What should I avoid while taking sunitinib?
Avoid taking an herbal supplement containing St. John’s wort at the same time you are taking sunitinib.
Sunitinib side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using sunitinib and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
chest pain, general ill feeling;
uneven heart rate;
feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;
swelling of your ankles or feet;
weakness, tired feeling, loss of appetite, weight loss;
sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
redness, tenderness, sunburn-like peeling of the palms of your hands or the soles of your feet;
bloody, or black, tarry stools;
coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness; or
white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips.
Less serious side effects may include:
unusual or unpleasant taste in the mouth;
nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or upset;
diarrhea or constipation;
headache, joint or muscle pain.
skin rash, hair loss, changes in skin or hair color; or
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Sunitinib Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Renal Cell Carcinoma:
50 mg orally once a day with or without food.
Sunitinib is given on a schedule of four weeks on treatment followed by two weeks off treatment.
Usual Adult Dose for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor:
50 mg orally once a day with or without food.
Sunitinib is given on a schedule of four weeks on treatment followed by two weeks off treatment.
What other drugs will affect sunitinib?
Tell your doctor about all other medications you are using, especially:
- ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), voriconazole (VFend);
- dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexacort);
- nefazodone (Serzone);
- seizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton);
- rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifapentin (Priftin);
- clarithromycin (Biaxin), telithromycin (Ketek); or
- HIV medicines such as atazanavir (Reyataz), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with sunitinib. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
ref. : Drugs.com
