Precautions
Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to see if the medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. It may also cause birth defects if the father is using it when his sexual partner becomes pregnant. If you are a woman who can get pregnant, your doctor may do tests to make sure you are not pregnant before starting sunitinib treatment. Female patients should use an effective form of birth control during treatment with this medicine and for 4 weeks after the last dose. Male patients who have female partners should use effective birth control during treatment with this medicine and for 7 weeks after the last dose. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.
If you plan to have children, talk with your doctor before using this medicine. Some men and women using this medicine have become infertile (unable to have children).
Cancer medicines can cause nausea or vomiting in most people, sometimes even after receiving medicines to prevent it. Ask your doctor or nurse about other ways to control these unwanted effects.
Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.
This medicine may cause serious heart problems (eg, heart attack, heart failure, cardiomyopathy). Tell your doctor if you have chest pain, decreased urine output, dilated neck veins, dizziness, faintness, irregular breathing, irregular heartbeat, nausea, pain or discomfort in arms, jaw, back or neck, sweating, swelling of face, fingers, feet, or lower legs, tightness in the chest, trouble breathing, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting, or weight gain.
Contact your doctor right away if you have any changes to your heart rhythm. You might feel dizzy or faint, or have a fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat. Make sure your doctor knows if you or anyone in your family has ever had a heart rhythm problem such as QT prolongation.
Your blood pressure might get too high while you are using this medicine. This may cause headaches, dizziness, or blurred vision. You might need to measure your blood pressure at home. If you think your blood pressure is too high, call your doctor right away.
This medicine may also increase your risk of bleeding and cause delay in wound healing. Check with your doctor right away if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine or stools, or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
It is important that you check with your doctor before having any dental procedures or surgeries done, or are receiving bisphosphonates (eg, alendronate, ibandronate, risedronate, Actonel®, Boniva®, Fosamax®, Zometa®) while you are using sunitinib. Tell your doctor right away if you have jaw tightness, swelling, numbing, or pain or a loose tooth. This could be symptoms of a severe jaw problem.
This medicine may cause a serious type of reaction called tumor lysis syndrome. Your doctor may give you medicine to help prevent this. Call your doctor right away if you have a decrease or change in the amount of urine, joint pain, stiffness, or swelling, lower back, side, or stomach pain, a rapid weight gain, swelling of the feet or lower legs, or unusual tiredness or weakness.
Thrombotic microangiopathy (damage in the smallest blood vessels) may occur while you are using this medicine. Tell your doctor right away if you have a fever, tiredness, confusion, loss of vision, or seizures.
Serious skin reactions, including erythema multiforme (EM), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), necrotizing fasciitis, and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, red skin lesions, severe acne or skin rash, sores or ulcers on the skin, red irritated eyes, unusual tiredness and weakness, or fever or chills while you are using this medicine.
Check with your doctor right away if you have back pain, blurred vision, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, fever, headache, seizures, or unusual tiredness or weakness. These may be symptoms of a rare and serious brain condition called reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS).
This medicine may cause thyroid problems (eg, hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism). Tell your doctor if you have nervousness, sensitivity to heat, sweating, trouble sleeping, weight loss, constipation, depressed mood, dry skin and hair, feeling cold, hair loss, hoarseness or husky voice, muscle cramps and stiffness, slowed heartbeat, weight gain, unusual tiredness or weakness.
This medicine may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Tell your doctor right away if you notice changes in your blood sugar or you have shaking, trembling, sweating, fast or pounding heartbeat, faintness or lightheadedness, hunger, or confusion.
Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before having surgery or medical tests.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024
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