tivozanib 1.34 mg capsule

Generic name:
Tivozanib - oral

Pronunciation
(tye-VOE-za-nib)

Brand name(s)
Fotivda

Tivozanib is used to treat kidney cancer. This medication belongs to a class of drugs known as kinase inhibitors. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells.

Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start taking tivozanib and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually one time each day for 21 days, followed by 7 days off treatment. Repeat this treatment cycle for as long as directed by your doctor. Swallow the capsule whole with a glass of water. Do not open the capsule.

The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Do not increase your dose or use this drug more often or for longer than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of serious side effects will increase.

Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each treatment day.

Since this drug can be absorbed through the skin and lungs and may harm an unborn baby, women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not handle this medication or breathe the dust from the capsules.

Tiredness, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, mouth sores, weight loss, voice changes (hoarseness), or cough may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

People using this medication may have serious side effects. However, you have been prescribed this drug because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Careful monitoring by your doctor may decrease your risk.

This medication may raise your blood pressure. Check your blood pressure regularly and tell your doctor if the results are high. Your doctor may control your blood pressure with medication.

Treatment with this drug may sometimes cause your hands/feet to develop a skin reaction called hand-foot syndrome. Tell your doctor right away if you experience swelling, pain, redness, blisters, or tingling/burning of the hands/feet. Depending on how severe your hand-foot syndrome is, your doctor may give you an additional medication to reduce the symptoms, or may stop or delay your tivozanib treatment.

This medication can affect how your thyroid works. Tell your doctor right away if you have signs of an underactive thyroid (such as weight gain, cold intolerance, slow heartbeat, constipation, or unusual tiredness) or signs of an overactive thyroid (such as mental/mood changes, heat intolerance, unusual weight loss).

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including:

• easy bruising/bleeding
• slow wound healing
• signs of kidney problems (such as change in the amount of urine)
• signs of infection (such as sore throat that doesn't go away, fever, chills)
• signs of heart failure (such as shortness of breath, swelling ankles/feet, unusual tiredness)
• signs of liver disease (such as nausea/vomiting that doesn't stop, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine)
• signs of a serious tear in the stomach or intestinal wall (such as severe stomach/abdominal pain that doesn't go away)

Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including:

• chest/jaw/left arm pain
• unusual sweating
• vomit that looks like coffee grounds
• black/bloody stools
• weakness on one side of the body
• trouble speaking

Rarely, tivozanib may cause a condition known as reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome-RPLS. Get medical help right away if you develop a headache that doesn't go away, seizures, sudden vision changes, or mental/mood changes (such as confusion).

Tivozanib can commonly cause a rash that is usually not serious. However, you may not be able to tell it apart from a rare rash that could be a sign of a severe reaction. Get medical help right away if you develop any rash.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including:

• rash
• itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
• severe dizziness
• trouble breathing

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before taking tivozanib, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:

• bleeding problems
• recent surgery/injury
• heart problems (such as heart failure, previous heart attack)
• high blood pressure
• kidney problems
• liver problems

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

This medication may cause wounds to heal slowly or poorly. Before having surgery, talk with your doctor or dentist about the risks and benefits of this medication. Your doctor/dentist may tell you to temporarily stop treatment with this medication at least 24 days before surgery. Ask your doctor/dentist for specific instructions about when to stop and when to restart treatment with this medication. Tell your doctor/dentist right away if you have wounds that are not healing well.

Since this drug can be absorbed through the skin and lungs and may harm an unborn baby, women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not handle this medication or breathe the dust from the tablets.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant while using tivozanib. Tivozanib may harm an unborn baby. Your doctor should order a pregnancy test before you start this medication. Men and women using this medication should ask about reliable forms of birth control during treatment and for 1 month after the last dose. If you or your partner becomes pregnant, talk to your doctor right away about the risks and benefits of this medication.

It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Because of the possible risk to the infant, breastfeeding is not recommended while using this drug and for 1 month after the last dose. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.

Other medications can affect the removal of tivozanib from your body, which may affect how tivozanib works. Examples include rifamycins (such as rifampin, rifabutin), St. John's wort, drugs used to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine, phenytoin), among others.

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call 1-844-764-7669.

Do not share this medication with others.

Lab and/or medical tests (such as blood pressure, kidney/liver/thyroid function, complete blood count) should be done while you are taking this medication. Keep all medical and lab appointments.

If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take 2 doses in the same day. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call 1-888-633-4298 (US) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).

HOW TO USE THIS INFORMATION: This is a summary and does NOT have all possible information about this product. This information does not assure that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you. This information is not individual medical advice and does not substitute for the advice of your health care professional. Always ask your health care professional for complete information about this product and your specific health needs.