Sorafenib

U.S. Brand Names

Nexavar®

Mexican Brand Names

Nexavar

Pharmacologic Category

Antineoplastic Agent, Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Inhibitor

Reasons not to take this medicine

• If you have an allergy to sorafenib or any other part of this medicine.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.

• If you are pregnant or may be pregnant.

• If you are breast-feeding.

What is this medicine used for?

• This medicine is used to treat a variety of cancers.

How does it work?

• Sorafenib injures cancer cells causing their death.

How is it best taken?

• Take this medicine on an empty stomach. Take 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.

What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)

• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.

• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.

• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• Do not take St John's wort with this medicine. It may make this medicine less effective.

• If you are taking a blood thinner, you will require more frequent monitoring.

• If you have heart disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have had a recent heart attack, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have high blood pressure, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you are having surgery, talk with healthcare provider.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• Talk with healthcare provider before using aspirin, aspirin-containing products, other pain medicines, blood thinners, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, or vitamin E.

• Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine and for at least 2 weeks after treatment ends.

• If you are a male and sexually active, protect your partner from pregnancy. Use birth control that you can trust.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• Diarrhea.

• Feeling tired or weak.

• Swelling or pain of hands or feet.

• High blood pressure.

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Numbness or tingling of hands or feet.

• Hair loss.

• Not hungry.

• Bleeding.

• Itching.

• Anemia, low white blood cell count, and low platelet count.

• Weight loss.

• Rash.

• Heart disease may rarely occur.

• Holes in the gastrointestinal tract may rarely occur.

What should I monitor?

• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?

• Check blood work regularly. Talk with healthcare provider.

• Check blood pressure regularly.

• Follow up with healthcare provider.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Signs or symptoms of infection. These include a fever of 100.5 degrees or higher, chills, severe sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, increased sputum or change in color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, or anal itching or pain.

• Significant change in thinking clearly and logically.

• Sudden change in vision.

• Chest pain or pressure.

• Severe headache.

• Severe belly pain.

• Severe nausea or vomiting.

• Severe diarrhea.

• Severe swelling or pain of hands or feet.

• Unusual bruising or bleeding.

• Feeling extremely tired or weak.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.

How should I store this medicine?

• Store at room temperature.

• Protect from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.

General statements

• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.

• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.

• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.

• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).

• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.

Created: 2006-10-13 15:44:42.0

Modified: 2008-01-28 15:05:52.0

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