This medication is used to treat cancer of the colon and
rectum. Fruquintinib belongs to a class of drugs known as kinase
inhibitors. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer
cells.
Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from
your pharmacist before you start taking fruquintinib and each time you get
a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or
pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth with or without food as
directed by your doctor, usually once daily for 21 days, followed by 7 days
off treatment. Repeat this treatment cycle for as long as directed by your
doctor. Swallow the capsules whole. The dosage is based on your medical
condition and response to treatment.
If you vomit after taking a dose, do not take another
dose. Take your next dose at the regular time.
Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit
from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each
day.
Do not increase your dose or use this drug more often or
for longer than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and
your risk of serious side effects will increase.
Since this drug can be absorbed through the skin and
lungs and may harm an unborn baby, women who are pregnant or who may become
pregnant should not handle this medication or breathe the dust from the
capsules.
Diarrhea, hoarseness, or tiredness may occur. If any of
these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist
promptly.
People using this medication may have serious side
effects. However, you have been prescribed this drug because your doctor
has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side
effects. Careful monitoring by your doctor may decrease your
risk.
This medication may raise your blood pressure. Check
your blood pressure regularly and tell your doctor if the results are
high.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side
effects, including:
- easy bruising/bleeding
- swelling hands/feet/legs
- signs of liver problems (such as nausea/vomiting that doesn't
stop, loss of appetite, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine)
- slow wound healing
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious
side effects, including:
- symptoms of a heart attack (such as chest/jaw/left arm pain,
shortness of breath, unusual sweating)
- signs of a stroke (such as weakness on one side of the body,
trouble speaking, sudden vision changes, confusion)
- pink/bloody urine
This medication may lower your ability to fight
infections. This may make you more likely to get a serious (rarely fatal)
infection or make any infection you have worse. Tell your doctor right away
if you have any signs of infection (such as sore throat that doesn't go
away, fever, chills, cough, burning/frequent/painful/urgent
urination).
This medication can also cause serious (possibly fatal)
bleeding, such as bleeding from the stomach/intestines. You should not
receive this medication if you have any serious bleeding problems. In
addition, this medication can rarely cause a tear in the stomach/intestines
(gastrointestinal perforation). Get medical help right away if you have any
signs of these serious side effects, including stomach/abdominal pain that
is severe or doesn't go away, bloody or black/tarry stools, vomit that is
bloody or looks like coffee grounds, coughing up blood,
dizziness/fainting.
Treatment with this drug may sometimes cause your
hands/feet to develop a skin reaction called hand-foot skin reaction
(palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia). Tell your doctor right away if you
experience swelling, pain, redness, peeling, blisters, or tingling/burning
of the hands/feet. Depending on how severe your hand-foot reaction is, your
doctor may lower your dose or delay your treatment.
Rarely, fruquintinib may cause a condition called PRES
(posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome). Get medical help right away
if you develop headache that doesn't go away, seizures, sudden vision
changes, mental/mood changes (such as confusion).
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a
serious allergic reaction, including:
- rash
- itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
- severe dizziness
- trouble breathing
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If
you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or
pharmacist.
In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about
side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at
1-866-234-2345.
Before taking fruquintinib, tell your doctor or
pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.
This product may contain inactive ingredients (such as tartrazine or sunset
yellow), which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your
pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
- bleeding/blood problems
- heart problems (such as heart failure, heart attack)
- current infection
- stroke/transient ischemic attack- TIA
- high blood pressure
- kidney problems
- liver problems
Fruquintinib can make you more likely to get infections
or may make current infections worse. Stay away from anyone who has an
infection that may easily spread (such as chickenpox, COVID-19, measles,
flu). Talk to your doctor if you have been exposed to an infection or for
more details.
Tell your health care professional that you are using
fruquintinib before having any immunizations/vaccinations. Avoid contact
with people who have recently received live vaccines (such as flu vaccine
inhaled through the nose).
To lower the chance of getting cut, bruised, or injured,
use caution with sharp objects like razors and nail cutters, and avoid
activities such as contact sports.
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about
all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription
drugs, and herbal products). Your doctor or dentist may tell you to not
take fruquintinib for at least 2 weeks before and after surgery. This
medication may cause wounds to heal more slowly. Follow all instructions
about when to stop or restart this medication.
Since this drug can be absorbed through the skin and
lungs and may harm an unborn baby, women who are pregnant or who may become
pregnant should not handle this medication or breathe the dust from the
capsules.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become
pregnant. You should not become pregnant while using fruquintinib.
Fruquintinib may harm an unborn baby. Your doctor should order a pregnancy
test before you start this medication. Men and women using this medication
should ask about reliable forms of birth control during treatment and for 2
weeks after the last dose. If you or your partner becomes pregnant, talk to
your doctor right away about the risks and benefits of this
medication.
It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk.
Because of the possible risk to the infant, breastfeeding is not
recommended while using this drug and for 2 weeks after the last dose.
Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work
or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not
contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you
use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and
share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the
dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug
include:
- other drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (including
antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen/naproxen,
"blood thinners" such as warfarin/dabigatran)
Aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding when used with
this medication. However, if your doctor has told you to take low-dose
aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke (usually 81-162 milligrams a
day), you should keep taking the aspirin unless your doctor tells you not
to. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
Other medications can affect the removal of fruquintinib
from your body, which may affect how fruquintinib works. Examples include
rifamycins (such as rifampin), certain drugs used to treat seizures (such
as carbamazepine, phenytoin), St. John's wort, among
others.
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such
as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison
control center right away. US residents can call 1-800-222-1222. Canada
residents can call 1-844-764-7669.
Do not share this medication with others.
Lab and/or medical tests (such as complete blood count,
liver function, urine protein, skin exam, heart function) should be done
before you start taking this medication and while you are taking it. Keep
all medical and lab appointments. Consult your doctor for more
details.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If
it is more than 12 hours after the missed dose, skip the missed dose. Take
your next dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch
up.
Store at room temperature away from light and moisture.
Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and
pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them
into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when
it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste
disposal company.
Your condition can cause complications in a medical
emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call
1-888-633-4298 (US) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).