Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.
Fertility: Venclexta (Venetoclax) may cause low or no sperm production when taken by men. This may affect the ability to father a child after taking Venclexta (Venetoclax). Talk to your doctor about this before starting Venclexta (Venetoclax).
Infection: Venclexta (Venetoclax) reduces the number of cells that fight infection in the body (white blood cells). If possible, avoid contact with people with contagious infections.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice signs of an infection, such as fever or chills, severe diarrhea, shortness of breath, prolonged dizziness, headache, stiff neck, weight loss, or listlessness. Your doctor will do blood tests regularly to monitor the number of specific types of blood cells in your blood.
Kidney function: The effect of kidney function on how Venclexta (Venetoclax) works has not been determined. It is possible that decreased kidney function may increase the likelihood of experiencing side effects of Venclexta (Venetoclax). If you have Kidney Disease or decreased kidney function, discuss with your doctor how Venclexta (Venetoclax) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Venclexta (Venetoclax), and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Liver function: The effect of liver function on how Venclexta (Venetoclax) works for you has not been determined. It is possible that decreased liver function may increase the likelihood of experiencing side effects. If you have liver disease or decreased liver function, discuss with your doctor how Venclexta (Venetoclax) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Venclexta (Venetoclax), and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Other cancers: Taking Venclexta (Venetoclax), may increase your risk of developing Skin Cancer. Report any unusual growths on your skin or changes to growths on your skin to your doctor as soon as possible. Discuss any concerns you may have with your doctor.
Tumour lysis syndrome: Venclexta (Venetoclax), like many other cancer medications, causes many cancer cells to be suddenly killed when treatment is first started. This can overwhelm the body with waste products from the cells. As a result, the body may not be able to keep up with getting rid of all the waste. When this happens, you may have nausea, shortness of breath, cloudy urine, or joint pain. This is called tumour lysis syndrome. Your doctor may prescribe some medications to help your body get rid of the waste products. Make sure you understand how to use these medications and report any of these signs or symptoms to your doctor immediately.
The gradual increase in your dose of Venclexta (Venetoclax) is intended to decrease the risk of developing severe tumour lysis syndrome. Drinking plenty of fluids while taking Venclexta (Venetoclax) will help reduce your risk of developing tumour lysis syndrome.
Vaccines: Vaccines (e.g., yellow fever, BCG, Cholera, typhoid, varicella, meningococcal, diphtheria) should not be given while you are taking Venclexta (Venetoclax). Vaccinations should be completed before starting Venclexta (Venetoclax) or should be postponed until treatment with Venclexta (Venetoclax) is complete.
Pregnancy: Venclexta (Venetoclax) should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you may become pregnant and are taking Venclexta (Venetoclax), use an effective method of birth control such as condoms during treatment and for at least 30 days after stopping the medication. If you become pregnant while taking Venclexta (Venetoclax), contact your doctor immediately.
Breast-feeding: It is not known if Venclexta (Venetoclax) passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Venclexta (Venetoclax), it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.
Children: The safety and effectiveness of using Venclexta (Venetoclax) have not been established for children.
