Sunitinib Avansor
Sunitinib Avansor is a cancer medicine that stops certain proteins, helping to prevent cancer cells from growing and spreading.
Form
kapseli, kova
Strength
50 mg
Active Ingredient
Sunitinib malate
Manufacturer
Avansor Pharma Oy
How to Use
Dosage
For certain stomach/bowel or kidney cancers, the usual dose is 50 mg once a day for 28 days. For pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, the usual dose is 37.5 mg once a day.
Method
You can take this medicine with or without food. To get the capsule out of the pack, tear along the line, lift the foil, and pull it open. Do not push the capsule through the foil, as it may break.
Important
The maximum daily dose is 50 mg for stomach/bowel/kidney cancers (during treatment days) and 37.5 mg for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Your doctor will tell you your exact dose.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Low blood cell counts (platelets, red blood cells, white blood cells)
- •Shortness of breath
- •High blood pressure
- •Severe tiredness, weakness
- •Swelling due to fluid under the skin and around the eyes, severe allergic skin inflammation
- •Mouth pain/soreness, mouth sores/inflammation/dryness, changes in taste, stomach problems, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, belly pain or swelling, loss of appetite
- •Underactive thyroid
- •Dizziness
- •Headache
- •Nosebleeds
- •Back pain, joint pain, limb pain
- •Yellowish/discolored skin, darker skin patches, changes in hair color, rash on palms and soles, rash, dry skin
- •Cough
- •Fever
- •Difficulty sleeping
RARE
- •Blood clots in blood vessels
- •Reduced blood flow to the heart muscle due to blocked arteries, chest pain
- •Reduced amount of blood pumped by the heart
- •Fluid buildup in the body, including around the lungs
- •Infections, including severe ones that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, or death
- •Low blood sugar
- •Protein in urine (can sometimes cause swelling)
- •Flu-like symptoms
- •Abnormal blood test results, including pancreatic and liver enzyme levels
- •High uric acid in blood
- •Hemorrhoids, rectal pain, bleeding gums, difficulty or inability to swallow
- •Burning sensation or pain in the tongue, inflammation of the digestive tract lining, gas
- •Weight loss
- •Muscle and bone pain, muscle weakness, muscle fatigue, muscle pain, muscle cramps
- •Dry nose, stuffy nose
- •Increased tear production
- •Unusual skin sensations, itching, peeling skin or skin inflammation, blisters, acne, nail discoloration, hair loss
- •Unusual sensations in limbs
- •Abnormally reduced or increased sensitivity, especially to touch
- •Heartburn
- •Dehydration
- •Hot flashes
- •Abnormally colored urine
- •Depression
- •Chills
- •Life-threatening soft tissue infection, including around the anus and genitals
- •Stroke
- •Heart attack due to blocked or reduced blood flow to the heart
- •Changes in heart's electrical activity or abnormal heart rhythm
- •Fluid buildup around the heart (pericardial effusion)
- •Liver failure
- •Abdominal pain due to pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
- •Tumor breakdown leading to perforation (a hole) in the digestive tract
- •Gallbladder inflammation (swelling and redness), possibly with gallstones
- •Abnormal connection between a body cavity and another or the skin (fistula)
- •Mouth, tooth, and/or jaw pain, swelling or sores in the mouth, numbness or heavy feeling in the jaw, loose teeth. These can be signs of jawbone damage (osteonecrosis).
- •Overactive thyroid (increased body energy use at rest)
- •Problems with wound healing after surgery
- •Increased levels of muscle enzyme (creatine phosphokinase) in the blood
- •Severe allergic reaction including hay fever, rash, itchy skin, hives, swelling of body parts, and breathing difficulties
- •Colon inflammation (colitis, ischemic colitis)
- •Severe skin or mucosal reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme)
- •Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) - complications from dying cancer cells that can cause nausea, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, muscle cramps, seizures, cloudy urine, fatigue, and abnormal lab results (high potassium, uric acid, phosphate; low calcium), possibly leading to kidney problems or acute kidney failure.
- •Abnormal brain changes that can cause headache, confusion, seizures, and vision loss (Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome)
- •Painful skin sores (pyoderma gangrenosum)
- •Liver inflammation (hepatitis)
- •Thyroid inflammation
- •Small blood vessel damage (thrombotic microangiopathy - TMA)
- •Enlargement/weakening or rupture of blood vessel walls (aneurysms and arterial dissections)
- •Lack of energy, confusion, drowsiness, unconsciousness/coma - these may be signs of brain toxicity due to high ammonia levels in the blood (hyperammonemic encephalopathy)
Important Warnings
- Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to sunitinib or any other ingredient in the medicine.
- This medicine can raise your blood pressure. Your doctor will check it regularly.
- This medicine may cause bleeding, bruising, or affect your blood cells. Tell your doctor if you notice any unusual bleeding.
- This medicine can cause heart problems. Tell your doctor if you feel very tired, short of breath, or have swollen feet/ankles.
- It may cause unusual heart rhythms. Tell your doctor if you feel dizzy, faint, or have abnormal heartbeats.
Show 15 more warnings
- There is a risk of blood clots, including stroke or heart attack. Get urgent medical help if you have chest pain, pain in your arm/back/neck/jaw, shortness of breath, numbness or weakness on one side of your body, headache, or dizziness.
- Tell your doctor if you have or have had an aneurysm (a weak spot in a blood vessel wall) or a ruptured blood vessel.
- This medicine can damage small blood vessels (called TMA). Tell your doctor if you have fever, tiredness, bruising, bleeding, swelling, confusion, vision loss, or seizures.
- This medicine may cause thyroid problems. Tell your doctor if you feel more tired, colder than usual, or if your voice changes.
- Tell your doctor if you have pancreas or gallbladder problems. Watch for stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or fever.
- Tell your doctor if you have liver problems. Watch for itching, yellow skin/eyes, dark urine, or pain in your upper right belly.
- Your doctor will check your kidney function if you have kidney problems.
- If you are having or have recently had surgery, this medicine may affect wound healing. Treatment is usually stopped before surgery.
- You may need a dental check-up before starting this medicine. Tell your doctor or dentist if you have mouth/jaw pain, swelling, sores, numbness, or loose teeth.
- This medicine can cause skin problems like painful sores, severe skin infections, or severe rashes. Seek immediate medical help if you have fever, pain, redness, swelling, pus, or bleeding around a skin wound, or widespread blistering rash.
- Tell your doctor if you have seizures, or if you have high blood pressure, headache, or vision loss.
- If you have diabetes, your blood sugar should be checked regularly. Tell your doctor if you have signs of low blood sugar like tiredness, fast heartbeat, sweating, hunger, or fainting.
- Avoid drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medicine.
- Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Use reliable birth control during treatment.
- This medicine may cause dizziness or tiredness, so be careful when driving or using machines.