What is the most important information I should know about cabozantinib?
Cabozantinib may cause a perforation (a hole or tear) or a fistula (an abnormal passageway) within your stomach or intestines. Cabozantinib can also increase your risk of serious bleeding.
Call your doctor if you have: severe stomach pain, choking or gagging when you eat or drink, unusual bleeding, bloody or tarry stools, heavy menstrual bleeding, or if you cough up blood.
What is cabozantinib?
Cabozantinib is used to treat advanced kidney cancer, or thyroid cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
Cabozantinib is also used to treat liver cancer in people who have been previously treated with sorafenib (Nexavar).
Cabozantinib may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking cabozantinib?
You should not use cabozantinib if you are allergic to it.
Tell your doctor if you have:
- an open wound on your skin (or a wound that is still healing);
- bleeding problems (such as bloody or tarry stools, or coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds);
- high blood pressure;
- liver disease; or
- a pre-existing dental problem.
You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment.
Cabozantinib may harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 4 months after your last dose. Tell your doctor if you think you might be pregnant.
You should not breast-feed while using this medicine, and for at least 4 months after your last dose.
How should I take cabozantinib?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Do not use cabozantinib tablets in place of cabozantinib capsules. Take only the pill form your doctor has prescribed. Avoid medication errors by always checking the medicine you receive at the pharmacy.
Take cabozantinib on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after you eat anything.
Do not take this medicine with food.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
Do not crush, chew, or break a tablet, and do not open a capsule. Swallow the pill whole.
Your blood pressure will need to be checked often.
If you need surgery or dental work, stop taking cabozantinib at least 28 days ahead of time.
If you have stopped taking cabozantinib for any reason, talk with your doctor before you start taking it again.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Use the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if your next dose is due in less than 12 hours. Do not use two doses at one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while taking cabozantinib?
Grapefruit may interact with cabozantinib and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products while taking cabozantinib.
This medicine can pass into body fluids (urine, feces, vomit). Caregivers should wear rubber gloves while cleaning up a patient's body fluids, handling contaminated trash or laundry or changing diapers. Wash hands before and after removing gloves. Wash soiled clothing and linens separately from other laundry.
What are the possible side effects of cabozantinib?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Cabozantinib may cause a perforation (a hole or tear) or a fistula (an abnormal passageway) within your stomach or intestines. Call your doctor if you have severe stomach pain, or if you feel like you are choking and gagging when you eat or drink.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- severe or ongoing vomiting or diarrhea;
- bloody or tarry stools, cough with bloody mucus or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
- heavy menstrual bleeding, or any other bleeding that will not stop;
- pain, tenderness, redness, swelling, blistering, or peeling skin on the palms of your hands or the soles of your feet;
- confusion, headache, vision changes, thinking problems;
- a seizure;
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- jaw pain, tooth pain, mouth sores;
-
heart attack symptoms --chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, sweating;
-
signs of a stroke --sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance; or
-
signs of a blood clot --chest pain, cough, trouble breathing, swelling or warmth in your arms or legs.
Your future doses of cabozantinib may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects.
Common side effects may include:
- nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite;
- diarrhea, constipation;
- mouth sores or redness, changes in your sense of taste;
- feeling tired;
- weight loss; or
- abnormal liver function tests or other blood tests.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect cabozantinib?
Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.
Other drugs may interact with cabozantinib, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about cabozantinib.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2020 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 3.01. Revision date: 2/1/2019.
