Votrient 200 mg (Pazopanib)

PRODUCT INTRODUCTION

Votrient 200 mg Tablet is a protein kinase inhibitor used in the treatment of kidney cancer and soft tissue sarcoma.

Votrient 200 mg Tablet should be taken on an empty stomach, but try to have it at the same time every day to get the most benefits. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time.

You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to.

Diarrhea and high blood pressure are the most common side effects of this medicine. Doctor may advise for regular monitoring of your blood pressure while on treatment. Drink plenty of fluids to overcome diarrhea or consult with your doctor if it bothers you.

This medicine may reduce the number of blood cells in your blood, thereby, increasing the susceptibility to infections. Hence, inform your doctor if you experience fever, flu-like symptoms and shortness of breath.

Before taking it, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, liver, or kidney problems or are taking any medicines to treat infections. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your healthcare team know all medications you are using.

This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The use of effective contraception by both males and females during treatment is important to avoid pregnancy.

How to use Votrient 200 mg

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Votrient 200 mg Tablet is to be taken empty stomach.

Votrient 200 mg Tablet is used to treat kidney cancer and its associated symptoms such as blood in the urine, unexplained low back pain or weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite, etc.

It stops cancer growth and prevents multiplication of cancer cells. This restricts the advancement of cancer to other unaffected regions. You need to follow your doctor’s instructions very carefully to recover.

In Soft tissue sarcoma

Soft tissue sarcoma is a type of sarcoma that develops in tissues such as bone and muscles. Votrient 200 mg Tablet kills or stops the growth of cancer cells and also prevents the multiplication of cancer cells. Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully and let your doctor know if any of the side effects bother you.

How Votrient 200 mg tablet works

Votrient 200 mg Tablet is an anti-cancer medication. It works by binding and inhibiting the enzyme receptors (tyrosine kinase) that are responsible for the proliferation of the cancerous cells. It also restricts the growth of new blood vessels within the tumor. This is how it works against cancer.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For advanced kidney cancer and soft tissue sarcoma:
    • Adults—800 milligrams (mg) once per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose if needed.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If you miss a dose and it is less than 12 hours before your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the normal time.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits for any unwanted effects from the medicine. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Your blood pressure should be checked regularly during treatment with this medicine. Your doctor may need to treat you if you develop high blood pressure.

Symptoms of high blood pressure are blurred vision, dizziness, nervousness, headache, pounding in the ears, or a slow or fast heartbeat.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. It may also cause birth defects if the father is using it when his sexual partner becomes pregnant.

Men and women should use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant during treatment with this medicine and for at least 2 weeks after the last dose. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine could cause infertility (unable to have children). Talk with your doctor before using this medicine if you plan to have children.

Cancer medicines can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain in most people, sometimes even after receiving medicines to prevent it. Ask your doctor or nurse about other ways to control these unwanted effects.

Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Contact your doctor right away if you have any changes to your heart rhythm. You might feel dizzy or faint, or you might have a fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat. Make sure your doctor knows if you had a heart rhythm problem (eg, QT prolongation, Torsades de pointes).

FAQS

1.Is Votrient 200 mg Tablet a chemotherapy medicine?

Votrient 200 mg Tablet is not a conventional chemotherapy medicine. It belongs to a class of medicine called a protein kinase inhibitor. Votrient 200mg Tablet works by preventing the activity of proteins that are involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells.

2.How should I take Votrient 200 mg Tablet?

Votrient 200 mg Tablet should be taken orally by mouth once a day or as directed by your doctor. Swallow the tablets whole with water, do not break or crush the tablets. This affects the way the medicine is absorbed and may increase the chance of side effects.

3.Can Votrient 200 mg Tablet be taken with food?

Votrient 200 mg Tablet should be taken on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after food. If it is taken with food, the dosage may need to be increased. Doing this will in turn cause more side effects.

4.How will I know if Votrient 200 mg Tablet is helping me?

The duration for which you have to continue taking VVotrient 200 mg Tablet varies from person to person. The doctor monitors you closely and will be able to better estimate how long the medicine needs to be taken.

Do not stop taking it without telling your doctor. It needs to be taken as long as it is effective and you can tolerate it.

5.Are there any food restrictions while I’m taking Votrient 200 mg Tablet?

Yes, it is best to avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice while on Votrient 200 mg Tablet, as it may affect how the medicine works in your body. Ask your doctor about any additional foods you should avoid.

6.How long I have to take Votrient 200 mg Tablet?

The duration for which you have to continue taking Votrient 200 mg Tablet varies from person to person. The doctor monitors you closely and will be able to better estimate how long the medicine needs to be taken.

Do not stop taking it without telling your doctor. It needs to be taken as long as it is effective and you can tolerate it.

7.What is the most important information I need to know about Votrient 200 mg Tablet?

Votrient 200 mg Tablet may cause severe or life-threatening liver damage. Inform your doctor if you have or had liver disease. If you experience any of the following symptoms such as discoloration of the skin or eyes (yellowing), dark urine, extreme tiredness, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, pain in the upper right part of the stomach, or unusual bleeding or bruising, call your doctor immediately.

Your doctor may ask you to take some lab tests before you start taking Votrient. After you start taking Votrient, you may need to take those lab tests at weeks 3, 5, 7 and 9 and then at months 3 and 4. Your doctor may also prescribe additional tests if necessary. Periodic testing should then continue after 4 months.