Uses
Sorafenib is used to treat kidney, liver, and thyroid cancer. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells.
How To Use
Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start taking sorafenib and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth on an empty stomach (at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal) as directed by your doctor, usually twice a day.
The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Do not increase your dose or use this drug more often or for longer than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of serious side effects will increase.
Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same times each day.
Since this drug can be absorbed through the skin and lungs and may harm an unborn baby, women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not handle this medication or breathe the dust from the tablets.
Side Effects
Weight loss, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, changes in taste, dry skin, mouth sores, hair loss, voice changes, or tiredness may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
People using this medication may have serious side effects. However, you have been prescribed this drug because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Careful monitoring by your doctor may decrease your risk.
This medication may raise your blood pressure. Check your blood pressure regularly and tell your doctor if the results are high. Your doctor may control your blood pressure with medication.
Treatment with this drug may sometimes cause your hands/feet to develop a skin reaction called hand-foot syndrome. Tell your doctor right away if you experience swelling, pain, redness, blisters, or tingling/burning of the hands/feet. Depending on how severe your hand-foot syndrome is, your doctor may give you an additional medication to reduce the symptoms, or may stop or delay your sorafenib treatment.
This medication can affect how your thyroid works. Tell your doctor right away if you have signs of an underactive thyroid (such as weight gain, cold intolerance, slow heartbeat, constipation, or unusual tiredness) or signs of an overactive thyroid (such as mental/mood changes, heat intolerance, unusual weight loss).
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including:
- easy bruising/bleeding
- signs of liver disease (such as nausea/vomiting that doesn't stop, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine)
- numb/tingling skin
- slow wound healing
- muscle spasms
- signs of infection (such as sore throat that doesn't go away, fever)
- signs of heart failure (such as shortness of breath, swelling ankles/feet, unusual tiredness)
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including:
- chest/jaw/left arm pain
- unusual sweating
- fast/irregular heartbeat
- severe dizziness
- fainting
- vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- black/bloody stools
- sudden/severe back pain or headache
- weakness on one side of the body
- sudden vision changes
- trouble speaking
- confusion
Sorafenib can commonly cause a rash that is usually not serious. However, you may not be able to tell it apart from a rare rash that could be a sign of a severe reaction. Get medical help right away if you develop any rash.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including:
- rash
- itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
- severe dizziness
- trouble breathing
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
In the US -
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
Precautions
Before taking sorafenib, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
- bleeding problems
- recent surgery/injury
- heart disease (such as heart attack, coronary artery disease)
- high blood pressure
- blood vessel problems (such as an aneurysm or a tear/break in the aorta or other blood vessels)
- liver disease
Sorafenib may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can rarely cause serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, fainting) that need medical attention right away.
The risk of QT prolongation may be increased if you have certain medical conditions or are taking other drugs that may cause QT prolongation. Before using sorafenib, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take and if you have any of the following conditions:
- certain heart problems (heart failure, slow heartbeat, QT prolongation in the EKG)
- family history of certain heart problems (QT prolongation in the EKG, sudden cardiac death)
Low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood may also increase your risk of QT prolongation. This risk may increase if you use certain drugs (such as diuretics/"water pills") or if you have conditions such as severe sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting. Talk to your doctor about using sorafenib safely.
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).
This medication may cause wounds to heal slowly or poorly. Before having surgery, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of this medication. Your doctor may tell you to temporarily stop treatment with this medication at least 10 days before surgery. Ask your doctor for specific instructions about when to stop and when to restart treatment with sorafenib. Tell your doctor right away if you have wounds that are not healing well.
Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially QT prolongation (see above).
Since this drug can be absorbed through the skin and lungs and may harm an unborn baby, women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not handle this medication or breathe the dust from the tablets.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant while using sorafenib. Sorafenib may harm an unborn baby. Your doctor should order a pregnancy test before you start this medication. Women using this medication should ask about reliable forms of birth control during treatment and for 6 months after the last dose. Men using this medication should ask about reliable forms of birth control during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose. If you or your partner becomes pregnant, talk to your doctor right away about the risks and benefits of this medication.
It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Because of the possible risk to the infant, breastfeeding is not recommended while using this drug and for 2 weeks after the last dose. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
A product that may interact with this drug is:
Other medications can affect the removal of sorafenib from your body, which may affect how sorafenib works. Examples include neomycin, rifamycins (such as rifampin, rifabutin), St. John's wort, drugs used to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine, phenytoin), among others.
Overdose
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Alberta residents can call PADIS (Poison and Drug Information Service) 24 hours a day at 1-800-332-1414. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.
Notes
Do not share this medication with others.
Lab and/or medical tests (such as blood pressure, liver/thyroid function, complete blood count, electrolyte levels) should be done while you are taking this medication. Keep all medical and lab appointments. Consult your doctor for more details.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch up.
If you have questions about missing a dose or you don't have more medication, contact your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Storage
Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.
Medical Alert
Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call 1-888-633-4298 (US) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
