Pazopanib Hydrochloride
Pazopanib Uses
Pazopanib is used to treat kidney cancer. It may also be used to treat certain other types of cancer (soft tissue sarcoma). Pazopanib belongs to a class of drugs known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors. It works by decreasing the blood supply to the cancer tumor to slow tumor growth.
This medication should not be used in children, especially younger than 2 years of age, because of the risk of serious side effects.
How to use Pazopanib Tablet
Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start taking pazopanib and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth without food as directed by your doctor, usually once daily. It is very important to take this medication on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after food.
Swallow this medication whole. Do not crush, chew, or break the tablets. Doing so can release all of the drug at once, increasing the risk of side effects.
Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medication. Grapefruit can increase the amount of this medication in your bloodstream. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
Medications that reduce/block stomach acid (such as antacids, H2 blockers such as famotidine/ranitidine, proton pump inhibitors-PPIs such as omeprazole/lansoprazole) may reduce the absorption of pazopanib, making it work less well. Do not take H2 blockers or PPIs while using this medication. If you are taking antacids, ask your pharmacist about how to best take them, such as taking antacids at least several hours apart from when you take pazopanib. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of these medications.
Dosage is based on your medical condition, laboratory tests, response to treatment, and other medications you may be taking. Be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).
Your doctor will order lab tests to find the best dose for you. Keep all medical and lab appointments.
Do not increase your dose or take this drug more often than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of serious side effects will increase. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
Since this medication can be absorbed through the skin and lungs, women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not handle this medication or breathe the dust from the tablets.
Tell your doctor if your condition worsens.
Pazopanib Side Effects
See also Warning section.
Diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, headache, loss of appetite, weight loss, altered sense of taste, numbness/tingling/redness in hands/feet, or feeling tired/weak may occur. If these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Temporary hair loss and/or change in hair or skin color may occur. Normal hair growth should return after treatment has ended.
People using this medication may have serious side effects. However, your doctor has prescribed this drug because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Careful monitoring by your doctor may decrease your risk.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: symptoms of heart failure (such as swelling ankles/feet, unusual tiredness), signs of an underactive thyroid (such as unusual weight gain, cold intolerance, slow heartbeat), signs of infection (such as fever, chills, persistent sore throat, cough), wounds that do not heal, signs of kidney problems (such as change in the amount of urine).
This drug can cause serious (rarely fatal) bleeding. Tell your doctor right away if you have any signs of unusual bleeding such as: bloody/black stools, easy bleeding/bruising (such as nose bleed or bloody/pinkish urine), vomit that looks like coffee grounds, severe stomach/abdominal pain, coughing up blood.
This medication may raise your blood pressure. Check your blood pressure regularly and tell your doctor if the results are high. Your doctor may control your blood pressure with medication.
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: fast/irregular heartbeat, severe dizziness, fainting, symptoms of a heart attack (such as chest/jaw/left arm pain, shortness of breath, unusual sweating), signs of a stroke (such as weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, vision changes, confusion), pain/redness/swelling in the arm/leg/calf/groin, signs of a certain brain condition (such as headache, seizure, decreased alertness, blindness).
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Pazopanib Precautions
Before taking pazopanib, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease, chest pain/heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke, bleeding/clotting problem, intestinal or stomach problems (such as ulcer, fistula, pancreatitis), underactive thyroid.
Pazopanib may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can rarely cause serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, fainting) that need medical attention right away.
The risk of QT prolongation may be increased if you have certain medical conditions or are taking other drugs that may cause QT prolongation. Before using pazopanib, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take and if you have any of the following conditions: certain heart problems (heart failure, slow heartbeat, QT prolongation in the EKG), family history of certain heart problems (QT prolongation in the EKG, sudden cardiac death).
Low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood may also increase your risk of QT prolongation. This risk may increase if you use certain drugs (such as diuretics/"water pills") or if you have conditions such as severe sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting. Talk to your doctor about using pazopanib safely.
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). Pazopanib may slow wound healing or cause healing wounds to reopen.
To lower the chance of getting cut, bruised, or injured, use caution with sharp objects like razors and nail cutters, and avoid activities such as contact sports.
Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially liver disease or QT prolongation (see above).
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Your doctor will give you a pregnancy test before starting treatment. You should not become pregnant while using pazopanib. Pazopanib may harm an unborn baby. Women and men should ask about reliable forms of birth control to use during treatment with this medication and for at least 2 weeks after stopping treatment. If you or your female partner becomes pregnant, talk to your doctor right away about the risks and benefits of this medication.
It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. Because of the possible risk to the infant, breast-feeding is not recommended while using this drug and for 2 weeks after stopping treatment. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Pazopanib Interactions
See also How to Use section.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug include: irinotecan, other drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (including antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, "blood thinners" such as warfarin).
Aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding when used with this medication. However, if your doctor has directed you to take low-dose aspirin for heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day), you should continue taking it unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
Other medications can affect the removal of pazopanib from your body, which may affect how pazopanib works. Examples include azole antifungals (such as ketoconazole), nefazodone, rifamycins (such as rifabutin, rifampin), St. John's wort, drugs used to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone), HIV protease inhibitors (such as ritonavir), among others.
Many drugs besides pazopanib may affect the heart rhythm (QT prolongation), including amiodarone, dofetilide, pimozide, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol, macrolide antibiotics (such as clarithromycin, erythromycin), among others. Therefore, before using this drug, report all medications you are currently using to your doctor or pharmacist.
Note: We strongly encourage you to talk with your health care professional about your specific medical condition and treatments. The information contained in this website is meant to be helpful and educational, but is not a substitute for medical advice.
Pazopanib View Uses, Side Effects and Medicines, cost, Pazopanib price.
