Introduction
Sunicent is used in the treatment of kidney cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumor.
Sunicent can be taken with or without food, but try to have it at the same time every day to get the most benefits. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to.
Nausea, vomiting, weakness and weight loss are some common side effects of this medicine. The doctor may advise for regular monitoring of blood pressure and thyroid gland function while taking this medicine. It may decrease blood sugar levels. In fact, the levels can decrease to the extent that the patient may faint. So, if you are diabetic then it is important to check your blood sugar levels regularly. Additionally, you should also consult the doctor if the dose of anti-diabetic medicines needs to be adjusted. This medicine may affect wound healing time, so be careful while shaving, cutting fingernails or using sharp objects.
Before taking it, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, liver, or kidney problems or bleeding disorder. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your healthcare team know all medications you are using. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The use of effective contraception by both males and females during treatment is important to avoid pregnancy.
Uses of Sunicent
- Kidney cancer
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumour
Side effects of Sunicent
Common
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Rash
- Abdominal pain
- Indigestion
- Discoloration of skin
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Dry skin
- High blood pressure
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Painful blisters on hands and feet
- Stomatitis (Inflammation of the mouth)
- Hair discoloration
- Pain in extremity
- Back pain
- Headache
- Joint pain
- Weight loss
- Cough
- Taste change
- Breathlessness
How to use Sunicent
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Do not chew, crush or break it. Sunicent may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
How Sunicent works
Sunicent is an anti-cancer medication. It works by binding and blocking certain cell surface protein (tyrosine kinase) responsible for the propagation of cancer growth. It also restricts the growth of new blood vessels within the tumor. This is how it prevents the proliferation of malignant cancers.
What if you forget to take Sunicent?
If you miss a dose of Sunicent, skip it and continue with your normal schedule. Do not double the dose.
Indication
Leukemia, Renal cell carcinoma, Gastrointestinal stromal tumor, Meningioma
Administration
May be taken with or without food.
Adult Dose
Hepatic Impairment
Mild to moderate impairment: Dose adjustment not necessary for initial dose; monitor subsequent doses
Severe impairment: Not studied
Child Dose
Safety and efficacy not established
Renal Dose
Renal Impairment
No dose adjustment necessary
Contraindication
Hypersensitivity, Renal impairment
Mode of Action
Multikinase inhibitor (including VEGF & PDGF receptor tyrosine kinases) some of which are implicated in tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis.
Precaution
CHF, HTN, history of QT interval prolongation, patients taking antiarrhythmics or w/ preexisting cardiac disease, bradycardia or electrolyte disturbances, hemorrhagic events, hypothyroidism. Perform CBC & physical exam. May affect ability to drive or operate machinery. Pregnancy.
Side Effect
>10%
Dyspepsia (MRCC 46%),Altered taste (MRCC 43%; GIST 21%),Fatigue (GIST 42%; MRCC 74%),Diarrhea (GIST 40%; MRCC 55%),Rash (MRCC 38%; GIST 14%),Vomiting (MRCC 37%; GIST 24%),Constipation (MRCC 34%; GIST 20%),Skin discoloration (MRCC 33%; GIST 30%),Abdominal pain (GIST 33%; MRCC 20%),Nausea (GIST 31%; MRCC 54%),Anorexia (MRCC 31%; GIST 33%),Mucositis/stomatitis (GIST 29%; MRCC 53%),Dyspnea (MRCC 28%; GIST 10%),HTN (MRCC 28%; GIST 15%),Arthralgia (MRCC 28%; GIST 12%),Bleeding (MRCC 26%; GIST 18%),Headache (MRCC 25%; GIST 13%),Asthenia (GIST 22%),Lymphopenia (MRCC 21%),Fever (GIST 18%; MRCC 15%),Limb pain (MRCC 18%),Back pain (MRCC 17%; GIST 11%),Myalgia (MRCC 17%; GIST 14%),Cough (MRCC 17%; GIST 8%),Dry skin (17%),Hair color changes (17%),Neutropenia (MRCC 13%; GIST 11%),Alopecia (MRCC 12%),Hand-foot syndrome (MRCC 12%; GIST 14%),Dehydration (MRCC 11%)
1-10%
Venous thrombotic events,Hemorrhoids,Pancreatitis,Flu-like syndrome
<1%
Hepatotoxicity,Acute renal failure,Adrenal dysfunction
Interaction
Increased plasma conc w/ strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (eg ketoconazole, ritonavir, itraconazole, erythromycin, clarithromycin, grapefruit juice). Decreased plasma conc w/ strong CYP3A4 inducers [eg rifampin, dexamethasone, phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarb, St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum)]. Anticoagulants eg warfarin, acenocoumarol (periodically monitor platelets, prothrombin time/INR & physical exam).