What is Caprelsa?
Caprelsa, a cancer medication, interferes with cancer cell growth and spread in the body. Caprelsa can be used to treat thyroid cancer in adults. Caprelsa can only be purchased from a pharmacy that is certified under the Caprelsa REMS Program. You must register in the programme, and you must understand the risks associated with taking this medication.
Warnings
Caprelsa should not be used if you're pregnant. It can harm an unborn child. This medicine should not be used if you suffer from severe liver disease, have a family or personal history of Long QT syndrome, or have low levels of magnesium, calcium, or potassium in your blood. Every 2 to 3 months, you will require medical testing. If you experience a sudden headache, dizziness, or fainting and a fast or pounding pulse, call your doctor immediately.
Vandetanib can interact with many other drugs.Inform your physician of all medications you are currently taking. Your blood may need testing frequently to ensure Caprelsa does not cause harmful effects. Electrocardiographs (also called ekgs) or ecgs may be used to check your heart rate.
Tell the surgeon that you use Caprelsa before you have surgery. It may be necessary to temporarily stop taking the medication. You should not stop taking the medication unless you are told to by your doctor. Do not take Caprelsa again if you have stopped taking it for more than two weeks.
Before you take this drug
Caprelsa should not be used if:
- Long QT syndrome (in yourself or in a member of your family)
Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure Caprelsa will be safe for you:
- Heart disease High blood pressure or a heart rhythm problem;
- Low blood levels of magnesium, calcium, or potassium
- Tests of abnormal thyroid function
- A seizure;
- Coughing up bloody mucus is a sign of breathing problems.
- Liver or kidney disease
- Skin problems
- Severe diarrhoea.
Before starting the treatment, you may need to take a pregnancy test. Caprelsa can harm an unborn child. Use birth control during the time you take this medication and for 4 months following your last dose. If you fall pregnant, tell your doctor immediately. Do not breastfeed if you are using this medication or for 4 months following your last dose.
How to take Caprelsa?
Caprelsa should be taken exactly as prescribed by your physician. Before using your prescription, read all instructions and directions that accompany it. Sometimes your doctor will change the dose. Take this medication with a glass of water. Caprelsa can be taken with or without food and is typically taken once daily. Do not chew or crush the tablet.
If you can't swallow the tablet whole, put it in a glass of 2 ounces of water. Stir the mixture until it is evenly dispersed. (It will not completely dissolve.) This mixture should be consumed immediately. Pour 4 ounces of water into the glass. Swirl gently, and drink immediately. You can also administer the dispersed tablet mix through a nasogastric tube (NG) or gastrostomy tube. Please follow your doctor's directions.
Use only a whole tablet. A broken tablet can cause serious harm if the medicine gets into your nose, mouth, or eyes. If this occurs, you should wash your skin or eyes with water and soap. You can ask your pharmacist for advice on how to safely dispose of a broken tablet. Every 2 to 3 months, you will require blood tests and electrocardiographs (also called ekgs). The results may change your medication or dose schedule.
Do not stop taking Caprelsa without your doctor's permission. Do not take this medicine without consulting your doctor if you have stopped taking it for more than two weeks. Before you begin taking the medication again, an ECG may be required. Store away from heat and moisture at room temperature.
Details on dosage
Adult dose for thyroid cancer:
Initial dose: 300mg orally, once daily.
Duration of treatment: Continue the drug until disease progression occurs or unacceptable toxicities occur.
Use: To treat symptomatic or progressing medullary thyroid carcinoma in patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease that cannot be resected.
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. Skip the missed dose when your next dose is less than 12 hours away. Never take two doses in one go.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.
What should be avoided?
Do not drive or engage in hazardous activities until you have determined how the medicine will affect you. You may be unable to react properly. St. John's Wort John's Wort while taking Caprelsa.
Avoid tanning beds or exposure to sunlight. Vandetanib may cause you to sunburn more easily for up to 4 months after stopping the medication. Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or greater when outdoors.
Side effects of Caprelsa
If you experience any of the following symptoms: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling on your face or in your throat, or severe skin reactions (fever or sore throat with burning eyes, skin pain or blistering, or a red or purple rash), If you experience a severe reaction to Caprelsa, it may be necessary to discontinue the drug.
If you experience:
- Fast or pounding pulse, chest fluttering, sudden dizziness, as if you could pass out;
- Feeling short of breath, wheezing, or having a dry cough
- Severe or ongoing diarrhoea;
- Unusual bruising and bleeding
- Vomit that looks like coffee grounds or bloody mucus;
- Rapid weight gain and swelling
- Headache, confusion, change in mental status, seizure;
- Thyroid symptoms: extreme fatigue, dryness of the skin; joint pain, stiffness or muscle pain; hoarseness or weakness in voice; being more sensitive to cold temperatures or weight gain.
- High blood pressure is dangerous; it causes severe headaches, pounding in the neck or ears, anxiety, and irregular heartbeats.
If you experience any stroke symptoms, stop using Caprelsa immediately and contact your doctor.
- Sudden numbness (especially on one side) or weakness
- Confuse yourself or have difficulty understanding what you are being told.
- Sudden, severe headache;
- Problems with vision or balance
Side effects of Caprelsa include:
- High blood pressure
- Diagnosis, nausea, and loss of appetite are all symptoms that you may experience.
- Headache, tiredness;
- Acne, skin rash,
- Cold symptoms like stuffy noses, sneezing, and sore throats.
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.
Interaction with other drug
Caprelsa may cause serious heart problems if taken with certain other medications for infection, high blood pressure, heart disease, mental illness, or cancer. Vandetanib can interact with many drugs. These include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. This list does not include all possible interactions. Inform your doctor of all medications you are currently taking and those that you will stop or start using.
