What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking vismodegib?
You should not use vismodegib if you are allergic to it, or:
- if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
You will need to have a negative pregnancy test within 7 days before you start taking vismodegib.
You must prevent pregnancy while you are taking vismodegib, whether you are a man or a woman. This medicine can cause severe birth defects or death of a baby.
For Women: Use effective birth control while taking vismodegib and for 24 months after your last dose. The birth control method you use must be proven highly effective (at least 99%), such as: hormonal birth control (pills, vaginal ring, implants, or injections), an intrauterine device (IUD), or a tubal ligation. Call your doctor at once if you quit using birth control, if your period is late, or if you think you might be pregnant.
If you become pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of vismodegib on the baby.
For Men: While you are taking vismodegib you must not have unprotected sex with a pregnant woman, or cause a woman to become pregnant. Vismodegib can affect your sperm and may cause harm to the baby at conception or during pregnancy. Always use a latex condom and spermicide when having sex, even if you have had a vasectomy. Continue using condoms and spermicide for at 3 months after you stop taking vismodegib.
Call your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using vismodegib.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- liver disease; or
- kidney disease.
You should not breast-feed while you are using vismodegib and for 7 months after your last dose.