What is Nexavar?
Nexavar is a prescription drug used in adults to treat liver, kidney, and thyroid cancer.
It is an oral tablet that works by slowing cancer cell growth and destroying cells that promote cancer spread.
Nexavar Uses
Nexavar is approved by the FDA and is used for the treatment of:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a form ofΒ liver cancerΒ that cannot be removed by surgery.
- A type of kidney cancer called carcinoma of renal cells (RCC)
- Advanced thyroid cancer, known as Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma (DTC), no longer responds to radioactive iodine treatment and continues to worsen.
Nexavar Side effects
Some of the common side effects of Nexavar are:
- Infections
- Hair loss
- Weight loss
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- High blood pressure
- Bleeding
Some of the serious side effects of Nexavar are:
- Heart problems
- Chest pain
- Trouble in breathing
- Irregular heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Swelling of the legs
- Gastrointestinal perforation
- QT prolongation
Within a few days or a couple of weeks, most of these side effects can go away. But talk to the doctor or pharmacist if they get more serious or don’t go down.
Precautions
Before taking Nexavar, talk with your doctor if you are allergic to it or any other medications.
The product may contain inactive ingredients that can cause serious allergic reactions or other problems.
Before taking Nexavar, talk with your doctor if you have any medical history, such as:
- Bleeding problems
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Blood vessel problem
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease
How to take Nexavar?
Take Nexavar as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the prescription label carefully, or ask your doctor.
The medicine should be taken orally on an empty stomach for at least 1-2 hours after a meal.
The dosage is mostly based on medical conditions. Avoid increasing the dosage of the drug and taking the medication for a longer duration.
- Nexavar:Β 200 mg
- Dosage for Liver Cancer:Β 200 mg tablet twice a day
- Dosage for Thyroid Cancer:Β 200 mg twice a day
- Dosage for Kidney Cancer:Β 200 mg twice per day
Missed Dose
If you forget to take any of the recommended doses, skip the missed dose and start taking the next dosage at a regular time.
Donβt take two doses of Nexavar at a time to make up for the missed dose. Doing so can raise the risk of side effects.
Overdose
Overdose of a drug can be accidental. If you have taken more than the prescribed Nexavar tablets there is a chance of getting a harmful effect on your body functions.
Overdose of a medicine can lead to some medical emergency.
Interactions
- The drug interactions can change how Nexavar works or can increase some serious risk of side effects.
- Before visiting the doctor, keep a list of all the drugs that you are using.
- Donβt stop or increase the dosage of Nexavar without informing your doctor, as it can have some adverse effects.
- Irinotecan, neomycin, rapamycin, rifampin, rifabutin, carbamazepine, and phenytoin can interact with Nexavar.
Storage
Direct contact with heat, air and light may damage your medicines. Exposure to medicine may cause some harmful effects.
The medicine must be kept in a safe place and out of childrenβs reach.
Mainly, the drug should be kept at room temperature between 68ΒΊF and 77ΒΊF (20ΒΊC and 25ΒΊC).
Nexavar vs Lenvima
| Nexavar | Lenvima |
|---|---|
| Nexavar is a prescription brand name drug that is used in adults to treat many forms of liver, kidney, and thyroid cancer. Nexavar comes as a tablet that should be taken orally. | Lenvima is a prescription medication that is used for the treatment of certain kinds of cancer. |
| Nexavar is approved by the FDA and is used for the treatment of:Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Advanced renal cell carcinoma and differentiated thyroid carcinoma. | Lenvima is used for the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer, renal cell carcinoma, kidney cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. |
Some of the common side effects of Nexavar are:
|
Some of the common side effects of Lenvima are
|
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Nexavar chemotherapy?
Nexavar is a cancer drug that is used for the treatment of kidney cancer called advanced renal cell carcinoma. Nexavar medications are used for the treatment of liver cancer.
2. Can Nexavar cure liver cancer?
Nexavar will not prevent cancer but this can slow or temporarily stop the growth or the spread of certain cancer cells.
3. What are the side effects of Nexavar?
Some of the common side effects of Nexavar are:
- Infections
- Hair loss
- Weight loss
- Nausea
- Vomiting
4. What is Nexavar 200 mg used for?
Nexavar (sorafenib) is a cancer drug that interferes with the development and spread of cancer cells in the body. Nexavar is used to treat liver cancer, thyroid cancer, or kidney cancer.
5. Does Nexavar cause hair loss?
Some of the common side effects of Nexavar are high blood pressure, hair loss and nausea.
