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Sutent (Sunitinib)
Brand name: Sutent®
Generic name: Sunitinib Other names: SU11248 Therapeutic Class: multikinase inhibitor (receptor protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor)Manufacturer / Distributor: Pfizer Availability: Sutent is available by prescription only FDA Approval: In January 2006, Sutent (Sunitinib) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Indications : Sutent is mainly used to treat:
In addition to these conditions above, Sutent can be used to treat other medical conditions not mentioned in the article; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Dosage form: Sutent is available in capsule form to be taken by mouth Dosage: usually, Sutent is prescribed by an oncologist or physician that has experience in chemotherapy drugs. Basing on your condition, age and body surface area (BSA), your physician will determine the most effective dosage to combat the disease. Take the medication exactly as directed by your doctor, pharmacist or according to the directions on the prescription. Misusing Sutent may not only affect its curative effect but also cause serious health problems. Usually, the recommended dose is 50 mg, taken by mouth once daily for 4 weeks; each dosing cycle is followed by a 2-week break. Sutent can be taken with or without food; however, it is recommended to take it around the same time every day. Do not open, chew or crush the capsules; swallow each capsule whole. If you experience adverse effects, do not change or stop taking the medication without first consulting your doctor. Storage: keep Sutent tightly closed in the container it came, out of the reach of children. Store it at room temperature, away from heat, light and moisture. Sutent and all other medications should not be used beyond the expiration date printed on the container. Overdose: chemotherapy drugs are strong; overdosing any of them can be fatal. The risk is even higher when the drug is overdosed for a long period of time. In fact, overdosing of certain chemotherapy drugs, including Sutent, can lead to death. Even in the absence of overdose, Sutent tend to affect the bone marrow, and lead to decreased blood cells count. It is extremely important that you take Sutent as indicated by your physician or pharmacist; don’t ever take more. Missing dose: do your best to take the drug around the same time every day; do not miss or take less of it. In case you forget to take a dose, take the missed one as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, do not double the next dose to recover the missed one; it can be dangerous. Contact your doctor or wait to go back to your regular schedule. Contraindication: Sutent is contraindicated or should be used with precaution in the following conditions:
Mechanism of action (MOA): Sutent is an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase; it acts by blocking the action of tyrosine kinases, abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. Interactions: if you are taking sutent, it is not safe to eat or take grapefruit, aspirin, vitamins, nutritional supplements, or St. John's wort without first contacting your doctor. Some substances may interact with sutent, and increase the risk of side effects; tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of these medications:
Side effects: In addition to attacking cancer cells, sutent also interfere with certain normal cells, leading to the development of number of adverse effects. Most common Sutent side effects include:
If the side effects above persist for weeks, contact your oncologist. In addition, contact your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms:
References: http://professional.cancerconsultants.com/news.aspx?id=36671 http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a607052.html | |
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