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What is the most important information I should know about Stivarga?
Stivarga can cause serious side effects, including
Liver problems. Stivarga can cause liver problems which can be serious and sometimes lead to death. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your liver function before you start taking Stivarga and during your treatment with Stivarga to check for liver problems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of these symptoms of liver problems during treatment:
- yellowing of your skin or the white part of your eyes (jaundice)
- nausea or vomiting
- dark “tea-colored” urine
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking Stivarga?
Before you take Stivarga, tell your healthcare provider if you:
- have liver problems
- have bleeding problems
- have high blood pressure
- have heart problems or chest pain
- plan to have any surgical procedures
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Stivarga can harm your unborn baby. Females and males should use effective birth control during treatment with Stivarga and for 2 months after your last dose of Stivarga. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you or your partner becomes pregnant either while taking Stivarga or within 2 months after your last dose of Stivarga.
How should I take Stivarga?
Take Stivarga exactly as your healthcare provider tells you.
You will usually take Stivarga 1 time a day for 21 days (3 weeks) and then stop for 7 days (1 week). This is 1 cycle of treatment. Repeat this cycle for as long as your healthcare provider tells you to.
Swallow Stivarga tablets whole
Take Stivarga at the same time each day with a low-fat breakfast.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember on that day. Do not take two doses on the same day to make up for a missed dose.
What are the possible side effects of Stivarga?
severe bleeding. Stivarga can cause bleeding which can be serious and sometimes lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any signs of bleeding while taking Stivarga including:
- vomiting blood or if your vomit looks like coffee-grounds
- pink or brown urine
- red or black (looks like tar) stools
- coughing up blood or blood clots
- menstrual bleeding that is heavier than normal
- unusual vaginal bleeding
- nose bleeds that happen often
hand-foot skin reaction and skin rash. (Around 26%) Hand-foot skin reactions can cause redness, pain, blisters, bleeding, or swelling on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet. If you get this side effect or a skin rash, your healthcare provider may stop your treatment for some time.
high blood pressure. Your blood pressure should be checked every week for the first 6 weeks of starting Stivarga. Your blood pressure should be checked regularly and any high blood pressure should be treated while you are receiving Stivarga.
wound healing problems. If you need to have a surgical procedure, tell your healthcare provider that you are taking Stivarga. You should stop taking Stivarga at least 2 weeks before any planned surgery.
The most common side effects of Stivarga include:
- tiredness, weakness, fatigue
- loss of appetite
- frequent or loose bowel movements (diarrhea)
- swelling, pain and redness of the lining in your mouth, throat, stomach and bowel (mucositis)
How do I store Stivarga?
- Store Stivarga tablets at room temperature between 68° F to 77° F (20° C to 25° C).
- Keep Stivarga in the bottle that it comes in. Do not put Stivarga tablets in a daily or weekly pill box.
- The Stivarga bottle contains a desiccant to help keep your medicine dry. Keep the desiccant in the bottle.
- Keep the bottle of Stivarga tightly closed.
- Safely throw away (discard) any unused Stivarga tablets after 28 days of opening the bottle.
