Votrient®: Uses, dosages and precautions for use

Article by Pharmacist, Master Pham Thi Kim Dung - Pharmacist - Faculty of Pharmacy - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Votrient is a drug indicated for the treatment of certain cancers. To ensure effective treatment and avoid side effects, you should only use Votrient® when prescribed and monitored by a specialist

The active ingredient of Votrient ® is pazopanib. This medication is used to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma or advanced soft tissue cancer in adults who have received prior chemotherapy. In addition, the drug can be used in the treatment of fibroids, advanced thyroid cancer. Your doctor will need to examine and evaluate many factors before advising you to use Votrient ® for treatment.

To avoid side effects, use Votrient ® only when prescribed and under the supervision of a specialist. Patients need to take the drug on an empty stomach, 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating. In addition, you need to take the pill as a whole, do not chew it, because the extent and speed of drug absorption can be increased when chewing, leading to an increased risk of side effects and toxicity.
The usual dose of Votrient ® is 800mg once a day. The dose may be changed if the patient's liver function is impaired. You need to use the correct dose of medication prescribed. Do not increase or decrease your dose without consulting your doctor.
In case you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you realize you have missed a dose less than 12 hours after your next dose, do not take the missed dose and continue taking it at the same schedule. Do not take a double dose at a time.
In addition, you need to have regular medical check-ups or doctor's appointment for evaluation and follow-up. Your doctor will advise you on how long to take the medicine. In particular, it is important not to stop taking the drug on your own, even if you feel better or your symptoms improve.

While taking the drug, you may experience fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, taste disturbances, muscle pain... Not all patients experience side effects and not all patients. All of these side effects happen to you.
If you experience any unusual signs or discomfort, you should talk to your doctor during your scheduled or periodic visits for evaluation, monitoring and timely treatment.
When experiencing severe or prolonged abnormal symptoms including difficulty breathing, fatigue with exertion, changes in consciousness, vision, hemiplegia, severe abdominal pain, jaundice, yellow eyes, watery dark urine or pale stools, bleeding, chest pain, unexplained fainting, abnormal sensations... you need to immediately notify a doctor or go to a medical facility for timely examination and treatment.
If you are 65 years of age or older, you may be more sensitive to unwanted effects, your doctor may use caution and monitor you more closely.
Medicines can slow wound healing, tell your doctor if you need to have pre-operative surgery. The drug may need to be stopped at least 1 week before surgery and reintroduced after the wound has healed or at least 2 weeks after major surgery.
The drug can affect your heart, liver, kidneys, lungs. Your doctor will check your electrocardiogram, blood pressure monitor, echocardiogram, liver function, urinalysis, thyroid function, and electrolytes before using this medicine and periodically monitor it if necessary during treatment. treatment time.

You need to talk to your doctor about your medical history, especially liver disease, kidney disease, electrolyte disorders, cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure, unstable angina, money history of recent myocardial infarction, history of stroke, known prolongation of the QT interval on an electrocardiogram...
Votrient® can interact with many medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements. . Drug interactions may affect the effects or increase toxicity of Votrient ® . Therefore, you need to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about all the medicines you are taking or need to add for any reason during your treatment, especially if you are taking any cancer drugs. other.
You need to take the medicine exactly as prescribed and have regular check-ups to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment as well as to be assessed and monitored for the side effects of the drug.
You must not arbitrarily take additional drugs to reduce gastric acid secretion and neutralize gastric juice while taking Votrient ® because it will affect the absorption and effects of the drug. In the event that it cannot be avoided, you need to get special instructions from your doctor or pharmacist about the dosing interval of Votrient ® for each specific drug.
Because the drug can increase the risk of bleeding, you should be careful in your activities to avoid injury or falling. Use a soft brush and avoid sports activities with a high risk of falls. Elderly people need the support of loved ones to avoid falling.
Drugs can affect the fetus. You need to use birth control for the entire time you are taking the pill and for at least 2 weeks after your last dose. If you are a man with a sexual partner of childbearing age, you need to use a condom even if you have had a vasectomy. together.
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