Sorafenib
About Sorafenib
Sorafenib belongs to the group of medicine called ‘anti-cancer’ that is primarily indicated in the treatment of kidney, liver, and thyroid cancer. Kidney cancer is also known as renal cancer is a disease in which healthy cells of the kidney become malignant (cancerous), grow in an uncontrolled manner, and forms a tumour. Cancer of the liver is known as liver cancer. When cancer occurs in the liver, it destroys healthy cells of the liver and affects the ability of the liver to function normally. Thyroid cancer occurs when cells start multiplying in the thyroid gland and form a tumour. The tumour is a collection of abnormal cells.
Sorafenib contains 'Sorafenib' that falls in the category of medicines known as 'kinase inhibitors'. It works by stopping the action of an abnormal protein that causes the multiplication of cancerous cells. In this way, it stops the spread of cancerous cells.
Take Sorafenib as prescribed by your doctor. You are suggested to take Sorafenib as long as your doctor has prescribed it after checking your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience certain common side-effects such as itching or skin rash, acne, dry skin, vomiting, diarrhoea, and loss of appetite. Most of these side-effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side-effects persistently.
To treat your condition effectually, continue taking Sorafenib for as long as your doctor has prescribed. Do not take Sorafenib if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy as Sorafenib causes serious birth defects. Sorafenib should not be taken by breastfeeding mothers as it passes into breast milk and may cause a possible risk to the infant. Elderly people are more sensitive to the medicine so the doctor may adjust the dosage according to the condition. Avoid consuming alcohol along with Sorafenib as it could lead to increased dizziness.
Uses of Sorafenib
Medicinal Benefits
Sorafenib is a ' tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)', that stops the uncontrolled growth and spread of cancerous cells. Sorafenib is effective in treating thyroid, liver and kidney cancer. It acts by stopping the action of the abnormal protein that is responsible for the multiplication of cancerous cells. Whenever a new healthy cell is formed it undergoes a usual process of maturity. Cancerous cells form new cells more quickly so Sorafenib targets cancerous cells and block the action of Tyrosine kinases enzymes (responsible for causing cancer). In this way, Sorafenib stops the production, spread and growth of cancerous cells in the body.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Sorafenib
- Acne
- Dry skin
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Itching or skin rash
Drug Warnings
Sorafenib may make you more susceptible to infections; consult your doctor if you develop any signs of infections such as fever, sore throat, breathlessness, jaundice, unexplained bleeding, or bruising. Your doctor may advise you to undergo regular blood tests, kidney and liver tests to monitor your condition. Inform your doctor about your health condition and medicines to rule out any unpleasant side-effects. Before your doctor prescribes you Sorafenib, tell them if you have heart problems, high blood pressure, bleeding issues, surgery, or an electrolyte imbalance (like abnormal levels of magnesium, calcium, or potassium in the blood). Sorafenib is restricted to use in persons who are sensitive to any of its constituent or have squamous cell lung cancer or already taking carboplatin and paclitaxel.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Sorafenib may have interaction with anti-cancer medicine (Sorafenib and Paclitaxel), antibiotics (Neomycin), anti-seizure medicine (carbamazepine, phenytoin), an antacid (Omeprazole).
Drug-Food Interaction: The absorption of Sorafenib gets reduced in presence of food. This is why it is suggested to take Sorafenib on an empty stomach or 1 or 2 hours after a meal. Additionally, an individual should avoid grapefruit juice as it may increase the amount of drug in the bloodstream.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Do not take Sorafenib if you have squamous cell lung cancer.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeYou are recommended to avoid alcohol consumption with Sorafenib as it may increase the risk of side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, or difficulty in concentrating.
Pregnancy
unsafeSorafenib is restricted to use in pregnancy. A woman needs to have a negative pregnancy test before starting treatment with this medicine. It is better to use effective birth control methods to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine or for at least 6 months after taking the last dose of Sorafenib.
Breast Feeding
unsafeSorafenib should not be taken by breastfeeding mothers as it passes into breast milk and may cause a possible risk to the infant.
Driving
cautionIt is not known if Sorafenib may affect your driving ability or not.
Liver
safe if prescribedSorafenib is safe to take by patients dealing with liver cancer as prescribed by their doctor. The dose may be adjusted by the doctor according to the medical condition of the patient.
Kidney
safe if prescribedSorafenib is safe to take by patients dealing with kidney cancer as prescribed by their doctor. The dose may be adjusted by the doctor according to the medical condition of the patient.
