Pazopanib is used to treat certain type of kidney cancer (advanced renal cell carcinoma) or has spread to other parts of the body and advanced cancer of the supportive tissue.
This medicine reduces the size of the tumours by stopping cancer cells from growing.
Take Pazopanib exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
Take it on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Swallow it whole, do not crush or break the tablet.
Try to take it at the same time each day.
The dose of this medicine will be decided by your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on the dosage on your condition and response to the medication.
Pazopanib must be taken regularly for it to be effective. Continue taking this medicine even when you feel better. Do not stop taking it unless instructed by the doctor.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is less than 12 hours before the next dose is due, skip the missed dose and return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
If you often forget to take your medicine, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
Alert your doctor if you have severe liver disease as Pazopanib may not be suitable for you.
Do not breastfeed while you are being treated with this medicine.
Do not take Pazopanib if you are pregnant or planning to have a baby soon. If you become pregnant while being treated with this medicine, alert your doctor immediately. Pazopanib may cause harm to your unborn child. You must use proven birth control methods while taking this medicine.
Do not take Pazopanib with certain medicines used to treat TB, viral infections, cancer and stomach acidity. Please see the section “Can I take this with other medicines?” below for more information.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- high blood pressure
- heart disease e.g. heart failure
- recent heart attack or stroke
- recent blood clots in the vein or the lung
- recent bleeding (e.g. coughing of blood, bleeding in the brain or stomach and intestine)
- stomach or intestine perforation (hole)
- mild to moderate liver disease
- kidney disease
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving Pazopanib to an elderly. Elderly may be more sensitive to the side effects.
If you are going to have an operation, including minor surgery and dental work, inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medicine.
Some genetic traits can cause serious side effects from Pazopanib. If you have certain pair of genes called
HLA-B*57:01 and
UGT1A1, you are more likely to develop liver injury. Your doctor may perform genetic testing before giving you this medicine. If you have or even if you don’t have these gene types, your doctor may need to monitor your liver function while being treated with this medicine.
Why is it important to keep my appointments with the doctor?
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.
- Routine tests (e.g. heart, liver and thyroid function, electrolyte levels) may be done while you are being treated with this medicine.
- Your blood pressure may rise to unsafe levels without you noticing it. Monitor your blood pressure during the treatment.
- Regular monitoring of signs and symptoms of infection, neurological changes (e.g. confusion, visual problems), and bleeding may also be needed.
Your doctor will advise you about how often you will need to have these tests.
Pazopanib may cause dizziness, fatigue, and weakness. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert.
Other side effects include any of the following: swelling of the ankles, feet or hand, fatigue, pain, headache, hair discolouration, skin inflammation, hair loss, patches of skin becoming lighter, redness and pain of the palms, weight loss, diarrhoea, nausea, decreased appetite, vomiting, altered taste, pain in the abdomen, indigestion, stomach wind, mouth sore, muscle pain, weakness, prickling or tingling sensation in feet or hands, sweating, cough, insomnia, chills, skin rash, blurred vision, reduced side vision, flashes of light in one or both eyes, and nose bleed.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- severe chest pain, fits or seizure, fainting, shortness of breath
- altered consciousness, visual disturbance
- stomach pain, passing blood in the stools/urine, coughing or vomiting up blood
- severe stomach pain, fever, pass out blood or foul-smelling pus in stools
- numbness/weakness on one side of your body, difficulty talking, loss of speech
- chest pain or pressure, irregular or fast heartbeat
- yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, dark urine, loss of appetite, pain on the right side of the stomach
- sharp chest pain, leg pain, swelling of arms and hands or legs and feet
- tiredness, sensitivity to cold temperatures, weight gain, hoarseness, puffy face
- flu-like symptoms, fever, shortness of breath or wheezing
Pazopanib may cause the level of your white blood cells and platelets to drop.
White blood cells help your body to fight infections. A fall in the level of your white blood cells may put you at higher risk for infections, such as coughs, colds and flu, which may lead to more serious infections. Avoid crowded places and people who are sick. Alert your doctor if you have a fever, or a cough or flu that does not go away.
Platelets help your blood to clot when there is a cut in the skin. A fall in the level of your platelets may put you at risk of bleeding more than usual. Do not take part in activities where you may fall or get injured, such as contact sports. Alert your doctor if you get any unusual bruising (large bruises or several bruises, especially if the bruises appeared on their own) or bleeding that takes a long time to stop (for example, too much bleeding when you floss or brush your teeth).
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Do not take Pazopanib with the following medicines:
- medicines to treat TB (lung infection known as tuberculosis) e.g. rifampin
- cimetidine (medicine used to reduce stomach acid)
- other medicines for cancer e.g. lapatinib, pemetrexed, ciclosporin
- certain antibiotics e.g. clarithromycin
- medicines used to treat HIV e.g. atazanavir
- gastric medicine e.g. esomeprazole
- medicine to treat fungal infection e.g. itraconazole
- medicine to treat depression e.g. nefazodone
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- medicines for diabetes e.g. insulin
- medicines used to treat heart conditions e.g. verapamil, nicardipine
- medicines for mood disorders e.g. haloperidol
- other medicines such as midazolam, dextromethorphan
- simvastatin (medicine used to lower cholesterol)
- herbal medicine e.g. St John's wort
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Pazopanib.
Pazopanib should not be taken with antacids as antacids could reduce the effectiveness of this medicine. If you must take antacids, take between meals at least 2 hours after you have taken this medicine.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol. Avoid excessive consumption of grapefruit or grapefruit juice (more than 1 litre a day).
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
As this is a cancer medicine, always return any unused or expired tablets to the clinic, hospital, or pharmacy for disposal. Do not throw it away in the household waste.
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