Sunitinib
Information about Sunitinib
Sunitinib uses
Sunitinib is used in the treatment of kidney cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumour.
How sunitinib works
Sunitinib is an anti-cancer medication. It works by binding and blocking certain cell surface protein (tyrosine kinase) responsible for the propagation of cancer growth. It also restricts the growth of new blood vessels within the tumor. This is how it prevents the proliferation of malignant cancers.
Common side effects of sunitinib
Nausea, Vomiting, Weakness, Rash, Abdominal pain, Fatigue, Fever, Bleeding, High blood pressure, Diarrhea, Constipation, Back pain, Weight loss, Cough, Taste change, Breathlessness, Decreased level of thyroid hormones, Muscle pain, Insomnia (difficulty in sleeping), Hair loss, Protein in urine, Decreased appetite, Flatulence, Mucositis, Skin discoloration, Hand-foot-and-mouth disease, Change in color of hair, Decreased white blood cell count (neutrophils), Decreased white blood cell count (lymphocytes), Increased aspartate aminotransferase, Increased alanine aminotransferase, Increased bilirubin in the blood, Increased lipase in the blood, Increased creatinine level in blood, Decreased in left ventricular ejection fraction, Decreased potassium level in blood, Increased sodium level in blood, Dryness in mouth, Mouth pain, Tongue pain, Piles, Pain in extremity, Nasopharyngitis (inflammation of the throat and nasal passages), Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome, Liver toxicity, Cardiovascular disorders, Prolonged QT interval, Torsade de pointes, Hemorrhagic complications, Tumor lysis syndrome, Thrombotic microangiopathy, Dermatologic toxicity, Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose level), Osteonecrosis of the jaw, Impaired wound healing
Available Medicine for Sunitinib
Expert advice for Sunitinib
- Sunitinib is used for the treatment of thyroid cancer.
- Take it with or without food, preferably at the same time each day.
- Diarrhea may occur as a side effect. Drink plenty of fluids and inform your doctor if it doesn't stop or if you find blood in your stools.
- Use a reliable contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy while you are taking this medicine and for a month after you stop taking it.
- It may affect wound healing time. Be careful while shaving, cutting fingernails or toenails, or using sharp objects.
- Monitor your blood pressure regularly while taking this medication. Inform your doctor if you notice symptoms of very high blood pressure such as severe headache, confusion, problems with your eyesight, nausea or vomiting.
- Monitoring of thyroid gland function is required while taking this medicine. Inform your doctor if you notice symptoms of weight gain, dry skin, and hair.
- It may cause serious bleeding problem. Inform your doctor if you get headaches, stomach pain or if you notice blood in your urine or stools.
- Inform your doctor about the consumption of Sunitinib before going for surgical procedure.
- Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant, planning to conceive or breastfeeding.
Frequently asked questions for Sunitinib
Sunitinib
Q. How should I take Sunitinib?
You should take Sunitinib exactly as directed by your doctor. It should be started by doctors who have experience in administering cancer medicines. Take it once a day with or without food. Do not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit during your treatment with Sunitinib, as the chances of side effects may be more.
Q. Does Sunitinib have any effect on skin and hair?
During treatment with Sunitinib, your skin may get lighter and there may be hair loss. Also, patient may experience dryness, thickness or cracking of the skin, blisters, or rashes on the palms and soles. But, these side effects are reversible and go away once the medicine is stopped. Sunitinib may also cause serious skin reactions such as severe rash or rapidly spreading skin ulceration which could be fatal. Therefore, inform your doctor immediately if symptoms of infection occur around a skin injury. Let your doctor know if you have fever, pain, redness, swelling, or drainage of pus or blood.
Q. What is the most important thing I need to know about Sunitinib?
Sunitinib can cause serious side effects such as severe liver problems that can lead to death. Therefore, tell your doctor right away if you experience itching, yellow eyes or skin, dark urine or pain or discomfort in the right upper stomach area. Your doctor will get blood tests done to check your liver function before and during treatment with Sunitinib. In case you develop liver problems, your doctor may stop the medicine temporarily or permanently.