Pazopanib: Online Bula, Uses, Dosage, and Side Effects

Pazopanib: Online Bula, Uses, Dosage, and Side Effects

Pazopanib is a medication used to treat specific types of advanced cancers. This information page is for educational purposes and is derived from official drug labels. It is NOT a substitute for professional medical advice. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist before taking, stopping, or changing the dosage of this medication.

What Pazopanib is used for

Pazopanib is indicated for the treatment of adults with two specific types of advanced cancer:

• Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC): For the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma.
• Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS): For the treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcoma who have previously received chemotherapy.

Limitation of Use: Please note that the effectiveness of pazopanib has not been demonstrated for the treatment of adipocytic soft tissue sarcoma or gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

How it’s taken

Standard Dosage: The typical recommended dosage is 800 mg (which may be taken as four 200 mg tablets) given orally once every day. It must be taken without food—meaning you should take it at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

Important Administration Notes:

• Swallow the tablets whole; do not crush them, as this can change how quickly the drug is absorbed.
• If you miss a dose, do not take it if it is less than 12 hours until your next scheduled dose.
• The dosage may need to be adjusted by your doctor based on liver function or if you are taking other medications.

Warnings

Because of the severity of certain potential side effects, you must be monitored closely while taking pazopanib. Severe or fatal complications have been reported in several areas:

• Hepatic Toxicity: This drug can cause severe liver damage. Your doctor must monitor your liver tests at the start of treatment, regularly, and as clinically necessary.
• QT Prolongation and Torsades de Pointes: Monitoring electrocardiograms (ECGs) and electrolyte levels (such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium) is essential before and during treatment.
• Cardiac Dysfunction: This drug may affect heart function, including conditions like decreased left ventricular ejection fraction or congestive heart failure. Blood pressure and heart function must be monitored regularly.
• Hemorrhagic Events: Fatal bleeding episodes have occurred. If you have a history of coughing up blood (hemoptysis), cerebral hemorrhage, or significant gastrointestinal bleeding in the last six months, this drug should be withheld.

Possible side effects

Pazopanib can cause many adverse reactions. These symptoms are listed below, and your doctor will guide you on monitoring:

• General Reactions: Be aware of the risks of liver damage, changes in heart rhythm, heart failure, and bleeding.
• Most Common Symptoms (in patients with RCC): Diarrhea, high blood pressure (hypertension), hair color changes (depigmentation), nausea, loss of appetite (anorexia), and vomiting.
• Most Common Symptoms (in patients with STS): Fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, decreased weight, high blood pressure, decreased appetite, vomiting, tumor pain, hair color changes, muscle pain, headache, altered sense of taste (dysgeusia), shortness of breath (dyspnea), and musculoskeletal pain.

Drug interactions

Pazopanib must be taken with caution if other drugs are being taken. Never mix medications without consulting your healthcare provider.

• With Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors: Taking this drug with strong inhibitors of CYP3A4 can increase the drug’s levels in your body. The dose may need to be reduced or coadministration may be avoided entirely.
• With Strong CYP3A4 Inducers: These drugs may affect how pazopanib is metabolized. Your doctor may suggest an alternative medication if chronic use of strong inducers is necessary.
• With Specific Metabolic Agents: Coadministration with agents metabolized by CYP3A4, CYP2D6, or CYP2C8 that have narrow therapeutic windows is generally not recommended.
• With Simvastatin: Taking pazopanib with simvastatin increases the risk of elevated liver enzymes (ALT). Your liver function must be monitored weekly, and your doctor may adjust or discontinue the medication.
• With Stomach Acid-Reducing Agents: Avoid taking this drug concurrently with gastric acid-reducing agents. If used, it is better to use short-acting antacids and separate the dosing time significantly from the pazopanib dose.