What is Venetoclax?
Venetoclax can be used in the treatment of adults with small lymphocytic cancer or chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Venetoclax can also be used with other drugs to treat leukemia myeloide aigu among adults aged 75 or over and those who cannot receive standard chemotherapy because of other conditions.Venetoclax can be used in other ways not mentioned in the medication guide.
Side effects of Venetoclax
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergy: difficulty breathing, hives, swelling in your lips, face, throat, or tongue
Venetoclax may cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- Severe sleepiness and rapid breathing are symptoms of sepsis.
- Signs of Pneumonia: cough with green or yellow mucus; wheezing.
- Low blood counts: fever, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, lightheadedness;
- Signs of cancer cell breakdown include: chills, joint pain, muscular pain or fatigue, rapid or slow heartbeats, or nausea or vomiting. Other signs are dark urine or cloudy or darker urine.
If you experience certain side effects, your cancer treatment may be halted or delayed.
Some of the side effects that venetoclax can cause include:
- Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation;
- Feeling tired or breathless
- Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or low on blood pressure?
- Joint and muscle pain
- You may experience swelling in your hands, feet, arms, and legs.
- Fever and low blood cell counts
- Pneumonia, sepsis;
- Mouth pain
- Is rash
- Symptoms of a cold, including a stuffy nose and sneezing. Sore neck.
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.
Similar/related drugs
Imbruvica, rituximab, cyclophosphamide, Rituxan, Venclexta, Calquence, and Azacitidine
Warnings
If you experience a high fever, a chill, muscle or joint pain, fatigue, confusion, shortness of breath, or rapid or slow heartbeats, Also, if your urine is cloudy or dark, call your doctor immediately.To prevent side effects, drink 6–8 glasses of water per day.
Before you take this drug
Venetoclax should never be taken with certain drugs. You may need to change your treatment plan if you use the following drugs:
- Antifungal or antibacterial medicine
- Heart medication
- Antiviral medications are available to treat HIV or Hepatitis C infections.
You should always consult your physician before starting or stopping any medication.
If you've ever:
- Liver or kidney disease
- An electrolyte balance (such as a low level of calcium or potassium in the blood)
- Gout is a condition in which you have high levels of uric acid in your blood.
- If you are taking a blood thinner (such as Warfarin) and have regular "INR" tests or prothrombin times,
Can harm the unborn child. A pregnancy test may be needed to confirm that you are not expecting. While using venetoclax, and at least for 30 days following your last dose, use birth control.Inform your doctor immediately if you discover you're pregnant.
Venetoclax can make it harder for men to get women pregnant.While taking this medication and for at least 1 week following your last dose, you should refrain from breastfeeding.
How to take Venetoclax?
Read all the instructions or guides that come with your medication and follow the directions. Sometimes, your doctor will change the dose. You must take the medication exactly as prescribed.Your first dose may be administered in a hospital or clinic to treat serious side effects.Venetoclax should be taken with water and food at the same times each day.
Venetoclax tablets should not be crushed, chewed, or broken. It is best to swallow it whole.Do not continue taking the tablet 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 venetoclax. Drink 6–8 glasses of water the first day that you take venetoclax and any time your dosage is altered.Your cancer treatment may be delayed due to the need for frequent tests.
You should not discontinue using venetoclax before consulting your doctor.Tablets should be stored in their original packaging at room temperature, away from heat and moisture. Venetoclax should not be put into daily pill boxes.
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. 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. Venetoclax may affect the effectiveness of your vaccine. The live vaccines are measles (MMR), rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid (typhoid), yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), and shingles.
Venetoclax may cause unwanted side effects if grapefruits, Seville oranges, or star fruits are consumed. Consume grapefruit marmalades, starfruit, and Seville oranges in moderation.
Interaction with other drug
It is sometimes not safe to take certain drugs at the same time. Certain drugs may affect the blood level of drugs that you are taking, and this can increase the side effects or decrease their effectiveness.
Venetoclax can be affected by 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 the medications you are taking, as well as any new ones.
