votrient

Votrient (pazopanib) is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.

Votrient is used to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer).

Votrient is also used to treat soft tissue sarcoma (a tumor that can develop in or around muscles, tendons, joints, organs, or blood vessels). Votrient is usually given after other cancer medications have been tried without successful treatment of soft tissue sarcoma.

Important information

You should not use Votrient if you have severe liver disease.

Votrient can cause severe or life-threatening liver problems. You will need frequent blood tests to check your liver function.

Votrient can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. You may get an infection or bleed more easily. Call your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding, or signs of infection (fever, chills, body aches).

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Votrient if you are allergic to pazopanib, or if you have severe liver disease.

To make sure Votrient is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver disease;

• heart disease, heart rhythm disorder;

• high blood pressure;

• a personal or family history of Long QT syndrome;

• a history of blood clot or stroke;

• a thyroid disorder;

• an ulcer or other stomach disorder;

• headaches, seizures, or vision problems;

• a head injury or bleeding in your brain within the past 6 months;

• stomach or intestinal bleeding within the past 6 months;

• history of a perforation (a hole or tear) in your stomach or intestines;

• history of a fistula (an abnormal passageway) within your stomach or intestines; or

• if you have had surgery within the past 7 days.

Do not use Votrient if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy during treatment.

It is not known whether pazopanib passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using Votrient.

How should I take Votrient?

Take Votrient exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Take Votrient on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

Do not crush a tablet. Swallow the pill whole. Crushing the pill may cause your body to absorb too much of the drug at one time.

Votrient can cause severe or life-threatening liver problems. While using Votrient, you may need frequent blood or urine tests. Your liver function and blood pressure will also need to be checked often. Your heart function may need to be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG).

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using pazopanib. You may need to stop using the medicine for at least 7 days before your surgery.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Votrient dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Renal Cell Carcinoma:

Recommended dose: 800 mg orally once daily without food (at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal).

The dose of pazopanib should not exceed 800 mg.

Usual Adult Dose for Soft Tissue Sarcoma:

Recommended dose: 800 mg orally once daily without food (at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal).

The dose of pazopanib should not exceed 800 mg.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if your next dose is less than 12 hours away. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking Votrient?

Ask your doctor before using an antacid, and use only the type your doctor recommends. Do not take an antacid within several hours before or after you have taken your Votrient dose. Avoid taking stomach acid reducers (Axid, Nexium, Pepcid, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix, Tagamet, Zantac, Zegerid) while taking Votrient.

This medicine can pass into body fluids (including urine, feces, vomit, semen, vaginal fluid). Patients and caregivers should wear rubber gloves while cleaning up body fluids, handling contaminated trash or laundry or changing diapers. Wash hands before and after removing gloves. Wash soiled clothing and linens separately from other laundry.

Body fluids should not be handled by a woman who is pregnant or who may become pregnant. Use condoms during sexual activity to avoid exposure to body fluids.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with pazopanib and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products while taking Votrient.

Votrient side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Votrient: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using Votrient and call your doctor at once if you have:

• slow healing of a wound or surgical incision, or any wound that will not heal;

• nosebleed, bleeding gums;

• stomach pain or swelling, bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;

• fever, chills, easy bruising, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat;

• headache, confusion, change in mental status, vision loss, seizure (convulsions);

• liver problems - nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• heart attack symptoms - chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating;

• signs of other heart problems - feeling short of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain, headache with chest pain and severe dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeats;

• signs of a stroke - sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;

• signs of a blood clot in the lung - chest pain, sudden cough, wheezing, rapid breathing, coughing up blood;

• signs of a blood clot in your leg - pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in one or both legs; or

• dangerously high blood pressure - severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears, nosebleed, anxiety, confusion, severe chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats, seizure.

Liver problems may be more likely in adults older than 65.

Common Votrient side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;

• loss of appetite; or

• changes in hair color.

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.

See also: Side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Votrient?

Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with Votrient, especially:

• an antibiotic;

• an antidepressant;

• heart rhythm medication;

• HIV or AIDS medications; or

• stomach acid reducers such as Nexium, Prilosec, Tagamet, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with pazopanib, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.