Sunitinib
Description
Sunitinib is an anti-cancer medication. It is used in the treatment of pancreatic cancer (cancer of the pancreas, an organ near the stomach that helps in regulating sugar levels), gastrointestinal stromal tumour (cancer of the digestive system mostly in the stomach and small intestine), and renal cell carcinoma (cancer occurring in the kidney). It works by inhibiting the growth of cancerous cells.
Sunitinib causes common side effects such as an increase in blood pressure, indigestion, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, sores in the mouth, rashes on your hands and feet, or altered taste. Avoid driving vehicles or operating heavy machines while taking this medication as it can cause weakness.
Sunitinib can be taken with or without food. Take the medication at the same time every day for ease of remembering. Do not discontinue the medication without consulting your doctor as it may worsen your condition. Complete the treatment even if you start feeling better. Follow the instructions given by your doctor about the dose and duration of the treatment.
Sunitinib is not recommended if you are allergic to it. It should be taken with caution if you have a liver or kidney condition, thyroid condition (inability of the thyroid gland to produce an adequate amount of hormones), prolonged QT intervals (irregular heart rhythm), or Torsade de Pointes (fast heart rhythm). Inform your doctor if you have hypertension (high blood pressure), congestive heart failure (inability of the heart to pump an adequate amount of blood), low or high sugar level, or a bleeding condition.
Sunitinib should be taken during pregnancy only after consulting your doctor. It is unknown if the medicine passes into breast milk or not, hence consult your doctor first before taking the medicine while breastfeeding. This medicine is not recommended for children less than 18 years of age as there is a lack of safety and efficacy.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Sunitinib
- Bleeding gums
- Blurred vision
- Thyroid imbalances
- Loss of appetite
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Nosebleed
- Difficulty in breathing
- Cough
- Nausea
- Constipation or diarrhoea
- Unusual tiredness and weakness
- Back pain
- Chest discomfort
- Bloody and cloudy urine
Uses of Sunitinib
What is it prescribed for?
- Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC)
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumor
- Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe time required for Sunitinib to show its effect is not clinically established.
- Duration of effectThe amount of time for which Sunitinib remains active in the body is not clinically established.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies were reported for Sunitinib.
- Usage in pregnancy?Sunitinib is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Sunitinib is not recommended if you are breastfeeding as limited data is available. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Allergy
Avoid taking Sunitinib if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Sunitinib is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
Breast-feeding
Sunitinib is not recommended if you are breastfeeding as limited data is available. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
General warnings
Liver disease
Sunitinib should be taken with caution if you have a liver condition. Close monitoring of liver function and appropriate dose adjustment will be done by your doctor.
Kidney Disease
Sunitinib should be used with caution if you have kidney problems as it may lead to toxicity. Your doctor may frequently monitor your kidney functions and suggest dose adjustments based on your condition.
Infections
Sunitinib may weaken your immune system and may make you more vulnerable to infections. Avoid coming in contact with people who have infections while taking this medicine.
Prolonged QT intervals
Sunitinib should be taken with caution if you have prolonged QT intervals (irregular heart rhythm) as it can worsen your condition. Your doctor will do frequent monitoring of electrocardiograms and electrolytes.
Use in children
Sunitinib is not recommended in children below 18 years of age as there is a lack of safety and efficacy.
Missed Dose
Do not miss the dose of Sunitinib. In case you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is time for the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed one.
Overdose
Do not take more than the prescribed dose of Sunitinib. Seek emergency medical treatment in case of an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Efavirenz
Mifepristone
Clozapine
Amiodarone
Disease interactions
Adrenal Toxicity
Sunitinib should be used with caution if you have hormonal and metabolic changes resulting from an injury, trauma, or severe infection due to the increased risk of side effects. Follow all the instructions given by your doctor.
Cardiovascular disorders
Sunitinib should be used with extreme caution if you have a heart condition such as congestive heart failure (inability of the heart to pump an adequate amount of blood). Close monitoring of heart function and vital signs will be done by your doctor.
Dermtologic Toxicity
Sunitinib should be used with caution as it may cause some skin problems. Inform your doctor if you notice any signs of allergy or rash.
Hypertension
Sunitinib should be taken with caution if you have hypertension (high blood pressure). Your doctor will do close monitoring and appropriate corrective measures will be taken in such a case.
Hypoglycaemia
Sunitinib should be taken with caution if you have hypoglycaemia (low sugar levels), as it can worsen your condition resulting in loss of consciousness or hospitalization. Follow all the instructions given by your doctor.
Thyroid disorders
Sunitinib should be taken with caution if you have a thyroid condition (inability of the thyroid gland to produce an adequate amount of hormones), as it can worsen your condition. Your doctor will do close monitoring and appropriate corrective measures will be taken in such a case.
Food interactions
Avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice consumption during treatment with Sunitinib as it may increase the risk of side effects. Report any unusual symptoms to your doctor on priority. Appropriate dose adjustments and frequent clinical monitoring will be done by your doctor.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Sunitinib can be taken with or without food. Do not break, chew, or crush the capsule. Swallow it as a whole with a glass of water.
Take it at the same time every day for the ease of remembering.
It should not be taken for more than recommended dose.
Take the medicine as directed by your doctor.
Do not stop the medicine without consulting your doctor as it can worsen your condition which may be challenging to treat in the future.
Your doctor may suggest tests to monitor your kidney and liver function. You may also require frequent follow-ups with your doctor to check the progress of treatment.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Sunitinib works by inhibiting the actions of certain chemicals that cause the cancer cells to multiply. This helps in stopping the growth and spread of cancer.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Multikinase inhibitors, Antineoplastics, VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors
Schedule
Schedule H
Accessdata.fda.gov. 2022. [online] Available at: [Accessed 1 August 2022].
Accessdata.fda.gov. 2022. [online] Available at: [Accessed 1 August 2022].
Information on this page was last updated on 11 Jan 2023
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.