vanDETanib
Other Name: Caprelsa®
In various strengths and shapes
- For treating a certain type of thyroid cancer
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you have or had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have or had:
- heart problems
- high blood pressure
- abnormal heartbeat
- low salt levels in blood
- liver/kidney problems
- recent or upcoming surgeries
- any allergies.
- People with cancer have a higher risk of getting other cancers or developing blood clots. Some cancer medications may increase these risks, especially if used for a long period of time. Discuss any concerns about this medication with your health care team.
- The use of this medication in men or women may cause harm to the unborn baby if pregnancy occurs. Let your health care team know if you or your partner is pregnant, becomes pregnant during treatment, or if you are breastfeeding.
- If there is any chance that you or your partner may become pregnant, you and your partner together must:
- ► Use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time while taking this drug: Keep using birth control until at least 3 months (for female patients) or 2 months (for male patients) after the last dose. Discuss with your health care team.
- ► Use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time while taking this drug: Keep using birth control until at least 3 months (for female patients) or 2 months (for male patients) after the last dose. Discuss with your health care team.
- Do not breastfeed while taking this drug.
- This medication may affect fertility (ability to get pregnant).
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This medication is usually taken once a day by mouth.
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Swallow whole with a glass of water, with or without food.
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If you miss a dose, take it if it is within 12 hours from the missed dose, otherwise skip and take your next dose as scheduled. Do not double the dose to make up for the forgotten one.
- If you have difficulty swallowing the tablet(s), you may mix it with water as follows:
- Put the whole tablet into half a glass (50mL) of non-carbonated water. Do not use other liquids.
- Stir the water until the tablet disintegrates. This may take about 10 minutes.
- Drink the mixture immediately.
- Rinse the empty glass well with another half a glass of water and drink it.
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This medication can interact with other medications and can result in the treatment not working as well or cause severe side effects.
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Make sure your health care team knows about all your medications (prescription, over-the-counter, herbals and supplements). Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
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DO NOT eat or drink grapefruit, starfruit, Seville oranges or their juices (or products that contain these) while taking this drug. They may increase the amount of drug in your blood and increase side effects.
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If you injure yourself or have surgery, your wounds may take longer to heal or may not fully heal. Check with your health care team before you have any surgery or visit your dentist.
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For mild aches and pain or fever:
- If you feel unwell, take your temperature before taking any medications for pain or fever. They may hide a fever.
- You may take acetaminophen (Tylenol®) tablets. Ask your health care team about the right dose for you.
- Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA), including low dose aspirin for heart conditions, may increase your chance of bleeding. Talk to your health care team before you start or stop these medications.
- Talk to your health care team or go to the closest emergency room right away if you have a fever. See the Fever pamphlet for more information.
- If you feel unwell, take your temperature before taking any medications for pain or fever. They may hide a fever.
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Drinking alcohol and smoking during your treatment may increase some side effects and make your medication less effective. Speak to your health care team about smoking and drinking alcohol while on treatment.
You may not have all of the side effects below. You may have side effects that are not listed.
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Salt imbalances It may cause muscle twitching, severe weakness or cramping, confusion and irregular heartbeat. |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
Diarrhea (may be severe) May happen days to weeks after you get your treatment. If you have diarrhea :
See the Diarrhea pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Abnormal liver lab tests
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Changes in thyroid activity
Underactive thyroid: Look for unusual weight gain with some of the following: Feeling tired or having low energy, dry skin, nails or hair that breaks easily, and sensitivity to cold. |
Contact your health care team as soon as possible |
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Rash; dry, itchy skin (may be severe) Rash may be severe in some rare cases and cause your skin to blister or peel. If this happens, get emergency medical help right away. To prevent and treat dry skin,
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Nausea and vomiting (generally mild) May occur in hours to days after your treatment. If you have nausea or vomiting:
Also see Nausea & Vomiting pamphlet for more information.
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
High blood pressure (may be severe)
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Headache
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
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Fatigue (tiredness)
See our Fatigue pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Low appetite
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Kidney problems (may be severe)
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Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
Pains or cramps in the belly
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Irregular heartbeat (may be severe) |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
Trouble falling asleep
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Skin sensitivity to sunlight Your skin may be more sensitive to the sun. You can have an itchy rash and other skin reactions when you are exposed to the sun.
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Cough You may have cough without any signs of infection, such as a sore throat or a stuffed nose.
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Heartburn; stomach upset To help prevent heartburn:
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Unusual bleeding or bruising You may have black stools, cough up blood, blood in your urine, purple or red dots on your skin or bleeding that will not stop. Fever, chills, infection You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
While you are getting chemotherapy treatments:
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Get emergency medical help right away |
Other rare, but serious side effects are possible.
If you experience ANY of the following, speak to your cancer health care provider or get emergency medical help right away:
- Sudden loss of vision or trouble speaking or using your arms or legs, confusion
- Chest pain, shortness of breath, pain in your chest or arm
- Sudden severe pain in your upper back, that moves up your neck or down your back, when you didn't hurt yourself
- Weakness on one side of your body
- Pain, swelling and hardening in an arm or leg
- Unusual pulsating or throbbing feeling in your chest or belly
- Fainting spells or swelling in your legs, ankles and belly
- Sudden, severe pain in your belly or stomach area, trouble swallowing
- Pain in the centre of your belly that may extend to your back
- Breathing problems or cough up blood
- Vision loss or blurred
- Severe headache, fainting, seizures
- Wounds that take longer to heal or not fully heal
Who do I contact if I have questions or need help?My cancer health care provider is: ______________________________________________ During the day I should contact:________________________________________________ Evenings, weekends and holidays:______________________________________________
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Other Notes:
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October 2020 Updated rare side effects section
For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.