Sunitinib Stada
Sunitinib Stada is a cancer medicine that works by stopping certain proteins from functioning, which slows down the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Form
kapseli, kova
Strength
12.5 mg
Active Ingredient
Sunitinib
Manufacturer
STADA Arzneimittel AG
How to Use
Dosage
For stomach/intestinal cancer (GIST) or kidney cancer (MRCC): take 50 mg once a day for 28 days, then stop for 14 days (no medicine). This completes a 6-week cycle. For pancreatic NET: take 37.5 mg once a day every day, without breaks.
Method
You can take Sunitinib Stada with or without food.
Important
The maximum daily dose is 50 mg for stomach/intestinal or kidney cancer treatment periods, and 37.5 mg daily for pancreatic NET.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Decreased number of blood platelets, red blood cells, and/or white blood cells (e.g., neutrophils)
- •Shortness of breath
- •High blood pressure
- •Extreme tiredness, weakness
- •Swelling due to fluid retention under the skin and around the eyes; severe allergic skin rash
- •Mouth pain/irritation, mouth sores, mouth inflammation/dryness, taste changes, stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain/swelling, decreased appetite
- •Decreased thyroid activity (hypothyroidism)
- •Dizziness
- •Headache
- •Nosebleeds
- •Back pain, joint pain
- •Limb pain
- •Yellowing/discoloration of skin, increased skin pigmentation (darkening), changes in hair color, rash on palms and soles, dry skin
- •Cough
- •Fever
- •Difficulty falling asleep
- •Blood clots in blood vessels
- •Insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle due to blocked or narrowed coronary arteries
- •Chest pain
- •Decreased amount of blood pumped by the heart
- •Fluid retention around the lungs
- •Infections
- •Complication of severe infection (blood infection) that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death
- •Low blood sugar levels
- •Protein leakage in urine, sometimes leading to swelling
- •Flu-like symptoms
- •Abnormal blood test results, including for pancreatic and liver enzymes
- •Increased uric acid levels in blood
- •Hemorrhoids, rectal pain, gum bleeding, difficulty or inability to swallow
- •Burning sensation or pain in the tongue, inflammation of the gastrointestinal lining, increased gas in stomach or intestines
- •Weight loss
- •Musculoskeletal pain (pain in muscles and bones), muscle weakness, muscle fatigue, muscle pain, muscle cramps
- •Dry nose, stuffy nose
- •Increased tear production
- •Abnormal skin sensations, itching, peeling skin or skin inflammation, blisters, acne, nail discoloration, hair loss
- •Abnormal sensations in limbs
- •Abnormally decreased or increased sensitivity, especially to touch
- •Heartburn
- •Dehydration
- •Hot flashes
- •Abnormally colored urine
- •Depression
- •Chills
RARE
- •Life-threatening soft tissue infection, including around the rectum and genitals
- •Stroke
- •Heart attack caused by interrupted or reduced blood flow to the heart
- •Changes in the heart's electrical activity or abnormal heart rhythm
- •Fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion)
- •Liver failure
- •Abdominal pain due to pancreas inflammation
- •Tumor breakdown leading to a hole in the intestine (perforation)
- •Gallbladder inflammation (swelling and redness), with or without gallstones
- •Abnormal channel from a normal body cavity to another or to the skin (fistula)
- •Pain in the mouth, teeth, and/or jaw, swelling and sores inside the mouth, numbness or pressure in the jaw, or loose teeth. These can be signs of jaw bone damage (osteonecrosis).
- •Overproduction of thyroid hormones, increasing the body's resting energy consumption
- •Problems with wound healing after surgery
- •Increased levels of muscle enzyme (creatine kinase) in the blood
- •Severe allergic reaction to an allergen, including hay fever, rash, itching, hives, swelling of body parts, and difficulty breathing
- •Colon inflammation (colitis, ischemic colitis)
- •Severe skin and/or mucous membrane reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme)
- •Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) – a group of metabolic complications from cancer treatment, caused by breakdown products from dying cancer cells. Symptoms can include nausea, shortness of breath, irregular pulse, muscle cramps, seizures, cloudy urine, and tiredness, along with abnormal lab values.
- •Abnormal breakdown of muscle tissue that can lead to kidney problems (rhabdomyolysis)
- •Abnormal brain changes that can cause symptoms like headache, confusion, seizures, and vision loss (reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome)
- •Painful skin ulcers (pyoderma gangrenosum)
- •Liver inflammation (hepatitis)
- •Thyroid inflammation
- •Damage to small blood vessels, called thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA)
- •Enlargement and weakening of a blood vessel or a rupture in a blood vessel (aneurysms and arterial dissections)
- •Lack of energy, confusion, drowsiness, unconsciousness/coma – these symptoms can be signs of brain toxicity caused by high levels of ammonia in the blood (hyperammonemic encephalopathy).
Important Warnings
- Do not take Sunitinib Stada if you are allergic to sunitinib or any other ingredient in this medicine.
- Tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure, as this medicine can raise it and may require treatment.
- Inform your doctor about any blood problems, bleeding issues, or bruises you have or have had, as this medicine can increase bleeding risk or affect blood cells.
- Tell your doctor if you have heart problems, feel very tired, breathless, or have swollen feet and ankles, as this medicine can cause heart issues.
- Contact your doctor if you have an abnormal heart rhythm, feel dizzy, faint, or have unusual heartbeats.
Show 16 more warnings
- Seek immediate medical help if you have recently had blood clots in veins or arteries (like stroke, heart attack, or blood vessel blockage), especially if you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, numbness, or speech difficulties.
- Tell your doctor if you have had an aneurysm (a weakened or enlarged blood vessel) or a ruptured blood vessel.
- Inform your doctor if you have or have had damage to small blood vessels (thrombotic microangiopathy or TMA), with symptoms like fever, tiredness, bruising, bleeding, swelling, confusion, vision loss, or seizures.
- Tell your doctor if you have thyroid problems, feel more tired than usual, feel colder, or your voice deepens. Your thyroid function will be checked.
- Contact your doctor if you have pain in your stomach, nausea, vomiting, or fever, as these could be signs of pancreas or gallbladder issues.
- Tell your doctor if you have liver problems, such as itching, yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, or pain in the upper right side of your stomach. Your liver function will be monitored.
- Your doctor will monitor your kidney function if you have kidney problems.
- Inform your doctor if you are having or have recently had surgery, as Sunitinib Stada can affect wound healing and treatment may be paused.
- You may be asked to check your dental health before starting Sunitinib Stada. Contact your doctor or dentist right away if you experience mouth, tooth, or jaw pain, swelling, sores, numbness, pressure in your jaw, or loose teeth.
- Tell your doctor if you have or have had skin problems, including painful skin wounds, rapidly spreading infections, or severe rashes. Seek medical advice immediately if you notice infection signs around skin lesions, or severe skin reactions.
- Inform your doctor immediately if you have seizures, especially with high blood pressure, headache, or vision loss.
- If you have diabetes, your blood sugar levels will be checked regularly, and your diabetes medication dose may be adjusted to avoid low blood sugar. Report any signs of low blood sugar (tiredness, sweating, hunger, confusion) to your doctor immediately.
- Avoid drinking grapefruit juice while taking Sunitinib Stada.
- If you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Do not breastfeed while on Sunitinib Stada.
- If you can become pregnant, use reliable birth control during treatment with Sunitinib Stada.
- If you feel dizzy or unusually tired, be especially careful when driving or using machines, as this medicine can affect your ability.