What is Venclexta?
Venclexta blocks a protein that is found in cancerous cells. This protein helps to keep these cells alive and makes them resistant to chemotherapy. Venetoclax is a drug that binds this protein and helps to kill cancerous lymphocytes found in the blood or bone marrow.
Venclexta is a prescription medication used for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic leukemia (SLL) in adults who have or do not have 17p deletions (a genetic marker). Venetoclax can be used with rituximab in order to treat this condition.
Venclexta can also be used with decitabine or low-dose cytarabine in order to treat acute myeloid leukemia. This combination is only for adults over 75 or those who have other medical conditions that prevent them from using standard chemotherapy.
Warnings
If you experience a high fever, chills or joint pains, fatigue, confusion, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, dark, cloudy, or discolored urine, or convulsions (seizures), call your doctor immediately.To prevent side effects, drink 6–8 glasses of water per day.
Inform your doctor of all the medications you are taking, as well as any new ones. Some drugs are not to be taken together, and others can cause drug interactions.
Before you take this drug
Venclexta should be taken with caution. If you use the following drugs, your treatment plan could change:
- Antifungal or antibacterial medicine
- Heart medication
- Antiviral medication to treat hepatitis C and HIV.
You should always consult your physician before starting or stopping any medication.Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure that Venclexta will be safe for you:
- Liver or kidney disease
- An electrolyte balance (such as low potassium or calcium levels in the blood);
- Gout is a condition where you have high levels of uric acid in your blood.
- If you are taking a blood thinner (e.g., Warfarin) and have regular "INR" tests or prothrombin times,
Can harm an unborn child. A pregnancy test may be necessary to confirm that you're not pregnant. Venclexta should be used with birth control for 30 days following your last dose. Inform your physician immediately if you become pregnant.
You may find it harder to make a woman fall pregnant if you are taking this medication.While taking this medication and for at least 1 week following your last dose, you should refrain from breastfeeding.
Similar/related drugs
Imbruvica, rituximab, cyclophosphamide, Rituxan, ibrutinib, Ventoclax, and Calquence
How to take Venclexta?
Follow your doctor's instructions and take Venclexta only as directed. Read all the instructions and directions that come with your medication. Sometimes your doctor will change the dose.Your first dose may be administered in a hospital or clinic to treat serious side effects.Venclexta should be taken with water and food at the same times each day.
Avoid crushing, chewing, or breaking a tablet. The tablet should be swallowed whole.Do not continue taking Venclexta if you vomit soon after taking it. Next day, take your dose according to schedule.
Drink 6–8 glasses of water a day for two days prior to starting Venclexta. Drink 6–8 glasses of water the first time you take Venclexta and any other dose changes.Your cancer treatment may need to be delayed due to the results of your medical tests.You should not discontinue using the medicine before consulting your physician.Keep tablets at room temperature and away from heat or moisture in the original packaging. Don't put them in a daily pillbox.
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you miss a dose, take it immediately. If this doesn't happen immediately, wait up to 24 hours and take another dose as soon as you remember it. However, if the delay is greater than eight hours, you should skip that dose. Never take two doses of the same medicine at once.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.
Avoid this
A "live" vaccination should be avoided. Venclexta may affect the effectiveness of your vaccine. The live vaccines are measles (MMR), rubella, mumps (MMR), yellow fever (typhoid), varicella, chickenpox (varicella), and shingles.
Venetoclax may cause unwanted side effects if grapefruits, Seville oranges, or starfruit are consumed. Consume grapefruit marmalades, starfruit, and Seville oranges in moderation.
Side effects of Venclexta
If you experience any of the following: itching, difficulty breathing, swelling in your lips, face, throat, or tongue, difficulty breathing, or an allergic reaction, seek emergency medical attention.
If you experience:
- Sepsis symptoms: confusion, severe sleepiness, rapid respiration, feeling very sick;
- Signs of pneumonia include coughing with green or yellow mucus, stabbing pain in the chest, wheezing, and trouble breathing.
- Low blood counts: fever, sores on the lips, sores of the skin, unusual bleeding or bruising, pale skin and hands, lightheadedness, cold feet, etc.
- Signs of Tumor Cell Breakdown: Chills, Joint or Muscle Pain, Feeling Tired or Short of Breath, Fast or Slow Heartbeats, Nausea, Vomiting, Dark or Cloudy Urine, Convulsions
If you experience certain side effects, your cancer treatment may be delayed.
Venclexta may cause side effects such as:
- Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation;
- Feeling tired or breathless
- Feeling dizzy, light-headed, or having low blood pressure?
- Muscle and joint pain
- You may experience swelling in your hands, feet, arms, and legs.
- Fever and low blood cell counts
- Pneumonia, sepsis;
- Mouth pain
- Rash;
- Symptoms of a cold, including a stuffy nose and sneezing. A sore throat.
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. Report side effects by calling the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Interaction with other drug
It is sometimes not a good idea to take certain drugs at the same time. Some medications can cause side effects that increase or decrease the effectiveness of another drug you are taking.
Venetoclax can cause interactions with many drugs. These include prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal products. This list does not include all interactions. Inform your doctor of all medications you are currently taking and those that you will stop or start using.
