Has your doctor prescribed you a medicine called Vandetanib? Or has someone close to you been prescribed this medicine? This is a medicine that is usually given to treat certain types of cancer that occur in the thyroid gland (medullary thyroid cancer). There are a few things that we need to be very careful about when using this medicine. So don't worry, let's talk about it all simply and clearly.
Things you need to tell your doctor before starting medication
Before starting this medication, it is very important to tell your doctor about your complete health history. This is because some medical conditions can make it dangerous to use this medication with. If you have any of the conditions listed below, be sure to tell your doctor.
- Heart disease: Do you have any heart disease, irregular heartbeat, or a history of prolonged QT interval?
- Blood pressure: Do you have high blood pressure?
- Bleeding problems: Do you have any bleeding disorders or blood clotting disorders?
- Liver or kidney disease: Do you have any liver or kidney disease?
- Lung diseases: Do you have breathing difficulties or other lung diseases like asthma?
- Blood mineral levels: Have you ever been told that your blood levels of calcium, magnesium, or potassium are low?
- Thyroid hormone levels: Is the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood elevated?
- Other conditions: Do you have diarrhea, seizures, skin diseases or skin sensitivities?
- Surgery: Are you going to have surgery soon? Or have you recently had surgery?
- Allergies: Are you allergic to this Vandetanib medication, other medications, foods, or dyes?
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Are you pregnant? Trying to get pregnant? Or are you a breastfeeding mother?
Don't hide any of this information. It's very important for your safety that the doctor knows all of this.
How exactly do I use this medicine?
The method of using this medicine is very simple, but it is important to follow the instructions exactly.
- Swallow this pill whole with a glass of water .
- Do not break, crush, or chew the tablet.
- Take the medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor, at the time prescribed. Do not take it more than the prescribed number of times per day.
- Do not stop taking the medicine without your doctor's advice . Doing so may worsen your condition.
- When you are prescribed this medicine, you will receive a special information leaflet (MedGuide) about it. It comes with every prescription. Always read it carefully.
What to do if you miss a dose of medicine?
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is less than 12 hours until your next dose, skip the missed dose. Just take the next dose at the scheduled time. Never take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose.
What to do if you take too much medicine?
If you think you have taken more medicine than you think, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately . Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital.
Other medicines that should not be used with this medicine and may interact with it
Vandetanib is a medication that can interact with other medications, so you should tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking (including vitamins and herbal remedies).
| Drug category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Medicines that should never be taken with Vandetanib | |
| Various medications | Cisapride, Dronedarone, Pimozide, Thioridazine, Ziprasidone |
| Other drugs that may interact with Vandetanib | |
| Medications for irregular heartbeat | Drugs like Amiodarone, Sotalol, Quinidine, Procainamide |
| Medications for seizures | Carbamazepine, Phenobarbital, Phenytoin |
| Other medicines and herbs | Digoxin, Metformin, Rifampin, St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) |
| Drugs that prolong the QT interval of the heart | Drugs like Dofetilide, Ziprasidone |
This list is not complete. So tell your doctor about any medicine you are taking, whether it is prescribed by a doctor, bought from a pharmacy, or herbal product.
Things to be careful about while taking the medicine
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
This is very important . Do not get pregnant while taking this medicine. Women should use effective birth control while taking this medicine and for 4 months after stopping it. It can cause serious harm to the baby in the womb. Also, do not breastfeed your baby while taking this medicine and for 4 months after stopping it.
Before surgery
If you are going to have surgery, you should tell your doctor about it. This medicine may delay the healing of surgical wounds. Therefore, you should stop taking this medicine one month before the surgery. After the surgery, you should wait at least 2 weeks before starting the medicine again. The medicine should only be started after the wound has healed completely. Talk to your doctor about this.
Sun protection
This medicine may make your skin very sensitive to sunlight (photosensitivity). Therefore, avoid direct sunlight as much as possible while taking the medicine and for 4 months after stopping. If you go outside, wear clothing that covers your body well and use a good sunscreen. Do not use sun lamps or tanning beds.
Other points
- You may feel drowsy or dizzy while taking this medicine. Therefore, avoid activities that require alertness, such as driving or operating machinery, until you know how this medicine affects you.
- Your doctor will regularly check your blood work and heart function (such as an ECG). Be sure to attend those tests and clinics.
What side effects might I experience?
Like all medications, this one can have side effects. Some are serious, some are common.
| If you experience these symptoms, go to the doctor or ETU immediately. | |
|---|---|
| Allergies | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue. |
| Cardiovascular | Chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting, dizziness. |
| Bleeding | Blood in the stool or black stools, vomiting coffee grounds, unusual bruising, and red/dark brown urine. |
| Skin related | Redness, blistering, peeling of the skin (even inside the mouth). |
| Nervous system | Severe headache, seizures, vision changes, confusion, difficulty speaking, sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg. |
| Other serious symptoms | Difficulty breathing, fever, pale stools, yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice), swelling of the legs or ankles. |
| Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (but tell your doctor if they persist) | |
| |
Take-Home Message
- Vandetanib is a special medicine for thyroid cancer. Use it exactly as your doctor advises .
- Be sure to tell your doctor about all other medications you are taking and any medical conditions you have.
- Avoid pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking the medicine and for 4 months after stopping.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms such as severe headache, chest pain, unusual bleeding, or a severe skin reaction.
- You may be sensitive to sunlight, so take necessary steps to protect yourself from the sun.
- This medicine is for you only. Do not share it with others. Keep it out of the reach of children.
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