Pronunciation: van-DET-a-nib
Generic Name: Vandetanib
Brand Name: Caprelsa
Vandetanib may cause serious and sometimes fatal irregular heartbeat (eg, QT prolongation). Sudden deaths have been reported in patients taking Vandetanib. It is thought that serious irregular heartbeat may have contributed to these sudden deaths. Do not take Vandetanib if you have low blood potassium, calcium, or magnesium levels. Do not take it if you have a history of QT prolongation or long QT syndrome. Certain medicines may increase the risk of irregular heartbeat. Tell your doctor about any other medicines or supplements you take. Tell your doctor or seek medical care at once if irregular heartbeat or fainting occurs.
Electrocardiograms (ECGs) will be performed before and during treatment. These tests are used to check for irregular heartbeat. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
Vandetanib is used for:
Treating certain types of medullary thyroid cancer. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Vandetanib is a kinase inhibitor. It works by preventing the growth of cancer cells.
Do NOT use Vandetanib if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Vandetanib
- you have a history of certain types of irregular heartbeat (eg, QT prolongation, long QT syndrome, very slow heartbeat)
- you have low blood potassium, calcium, or magnesium levels; uncontrolled heart failure; moderate to severe liver problems; or active, severe bleeding
- you are coughing up blood
- you are taking a barbiturate (eg, phenobarbital), carbamazepine, dexamethasone, efavirenz, a hydantoin (eg, phenytoin), primidone, a rifamycin (eg, rifampin), or St. John's wort
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Vandetanib:
Some medical conditions may interact with Vandetanib. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if a member of your family has a history of QT prolongation
- if you have a history of heart problems (eg, congestive heart failure; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat), a heart attack, liver or kidney problems, lung or breathing problems, bleeding problems, high blood pressure, or abnormal blood electrolyte (eg, calcium, potassium, magnesium) levels
- if you have an underactive thyroid or high blood levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
- if you have a history of seizures or you are taking medicine for seizures
- if you have skin problems, diarrhea, low white blood cell levels, low blood platelet levels, or a recent history of coughing up blood
- if you take or have taken any medicine that may increase the risk of a certain type of irregular heartbeat (prolonged QT interval). Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure if any of your medicines may increase the risk of this type of irregular heartbeat
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Vandetanib. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Antiarrhythmics (eg, amiodarone, dofetilide, procainamide), arsenic, astemizole, bepridil, chloroquine, cisapride, dasatinib, dolasetron, domperidone, droperidol, granisetron, halofantrine, haloperidol, iloperidone, ketolides (eg, telithromycin), lapatinib, macrolide antibiotics (eg, clarithromycin), maprotiline, methadone, nilotinib, paliperidone, pentamidine, phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine), pimozide, quinolones (eg, moxifloxacin), sunitinib, tacrolimus, terfenadine, tetrabenazine, tricyclic antidepressants (eg, imipramine), or ziprasidone because the risk of severe and possibly fatal irregular heartbeat may be increased
- Barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), carbamazepine, dexamethasone, efavirenz, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), primidone, rifamycins (eg, rifampin), or St. John's wort because they may decrease Vandetanib's effectiveness
- Thyroid hormones (eg, levothyroxine) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Vandetanib
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Vandetanib may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Vandetanib:
Use Vandetanib as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- Vandetanib comes with an extra patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it again each time you get Vandetanib refilled.
- Take Vandetanib by mouth with or without food.
- Swallow Vandetanib whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.
- If you cannot swallow Vandetanib whole, place your dose in a glass containing 2 oz (60 mL) of non-carbonated water only. Stir the mixture for about 10 minutes until the medicine is in very small pieces (the tablets will not completely dissolve). Drink all of the mixture right away. Rinse the container with an additional 4 oz (120 mL) of non-carbonated water and drink the contents to be sure that the entire dose is taken.
- If a tablet is crushed, avoid contact with it. If a crushed tablet comes into contact with your skin or your eyes, nose, lips, or mouth, wash thoroughly with water.
- Continue to take Vandetanib even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
- If you miss a dose of Vandetanib, take it as soon as possible. If it is within 12 hours of your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Vandetanib.
Important safety information:
- Vandetanib may cause tiredness, weakness, or blurred vision. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Vandetanib with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
- Do NOT take more than the recommended dose, change your dose, or stop taking Vandetanib without checking with your doctor.
- Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Vandetanib before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
- Vandetanib should usually not be used with other medicines that may increase the risk of a certain type of irregular heartbeat (prolonged QT interval). Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure if any of your medicines may increase the risk of this type of irregular heartbeat.
- Vandetanib may increase the risk of bleeding. Avoid activities that may cause bruising or injury. Tell your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding. Tell your doctor if you have dark, tarry, or bloody stools.
- Vandetanib may cause you to become sunburned more easily while you take it and for at least 4 months after you stop it. Avoid the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to Vandetanib. Use a sunscreen or wear protective clothing if you must be outside for more than a short time.
- If vomiting or diarrhea occurs, you will need to take care not to become dehydrated. If you have diarrhea, you may need to take an anti-diarrheal medicine. Contact your doctor for instructions.
- Diabetes patients - Vandetanib may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
- Women who may become pregnant must use an effective form of birth control while taking Vandetanib and for 4 months after stopping it. If you have questions about effective birth control, talk with your doctor.
- Lab tests, including ECGs; liver, thyroid, and kidney function; blood pressure; eye exams; blood electrolyte levels; and complete blood cell counts, may be performed while you use Vandetanib. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Vandetanib should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Vandetanib may cause harm to the fetus. Do not become pregnant while you are taking it or for 4 months after you stop taking it. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of taking Vandetanib while you are pregnant. It is not known if Vandetanib is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Vandetanib.
Possible side effects of Vandetanib:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Acne; diarrhea; dry skin; headache; loss of appetite; mild stomach pain or upset; nausea; tiredness; trouble sleeping; vomiting; weakness.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); abnormal thoughts or trouble thinking; black or bloody stools; blood in the urine; confusion; coughing up blood; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; light-headedness; mental or mood changes (eg, depression); mouth sores or blisters; muscle or joint aches; numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg; one-sided weakness; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; seizure; severe or persistent cough; severe or persistent diarrhea, dizziness, headache, tiredness, or weakness; shortness of breath or other breathing problems; slurred speech; sudden coordination problems; sudden trouble walking or balancing; sudden, unusual weight gain; swelling of the hands, feet, or ankles; tingling, pain, redness, or swelling of the palms of the hands and soles of the feet; unusual bruising or bleeding; vision changes (eg, blurred vision); vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Vandetanib side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include diarrhea, rash, severe headache.
Proper storage of Vandetanib:
Store Vandetanib at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Vandetanib out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Vandetanib, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Vandetanib is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Vandetanib. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Vandetanib resources
- Vandetanib Side Effects (in more detail)
- Vandetanib Dosage
- Vandetanib Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Vandetanib Drug Interactions
- Vandetanib Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Vandetanib - Add your own review/rating
- Vandetanib Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Vandetanib Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)
- vandetanib Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)
- vandetanib Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
Compare Vandetanib with other medications
- Thyroid Cancer
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