This is a summary of the most important
information about Sutent. For details, talk to your healthcare
professional.
What Is Sutent?
Sutent is a
medicine used to treat adult patients with the following cancers:
-
a
gastrointestinal stromal tumor after the
disease worsened while taking another medicine called
imatinib mesylate or when imatinib mesylate cannot be taken.
-
advanced renal
cell carcinoma. At this time, it is not known whether Sutent
will improve symptoms, or help patients with this disease live
longer.
Sutent has not
been studied in children.
Who Should Not Take
Sutent?
Do not take
Sutent if you are allergic to Sutent or any of its ingredients.
What Are The Risks?
The
following are the major potential risks and side
effects of Sutent therapy. However, this list is not
complete.
The following are the major possible
risks and side effects of Sutent therapy:
- harm to an unborn baby.
Animal studies show death and birth defects happen in some
unborn animal babies. There are no studies of Sutent in pregnant
women. Women who can get pregnant should avoid becoming
pregnant while taking Sutent.
- a heart problem called
left ventricular dysfunction, which
can cause signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure.
- stomach and digestive
system problems. Some common stomach
and digestive system side effects include:
-
diarrhea
-
nausea
-
mouth
sores
-
indigestion
-
vomiting
-
an
adrenal gland problem called adrenal insufficiency. This
can make it harder for your body to handle the stress of
surgery, an infection, or an injury. Tell your healthcare
professional right away if you have an injury, an infection, or
need surgery. Your adrenal function will have to be monitored
closely.
- skin and hair changes.
Sutent may cause your skin to turn
yellow and hair to lose color. Other possible skin side effects
include:
-
dryness
-
thickness or cracking
-
blister or rash on the palms of
hands and soles of the feet
- Other common side
effects that may occur with Sutent
include:
-
tiredness
-
high blood pressure
-
bleeding
-
swelling
-
mouth pain and irritation
-
taste changes
What Should I Tell My
Healthcare Professional?
Before
you start taking Sutent, tell your healthcare professional if
you:
- are trying to become
pregnant, are already pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- have any heart problems
- have an adrenal gland
problem
Can
Other Medicines Or Food Affect Sutent?
Sutent and certain other
medicines can interact with each other. Tell your healthcare
professional about all the medicines you take including
prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal
supplements. Some medicines may affect how Sutent works or Sutent
may affect how your other medicines work. Know the medicines you
take. Keep a list of them with you to show your healthcare
professional.
Especially tell
your healthcare professional if you take or eat medicines or foods
that may:
-
increase the amount of Sutent in
the body, such as:
-
ketoconazole (Nizoral)
-
itraconazole (Sporanox)
-
clarithromycin (Biaxin, Biaxin
XL, PrevPac)
-
atazanavir (Reyataz)
-
indinavir (Crixivan)
-
nefazodone (Serzone)
-
nelfinavir (Viracept)
-
ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra)
-
saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase)
-
telithromycin (Ketek)
-
voriconazole (VFend)
-
grapefruit
-
decrease the amount of Sutent in
the body, such as:
-
dexamethasone
-
phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek)
-
carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol, Tegretol XR, Teril)
-
rifampin (Rifadin, Rifamate, Rifater, Rimactane)
-
rifabutin (Mycobutin)
-
rifapentin (Priftin)
-
phenobarbital
-
St. John’s Wort
Sutent and
St. John's Wort should not be taken together.
How Should I Take
Sutent?