Introduction
What SORAFENAT 200MG is used for?
It is used to treat,
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, a type of liver cancer), when it cannot be treated with surgery
- Renal cell carcinoma (RCC, a type of kidney cancer)
- Thyroid cancer
Warning & Precautions
Talk to Doctor
Talk to your doctor before you take this medicine, if you:
- Have any allergies
- Have heart problems or chest pain
- Have bleeding problems
- Have high blood pressure
- Have kidney problems in addition to kidney cancer
- Have liver problems in addition to liver cancer
Pregnancy & Breast Feeding
- Women should not get pregnant during treatment with SORAFENAT 200MG and for at least 2 weeks after stopping treatment
- Consult your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant,planning to become pregnant
Interactions
Tell your doctor if you are taking,
- Warfarin (medicine used to prevent formation of blood clots)
- Other Anticancer agents including gemcitabine, oxaliplatin, doxorubicin, docetaxel
- Neomycin
- Medicines used to treat tuberculosis
How to Use
- Take SORAFENAT 200MG exactly as prescribed by your doctor
- The usual dose of SORAFENAT 200MG is 2 tablets taken two times a day (for a total of 4 tablets each day)
- Take it at the same time everyday to maintain consistent levels in your body.
- Swallow SORAFENAT 200MG tablets whole with water
- Take SORAFENAT 200MG without food (at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal)
If you take more SORAFENAT 200MG
- If you take too many SORAFENAT 200MG tablets at once, tell your doctor or hospital casualty department as soon as possible
- Take your medicine pack with you so that people can see what you have taken
If you forget to take SORAFENAT 200MG
- If you miss a dose of SORAFENAT 200MG, skip the missed dose, and take your next dose at your regular time. Do not double your dose
If you stop taking SORAFENAT 200MG
- Consult your doctor before stop taking this medicine
Side Effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them
Serious
- Decreased blood flow to the heart and heart attack. symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, feel lightheaded or faint, nausea, vomiting, sweating a lot
- Bleeding problems. SORAFENAT 200MG may increase your chance of bleeding
- High blood pressure
- A skin problem called hand-foot skin reaction marked by redness, pain, swelling, or blisters on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet
- Stomach ulcer
- Possible wound healing problems
- SORAFENAT 200MG may need to be stopped until your wound heals after some types of surgery
Common
- Rash, redness, itching or peeling of your skin
- Hair thinning or patchy hair loss
- Diarrhea (frequent or loose bowel movements)
- Nausea or vomiting
- Mouth sores
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Numbness, tingling or pain in your hands and feet
- Abdominal pain
- Tiredness
- Weight loss
HOW TO COPE WITH SIDE EFFECTS?
The occurrence of side effects varies from person to person. The following are a few ways of dealing with some of the common side effects. However, consult your doctor if these persist.
Coping with Nausea
You can help yourself by eating small, frequent meals rather than large ones and drinking plenty of fluids. Eat slowly. Avoid fatty, fried, spicy and very sweet foods. Eat cold or slightly warm food if the smell of cooked or cooking food makes you feel sick. Get plenty of fresh air. You could also try chewing ginger or drinking ginger tea. Eat bananas to replace potassium in your blood which can drop if you are sick (vomit). Use oral rehydration salts to replace vitamins and minerals lost through being sick. There are some medicines that can help you stop feeling sick. Speak to your doctor if your condition does not improve.
Coping with Rash
There are many treatments for a wide range of skin problems. Avoid hot showers or baths because hot water can irritate the skin. Make sure to pat your skin dry after a bath or shower. Do not rub or scratch the affected area. Leave the skin exposed to the air as much as possible. Do not use perfumed soaps or deodorants. Water containing chlorine can make most skin problems worse so avoid swimming. Avoid spicy foods, alcohol, tobacco smoke and caffeine as it may also make itching worse. Avoid excessive sun exposure, always use sunscreen and protective clothing when outdoors. Moisturizers can be used regularly to soothe and hydrate the affected area. If it does not get better within a week, speak to a pharmacist or doctor.
More Information
Storage
- Keep this medicine out of reach of children
- Store at room temperature (15-25°C)
- Do not use this medicine after the expiry date
FAQs
Sorafenat is an oral medicine and you should take it exactly as per your doctor’s advice. It can be taken without food or with low to moderate fat meal. It should not be taken with high-fat meal which will make Sorafenat less effective. If you are taking high-fat meal, take Sorafenib 1 hour before or two hours after high-fat meal.
Q. For how long do I need to take Sorafenat?
If Sorafenat suits you well, then you should continue taking it for the duration suggested by the doctor. However, if you experience any side effect that bothers you, talk to your doctor immediately.
Q. Do I need to take a treatment along with Sorafenat for it to work?
Sorafenat is used as a monotherapy, that is, it is a medicine which is used alone rather than in combination with other treatments like radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
Q. How do I know if I am responding to Sorafenat?
While receiving treatment with Sorafenat, your doctor will most likely recommend regular scans to monitor the size of the tumor. You may also need to get regular blood tests to see if the deranged liver or kidney functions have improved or not.
Q. What are the serious side effects that can occur while taking Sorafenat?
The possible serious side effects that may occur (not in everyone) include heart attack and heart failure, increased risk of bleeding, high blood pressure, skin problems and wound healing problems. Some other side effects which get highlighted when you go through various tests are decreased blood flow to the heart, swelling of the liver, an opening in the wall of stomach or intestines (perforation), changes in electrical activity of the heart (QT prolongation) and changes in thyroid hormone levels.
Q. Does Sorafenat affect blood sugar levels?
Yes, Sorafenat can cause a decrease in the blood sugar levels. In fact, the levels can decrease to the extent that the patient may faint. So, it is important that the patients having diabetes check their blood sugar levels regularly. Additionally, you should also consult the doctor if the dose of anti-diabetic medicines needs to be adjusted.
Q. I have developed redness and pain in my palms and soles ever since I started using Sorafenat. My skin is also coming off. Is this dangerous? What should I do?
It seems you have developed hand and foot skin reaction due to Sorafenat. Consult your doctor who will either interrupt your therapy for sometime or change your dose. He might also suggest some cream or lotion to treat the problem. If the problem is severe, consult a skin doctor.
Disclaimer:The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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