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 Votrient (Pazopanib).
Abnormal heart rhythms: Votrient (Pazopanib) may cause a heart rhythm problem called QT prolongation. If you have a history of QT prolongation, slow or irregular heartbeat, irregular heart rhythm, heart failure, heart attack, heart disease, taking other medications known to cause QT prolongation, or a family history of sudden cardiac death at less than 50 years of age, discuss with your doctor how Votrient (Pazopanib) may affect your medical condition and how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Votrient (Pazopanib). Your doctor will perform tests at regular intervals to monitor for any changes in your heart rhythm.
Bleeding problems: Votrient (Pazopanib) may increase your risk of bleeding. If you have a history of coughing up blood, brain bleeds, or bleeding from the stomach, discuss with your doctor how Votrient (Pazopanib) may affect your medical condition. If you notice signs of serious bleeding, such as vomiting blood or a coffee grounds-like substance or bleeding from the rectum, get immediate medical attention.
Blood Clots: Votrient (Pazopanib) may increase the chance of blood clot formation, causing reduction of blood flow to organs or the extremities.
If you have a history of clotting you may be at increased risk of experiencing blood clot-related problems such as heart attack, stroke, or clots in the deep veins of your leg. Discuss with your doctor how Votrient (Pazopanib) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Votrient (Pazopanib), and whether any special monitoring is needed.
If you experience symptoms such as sharp pain and swelling in the leg, difficulty breathing, chest pain, blurred vision, or difficulty speaking, contact your doctor immediately.
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF): Votrient (Pazopanib) may make the heart less effective at pumping blood through the body, causing congestive heart failure and reduced heart function. If you have a history of heart disease or you are at risk of developing heart disease, discuss with your doctor how Votrient (Pazopanib) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Votrient (Pazopanib), and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Gastrointestinal (stomach and bowel) problems: Rarely, Votrient (Pazopanib) can cause perforation (holes) in the stomach or intestines. If you experience severe abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, or black and tarry stools, contact your doctor immediately.
Grapefruit juice: Grapefruit juice affects how Votrient (Pazopanib) is removed from the body and may cause too much of the medication to build up in the body and cause possibly harmful side effects. People should not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit at anytime while taking Votrient (Pazopanib) for treatment.
High blood pressure: Votrient (Pazopanib) can cause increased blood pressure. People with uncontrolled high blood pressure should be closely monitored closely by their doctor.
If you experience symptoms of a severe increase in blood pressure, such as severe chest pain, headache with confusion, nausea, vomiting, or shortness of breath, contact your doctor immediately.
Infection: Votrient (Pazopanib), like other medications used to treat cancer, can reduce 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: Votrient (Pazopanib) has been linked with decreased kidney function. If you experience symptoms of kidney problems, such as fluid retention and puffiness in the lower legs and feet, talk to your doctor.
If you have a history of kidney problems, discuss with your doctor how Votrient (Pazopanib) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Votrient (Pazopanib), and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS): This is a rare condition of the brain where the covering that protects the nerves is destroyed, affecting how the nerves in the brain transmit messages. Signs and symptoms of leukoencephalopathy include unusual clumsiness, gradually worsening weakness, visual, speech or personality changes, or possibly seizures. If you experience any of these, contact your doctor immediately.
Liver function: Liver disease or reduced liver function may cause Votrient (Pazopanib) to build up in the body, causing side effects. If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how Votrient (Pazopanib) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Votrient (Pazopanib), and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Votrient (Pazopanib) has been reported to cause liver failure, which has in cases, caused death. Votrient (Pazopanib) may also cause a decrease in liver function. If you experience symptoms of liver problems such as fatigue, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain or swelling, and itchy skin, contact your doctor immediately.
Your doctor may want to test your liver function regularly with blood tests while you are taking Votrient (Pazopanib). This often allows reduced liver function to be identified before it becomes too severe.
Lung inflammation: Lung inflammation (interstitial lung disease), causing difficulty breathing has occurred rarely in some people taking Votrient (Pazopanib). This complication can be serious and sometimes fatal. If you experience new or worsening shortness of breath or cough (with or without fever) at any time while you are taking Votrient (Pazopanib), contact your doctor immediately.
Reproduction: Votrient (Pazopanib) may decrease fertility for both men and women. Discuss with your doctor any concerns you have about having children in the future. Women of childbearing age who are taking Votrient (Pazopanib) should use an effective method of birth control (e.g., birth control pill, condoms) during treatment and for 8 weeks after treatment. Votrient (Pazopanib) has also been linked to birth defects in babies born to mothers whose male partner used the medication during the pregnancy. Men whose partners are or may become pregnant should use a barrier form of birth control, such as condoms, while taking Votrient (Pazopanib) and for at least 2 weeks after taking the last dose.
Surgery: Votrient (Pazopanib) may reduce the speed of wound healing. If you have a surgery scheduled, let the doctors and nurses involved with your care know that you are taking Votrient (Pazopanib). Your doctor may want you to stop taking Votrient (Pazopanib) temporarily until you have recovered from the surgery.
Thyroid function: Votrient (Pazopanib) may reduce the function of the thyroid gland. If you have thyroid disease, discuss with your doctor how Votrient (Pazopanib) may affect your medical condition. Your doctor may want to test your thyroid function regularly with blood tests while you are taking Votrient (Pazopanib).
Pregnancy: Votrient (Pazopanib) may cause harm to an unborn fetus if taken by the mother while she is pregnant. It should not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking Votrient (Pazopanib), contact your doctor immediately.
Breast-feeding: It is not known if Votrient (Pazopanib) passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Votrient (Pazopanib), it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about breast-feeding, as it is recommended that breast-feeding be stopped while using Votrient (Pazopanib).
Children: The safety and effectiveness of using Votrient (Pazopanib) have not been established for children less than 18 years of age and is not recommended for this age group. Do not give Votrient (Pazopanib) to children less than 2 years of age as it severely affects body weight gain, organ growth, and maturation, and may cause serious problems with a child's growth.