Sunitinib Ratiopharm
Sunitinib ratiopharm is a cancer medicine that works by stopping certain proteins from helping cancer cells grow and spread.
Form
kapseli, kova
Strength
50 mg
Active Ingredient
Sunitinib
Manufacturer
ratiopharm GmbH
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will decide your dose, usually 50 mg once a day for 4 weeks, followed by a 2-week break, or 37.5 mg once a day without a break for certain types of cancer.
Method
You can take this medicine with or without food.
Important
The maximum daily dose is usually 50 mg.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Lower numbers of blood cells (platelets, red, or white blood cells)
- •Shortness of breath
- •High blood pressure
- •Extreme tiredness, weakness
- •Swelling due to fluid retention under the skin and around the eyes
- •Mouth pain or irritation, mouth sores, dry mouth, changes in taste, stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain or swelling, loss of appetite
- •Underactive thyroid gland
- •Dizziness
- •Headache
- •Nosebleeds
- •Back pain, joint pain
- •Pain in arms and legs
- •Yellowing or discoloration of skin, increased skin darkening, changes in hair color, rash on palms and soles, dry skin
- •Cough
- •Fever
- •Difficulty falling asleep
- •Blood clots in vessels
- •Reduced blood flow to heart muscle due to blocked or narrowed coronary arteries
- •Chest pain
- •Reduced amount of blood pumped by the heart
- •Fluid buildup in the body, including around the lungs
- •Infections
- •Complications from severe infection (blood infection) that can cause 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 in blood
- •Hemorrhoids, rectal pain, bleeding gums, difficulty swallowing
- •Burning sensation or pain in tongue, inflammation of digestive tract lining, gas
- •Weight loss
- •Muscle and bone pain, muscle weakness, muscle cramps
- •Dry nose, stuffy nose
- •Increased tear production
- •Unusual skin sensations, itching, peeling or inflamed skin, blisters, acne, nail discoloration, hair loss
- •Unusual sensations in arms and legs
- •Unusual changes in sensitivity, especially to touch
- •Heartburn
- •Dehydration
- •Hot flashes
- •Discolored urine
- •Depression
- •Chills
RARE
- •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
- •Liver failure
- •Stomach pain from pancreas inflammation
- •Hole in the digestive tract due to tumor breakdown
- •Gallbladder inflammation (swelling and redness), sometimes with gallstones
- •Abnormal connection (fistula) from one body cavity to another or to the skin
- •Pain in mouth, teeth, or jaw, swelling or sores inside mouth, numbness or heavy feeling in jaw, loose teeth (may be signs of jaw bone damage)
- •Overactive thyroid gland
- •Problems with wound healing after surgery
- •Increased levels of muscle enzyme (creatine phosphokinase) in blood
- •Severe allergic reaction including hay fever, rash, itching, hives, swelling of body parts, and difficulty breathing
- •Colon inflammation (colitis, ischemic colitis)
- •Severe skin or mucous membrane reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme)
- •Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), a group of metabolic complications that can occur during cancer treatment, potentially leading to kidney problems and acute kidney failure.
- •Abnormal muscle cell breakdown (rhabdomyolysis) leading to kidney problems
- •Abnormal brain changes (Posterior Reversible Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome - PRES) causing symptoms like headache, confusion, seizures, and vision loss
- •Painful skin sores (pyoderma gangrenosum)
- •Liver inflammation (hepatitis)
- •Thyroid inflammation
- •Damage to small blood vessels (thrombotic microangiopathy - TMA)
- •Enlargement or weakening of a blood vessel wall, or a ruptured blood vessel (aneurysms and arterial dissections)
- •Lack of energy, confusion, drowsiness, unconsciousness/coma (may be signs of brain toxicity from high ammonia levels in blood)
Important Warnings
- This medicine can raise your blood pressure, so your doctor may check it often.
- Tell your doctor if you have bleeding problems or bruise easily, as this medicine can increase the risk of bleeding.
- This medicine can affect your heart, so tell your doctor if you feel very tired, short of breath, or have swollen ankles.
- Seek immediate medical help if you have signs of blood clots, like chest pain, shortness of breath, sudden numbness, or trouble speaking.
- This medicine can affect your thyroid gland, so tell your doctor if you feel more tired, colder than usual, or your voice changes.
Show 6 more warnings
- Report any signs of liver problems to your doctor, such as itching, yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, or pain in the upper right side of your stomach.
- Tell your doctor if you are having surgery or have recently had one, as this medicine can affect wound healing.
- You may need a dental check-up before starting treatment. Report any mouth, tooth, or jaw pain, swelling, or numbness to your doctor.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you develop severe skin rashes, painful sores, or signs of skin infection like fever and redness.
- Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking this medicine.
- Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding; use effective birth control during treatment.