Sunitinib Avansor
Sunitinib Avansor is a cancer medicine that works by blocking certain proteins that help cancer cells grow and spread.
Form
kapseli, kova
Strength
12.5 mg
Active Ingredient
Sunitinib malate
Manufacturer
Avansor Pharma Oy
How to Use
Dosage
For GIST or kidney cancer, the usual dose is 50 mg once daily for 28 days, followed by a 14-day break. This completes a 6-week cycle. For pancreatic NET, the usual dose is 37.5 mg once daily without a break.
Method
You can take the capsule with or without food. To remove a capsule from the blister pack, gently tear along the perforated line, lift the foil edge, pull it open, and take out the capsule. Do not push the capsule through the foil, as it may break.
Important
The maximum daily dose depends on your cancer type and will be decided by your doctor. For GIST or kidney cancer, it is usually 50 mg per day during the treatment period. For pancreatic NET, it is 37.5 mg per day.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Low red blood cells, white blood cells, and/or platelets (cells that help blood clot).
- •Shortness of breath.
- •High blood pressure.
- •Feeling very tired or weak.
- •Swelling due to fluid under the skin, especially around the eyes; severe allergic skin rash.
- •Mouth pain/irritation, mouth sores/inflammation/dryness, changes in taste, stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain/swelling, loss of appetite.
- •Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
- •Dizziness, headache.
- •Nosebleed.
- •Back pain, joint pain, limb pain.
- •Yellowing/discoloration of skin, increased skin darkening, changes in hair color, rash on palms and soles, general rash, dry skin.
- •Cough.
- •Fever.
- •Difficulty sleeping.
- •Blood clots in vessels.
- •Reduced blood flow to the heart muscle due to blocked or narrowed coronary arteries.
- •Chest pain.
- •Reduced amount of blood pumped by the heart.
- •Fluid build-up in the body, including around the lungs.
- •Infections.
- •Complications from severe infection (infection in the bloodstream) which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
- •Low blood sugar.
- •Protein in urine, sometimes causing swelling.
- •Flu-like symptoms.
- •Abnormal blood test results, including pancreatic and liver enzyme levels.
- •High uric acid levels in the blood.
- •Hemorrhoids, rectal pain, bleeding gums, difficulty or inability to swallow.
- •Burning sensation or pain in the tongue, inflammation of the digestive tract lining, increased gas in stomach or intestines.
- •Weight loss.
- •Muscle and bone pain, muscle weakness, muscle fatigue, muscle aches, muscle cramps.
- •Dry nose, blocked nose, increased tear production.
- •Unusual skin sensations, itching, skin peeling or inflammation, blisters, acne, nail discoloration, hair loss.
- •Unusual sensations in limbs, unusually decreased or increased sensitivity, especially to touch.
- •Heartburn.
- •Dehydration.
- •Hot flushes.
- •Abnormally colored urine.
- •Depression.
- •Chills.
RARE
- •Life-threatening soft tissue infection, including around the anus and genitals.
- •Stroke.
- •Heart attack caused by blocked or reduced blood supply to the heart.
- •Changes in the heart's electrical activity or abnormal heart rhythm.
- •Fluid build-up around the heart (pericardial effusion).
- •Liver failure.
- •Stomach pain from pancreatitis, gallbladder inflammation (swelling and redness) possibly with gallstones.
- •Perforation (a hole) in the digestive tract caused by tumor breakdown.
- •Abnormal connection (fistula) from one body cavity to another or to the skin.
- •Mouth, tooth, and/or jaw pain, swelling or sores in the mouth, numbness or heaviness in the jaw, or loose teeth. These can be signs of jaw bone damage (osteonecrosis).
- •Overactive thyroid, increasing the body's energy use at rest.
- •Problems with wound healing after surgery.
- •Increased levels of muscle enzymes (creatine phosphokinase) in the blood.
- •Severe allergic reaction including hay fever, rash, itching, hives, swelling of body parts, and breathing difficulties.
- •Inflammation of the colon (colitis, ischemic colitis).
- •Severe skin and/or mucous membrane reactions (e.g., Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme).
- •Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), a group of problems from dying cancer cells that can cause nausea, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, muscle cramps, seizures, cloudy urine, tiredness, and abnormal blood tests, potentially leading to kidney problems.
- •Abnormal breakdown of muscle tissue (rhabdomyolysis) which can lead to kidney problems.
- •Abnormal brain changes (PRES) that can cause headaches, confusion, seizures, and vision loss.
- •Painful skin sores (pyoderma gangrenosum).
- •Liver inflammation (hepatitis).
- •Thyroid inflammation.
- •Damage to small blood vessels, called thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA).
Important Warnings
- This medicine can raise your blood pressure. Your doctor will check it regularly and may give you medicine to lower it if needed.
- This medicine can increase your risk of bleeding or bruising, and may affect your blood cells. Tell your doctor if you experience any bleeding.
- This medicine can cause heart problems. Tell your doctor if you feel very tired, short of breath, or have swollen feet and ankles.
- This medicine can cause blood clots. Get help right away if you have chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness on one side of your body, or trouble speaking.
- This medicine can affect your thyroid. Tell your doctor if you feel more tired, colder than usual, or if your voice deepens. Your doctor will check your thyroid function.
Show 6 more warnings
- This medicine can cause liver problems. Tell your doctor if you have itching, yellow skin/eyes, dark urine, or pain in the upper right side of your stomach. Your doctor will monitor your liver.
- Contact your doctor and dentist right away if you have mouth, tooth, or jaw pain, swelling, sores in your mouth, numbness or heaviness in your jaw, or loose teeth.
- This medicine can cause severe skin problems, including painful sores, serious infections, or widespread rashes with blisters. Contact your doctor right away if you develop fever, pain, redness, swelling, pus, bleeding, or a worsening rash.
- If you have had seizures, tell your doctor right away if you experience high blood pressure, headache, or vision loss.
- Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking this medicine.
- Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Use reliable birth control during treatment if you can become pregnant.