

Tell your clinician about all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you use. When given with a BRAF inhibitor, overall interaction risk can increase due to the partner drug. Strong enzyme inducers or inhibitors, certain anticoagulants, and medications affecting eye or heart function may require careful monitoring. Avoid starting or stopping other medicines without discussing the plan first.

What to Expect Over Time

Your team will monitor how you respond and how you tolerate the regimen. Early visits often focus on side-effect management and blood pressure checks. Periodic cardiac assessments and eye examinations may be scheduled. If you use a BRAF inhibitor partner, your clinician may provide instructions for managing fever and dehydration risk. Budgeting may include discussing Dabrafenib trametinib cost, appointment schedules, and support services.

Adherence matters. Set reminders, pair your dose with a routine, and keep a simple log of any side effects to discuss at follow-up. If a dose is held or adjusted by your prescriber, resume only as directed. High-quality information from your care team should guide expectations throughout treatment.

Compare With Alternatives

For BRAF-mutant melanoma, another option is encorafenib, a BRAF inhibitor often used with a MEK partner. See Braftovi for details aligned to that approach. For lung cancers driven by different mutations, your prescriber may consider other targeted agents. One example is Tagrisso for EGFR-mutated NSCLC, which is a separate pathway and indication. If your treatment plan includes dabrafenib with this medicine, your team can discuss Tafinlar price and how combination therapy is supplied.

To learn more about targeted cancer medicines in general, explore our article resources, including Cancer Drugs List and Immunotherapy For Cancer. For background on encorafenib-based regimens, see Braftovi Uses.

Pricing and Access

We display Canadian pricing with clear product pages and prescription validation. Many patients compare Mekinist price when planning budgets for multi-month therapy. Combination regimens may require separate fills for each component. We also support transparent estimates for partner drugs; if used with dabrafenib, you can review Canadian pricing for Tafinlar on its respective page. Our service Ships from Canada to US, and checkout provides your estimated timeline before completion.

To view current options, create an account and upload your prescription. We can coordinate with your clinic if needed and keep you informed about your order status. For periodic promotions, see our Promotions page. Prescription required and verified before dispensing.

Availability and Substitutions

Supply can vary by strength and pack size. If an item is temporarily unavailable, your prescriber may recommend an alternative in the same pathway or an appropriate substitute based on your mutation status and prior therapy. We can notify you when stock updates occur, or work with your clinician on an equivalent plan that fits your regimen.

Patient Suitability and Cost-Saving Tips

This therapy may suit adults with BRAF V600–positive melanoma or other approved BRAF-driven tumors, as decided by a specialist. It may not be appropriate for people with active retinal disease, significant heart dysfunction, or uncontrolled hypertension. Discuss any history of bleeding, clotting, or lung inflammation with your clinician.

To manage costs, ask about larger fills if clinically appropriate, and coordinate refills ahead of time. Multi-month planning can reduce time away from appointments. Patients often review Mekinist cost per month to anticipate budgets and organize copay or self-pay resources. Consider setting refill reminders in your account so your therapy remains continuous.

Questions to Ask Your Clinician

• Is my tumor confirmed to be BRAF V600–positive using an approved test?
• Will I take this medicine alone or with a BRAF inhibitor partner?
• What monitoring will I need for heart, eyes, skin, and blood pressure?
• How should I handle fever or dehydration if they occur during treatment?
• Are there medicines or supplements I should avoid while on therapy?
• What signs mean I should contact the clinic urgently?
• Can we plan refill schedules that fit my travel and appointments?

Authoritative Sources

FDA DailyMed | US Prescribing Information | Health Canada DPD

Ready to proceed? Order Mekinist online with prompt US shipping from Canada and temperature-controlled handling when required. This information is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice from your healthcare professional.