What is it and how is it used?
Votrient is a type of medicine called a protein kinase inhibitor. It is used to treat kidney cancer that is advanced or has spread to other organs. It works by preventing the activity of proteins that are involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells.
What do you have to consider before using it?
Don’t take Votrient
Take special care with Votrient
Before you take Votrient your doctor needs to know:
Votrient is not recommended for people aged under 18. It is not yet known how well it works in this age group.
High blood pressure and Votrient
Votrient can raise your blood pressure. Your blood pressure will be checked before you take Votrient and while you are taking it. If you have high blood pressure you will be treated with medicines to reduce it.
If you are going to have an operation
Your doctor will stop Votrient at least 7 days before your operation as it may affect wound healing. Your treatment will be restarted when the wound has adequately healed.
Conditions you may need to look out for
Votrient can make some conditions worse or cause serious side effects, such as heart conditions, bleeding and thyroid probems. You must look out for certain symptoms while you are taking Votrient to reduce the risk of any problems. See ‘ Conditions you need to look out for’ in Section 4.
Other medicines and Votrient
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, have taken any recently, or if you start new ones. This includes herbal medicines and other medicines you’ve bought without a prescription.
Some medicines may affect how Votrient works or make it more likely that you’ll have side effects. Votrient can also affect how some other medicines work. These include:
Food and drink with Votrient
Don’t take Votrient with food, as it affects the way the medicine is absorbed. Take it at least two hours after a meal or one hour before a meal.
Do not drink grapefruit juice while you are being treated with Votrient as this may increase the chance of side effects.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Votrient is not recommended if you are pregnant. The effect of Votrient during pregnancy is not known.
Don’t breast-feed while taking Votrient. It is not known whether the ingredients in Votrient pass into breast-milk. Talk to your doctor about this.
Driving and using machines
Votrient can have side effects that may affect your ability to drive or use machines.
How is it used?
Always take Votrient exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re not sure.
How much to take
The usual dose is two Votrient 400 mg tablets (800 mg pazopanib) taken once a day. This is the maximum dose per day. Your doctor may need to reduce your dose if you get side effects.
When to take
Don’t take Votrient with food. Take it at least two hours after a meal, or one hour before a meal. For example, you could take it two hours after breakfast or one hour before lunch. Take Votrient at about the same time each day.
Swallow the tablets whole with water, one after the other. Do not break or crush the tablets as it affects the way the medicine is absorbed and may increase the chance of side effects.
If you take too much Votrient
If you taketoo many tablets, contact a doctor or pharmacist for advice. If possible show them the pack, or this leaflet.
If you forget to take Votrient
Don't take the extra tablets to make up for a missed dose. Just take your next dose at the usual time.
Don’t stop Votrient without advice
Take Votrient for as long as your doctor recommends. Don’t stop unless your doctor advises you to.
What are possible side effects?
Like all medicines, Votrient can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Conditions you need to look out for
Heart conditions
Votrient can affect heart rhythm ( QT prolongation) which in some people can develop into a potentially serious heart condition known as Torsade de Pointes. The risks of these problems may be higher for people with an existing heart problem, or who are taking other medicines. You will be checked for any heart problems while you are taking Votrient.
Bleeding
Votrient can cause severe bleeding in the digestive system (such as stomach, gullet, rectum or intestine), or the lungs, kidneys, mouth, vagina and brain, although this is uncommon. Symptoms include:
Thyroid problems
Votrient can lower the amount of thyroid hormone produced in your body. You will be checked for this while you are taking Votrient.
Very common side effects
These may affect more than 1 in 10 people :
Very common side effect that may show up in your blood tests:
Common side effects
These may affect up to 1 in 10 people:
Common side effects that may show up in your blood or urine tests:
Uncommon side effects
These may affect up to 1 in 100 people:
Uncommon side effects that may show up in your blood or urine tests:
If you get side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the side effects listed becomes severe or troublesome, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet.
How should it be stored?
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not use Votrient after the expiry date (EXP) which is stated on the bottle and the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.
If you have unwanted tablets, don’t put them in waste water or household rubbish. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines you don’t need. This will help to protect the environment.