Children
cautionSorafenib is not recommended for children below 18 years as the safety and effectiveness were not established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Physical activity helps in strengthening muscles reduce fatigue, helps in weight loss, and give strength. Gentle activities like 20-30minutes of walking or swimming would be helpful.
- Performing yoga and other relaxation techniques may also help in improving physical and mental health and may reduce your stress levels.
- Maintain a healthy weight by performing regular low-strain exercises and eating healthy food.
- Get adequate sleep as resting helps in improving your health, mental ability, and improves attention.
- De-stress yourself by meditating, reading books, taking a warm bubble bath, or listen to soothing music.
- Eat food rich in antioxidants such as berries, spinach, kidney beans, dark chocolate, etc.
- Foods containing fibre help in better digestion. These include beans, peas, lentils, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
Special Advise
- Seek medical attention immediately if you have swelling in your lower legs, fast heartbeats, or trouble breathing. It may be a sign of a heart problem.
- Sorafenib may cause bleeding so tell your doctor if you see blood in urine or stools.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Cancer: It is a genetic change in which our cells divide uncontrollably and spread into surrounding tissues. There are two types of cancer, namely benign (localized) and metastatic (spread to the whole body). There are more than 100 types of cancer, including blood cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, etc. Cancer growth can be prevented by chemotherapy (by strong antibiotics), radiation and stem cell therapy. To date, there is no cure for cancer.
Renal cancer: Kidneys help to get rid of waste by filtering blood, regulate fluid balance, and helps in making urine. Kidney cancer occurs when cancerous cells start growing uncontrollably in the kidneys.
Liver cancer: The liver is responsible for making bile that is a substance that helps in digesting fats, nutrients, and other vitamins. When the liver gets infected with cancerous cells, it destroys the liver cells and affects the ability of the liver to work properly.
Thyroid cancer: The thyroid is the gland of the body that produces hormones responsible for the functioning of the body. When thyroid cancer occurs when a person does not remain able to feel the thyroid gland.
FAQs
Sorafenib is used in the treatment of kidney, liver, and thyroid cancer.
Sorafenib is safe to be taken by a diabetic person. However, take Sorafenib only after asking with a doctor as they may adjust the dosing according to the condition of the patient.
Sorafenib is restricted to use in pregnancy. A woman needs to have a negative pregnancy test before starting treatment with this medicine. It is better to use effective birth control methods to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine or for at least 6 months after taking the last dose of Sorafenib.
Sorafenib should be stopped in cases where a person faces a serious side effect that affects the quality of life. Otherwise, you need to keep taking Sorafenib until your doctor asks you to stop it.
Liver cancer may spread fast depending upon the type of cancer. Hemangiosarcoma and angiosarcoma (the type of liver cancer) spread quickly while hepatocellular carcinoma spreads slowly in the disease.
Before your doctor prescribes you Sorafenib, tell them if you have heart problems, high blood pressure, bleeding issues, surgery, or an electrolyte imbalance (like abnormal levels of magnesium, calcium, or potassium in the blood).
Sorafenib is restricted to use in persons who are sensitive to any of its constituents or have squamous cell lung cancer or already taking carboplatin and paclitaxel.
If you are going for surgery tell your dentist ahead that you are taking this medicine. You need to stop taking it at least 10 days after having surgery.
Sorafenib should be taken as advised by the doctor. It is usually taken without food at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after food. Swallow it as a whole with water. Do not crush, break or chew it.
You are advised to take Sorafenib for as long as it is prescribed by your doctor based on your medical condition. Do not stop taking Sorafenib even if you feel better till the treatment is completed as the symptoms may reoccur.
No, taking treatment along with Sorafenib is not recommended. It is used alone rather than in combination with other treatments to avoid the unwanted side-effects. However, consult the doctor before the treatment.
You will know if Sorafenib is working if you notice the changes in the symptoms, decrease in the tumour size, or if the blood test shows positive changes. Your doctor will regularly check to know the condition.
The severe side-effects associated with Sorafenib include heart attack, heart failure, increased risk of bleeding, liver problem, allergic reactions, gastro-intestinal perforations (a tear in wall of stomach or intestine).
Yes, Sorafenib may decrease the blood sugar levels, which may sometimes lead to fainting. Diabetic patients should check their blood sugar regularly. Consult the doctor if this condition worsens.
No, this isn’t dangerous.Hand-foot reactions (refers to palms and soles) are the most common adverse reactions of Sorafenib. You should consult the doctor if this condition persists for longer durations or worsens.
