Votrient Side Effects

Texas_wedge said:

For YOGESH SHAH
Above are many messages about the side-effects of Votrient (which is the commercial name for the drug pazopanib). I hope you find this helpful.

Side-effects
It's becoming ever clearer that drugs affect different people very differently so the following remarks are merely generalisations.

Since the period when surgery was the only treatment for RCC, we've seen the emergence of treatments with immunomodulatory agents, notably the interferons and interleukins. In terms of complete cure, so far only surgery (still our main weapon) and HD IL2, with its success for only a small proportion of patients, have been notched up. In the post cytokine era, the first of the new agents used for RCC was sorafenib (Nexavar) which had a range of unpleasant side-effects. It's now given way to sunitinib (Sutent) as the default first line treatment and many patients seem to find the concomitant side-effects endurable for the benefits it offers.

We appear to be at another point of transition where sunitinib is about to yield pride of place to pazopanib (Votrient) as the preferred first line of adjuvant defence. These changes seem to come closer and closer together and with a welcome feature of ever-better side-effects. It's not difficult to foresee BMS-936558 (MDX_1106) soon becoming the front-runner, with even more acceptable side-effects for most patients.

A recent study has shown that doctors and patients alike for the most part prefer Votrient to Sutent. This is because it is much more tolerable, particularly in respect of fatigue and quality of life. The abstract for anyone interested can be found at;

http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/Meetings/Abstracts?&vmview=abst_detail_view&confID=114&abstractID=98799

foxhd said:

Great synopsis
Great job Tex. That is as clear a breakdown of our current drug therapy as I've read or heard at any time. You're the best.

synopsis
0:) !

Dan3546 said:

RCC
Hi all - thank you all for the good info. My Mom was diagnosed with the non clear cell RCC; the DR. ordered her Votrient, but medicare sent Dad a letter saying they would not cover it. I was wondering how everyone was paying for these pill type drugs. I was thinking if we could get a couple of weeks worth to see how see reacted to the drug? Thanks for any thoughts or info. The hospital is still working on approval for one of these drugs, preferably the Votrient.

Hello, just wondering how
Hello, just wondering how your dad is doing. This is the first i have seen of this thread and i bumped into it at just the right time. It seems my mom might try to start on Votrient but the doctor is not sure that her coverage will pay for it. She has medicaid/medicare. Does anyone know if they cover this in NY?

Thank you and hope all is better!

Votrient Side Effects
I have been on Votrient/Pazopnib since July 28, 2012. I have had minimal side sides but that’s me. My side effect include White hair (No big deal - It was heading in that direction anyway), change of taste and diarrhea (Not Fun). Since July, I have been fanatically going to the gym. I started out slow and have progressed. I now workout three to four times a week. My workout includes running three miles on a treadmill, swimming laps for thirdly minutes and lifting weights (About hour and a half total workout). I believe the exercise controls the fatigue associated with Votrient and may aid in its effectiveness(My opinion). In October I completed my first scans, all but two my tumors have shrunk significantly the two that did not are stable. My oncologist told me “Whatever you are doing keep on doing it”. I am a realist, I know Votrient is not going to cure me that I am in this for the long haul.

BDS said:

Votrient Side Effects
I have been on Votrient/Pazopnib since July 28, 2012. I have had minimal side sides but that’s me. My side effect include White hair (No big deal - It was heading in that direction anyway), change of taste and diarrhea (Not Fun). Since July, I have been fanatically going to the gym. I started out slow and have progressed. I now workout three to four times a week. My workout includes running three miles on a treadmill, swimming laps for thirdly minutes and lifting weights (About hour and a half total workout). I believe the exercise controls the fatigue associated with Votrient and may aid in its effectiveness(My opinion). In October I completed my first scans, all but two my tumors have shrunk significantly the two that did not are stable. My oncologist told me “Whatever you are doing keep on doing it”. I am a realist, I know Votrient is not going to cure me that I am in this for the long haul.

Side effects
Please tell us more about yourself. I reckon you're a bit younger than I am but our approach and beliefs appear to be the same. Has your blood pressure risen much on this drug and are you on medication for it? You seem to have got off to a fast start.

May I also ask how soon your side-effects started. I've lately read someone saying they start after 14 days or so and I'm going to take my 15th day's dose when I've sent this message and I have zero side-effects so far, other than elevated BP.

BDS said:

Votrient Side Effects.
I am 52 years old and have two children (18 and 21). On May 29 2012 a 10 cm tumor was discovered on my left kidney. On June 11, 2012 my left kidney was surgically removed at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. Afterwards, I was informed that my cancer contained a 5 percent sacomatoid; which is a more aggressive form of kidney cancer. The cancer spread to my lymph nodes and I have 13 tumors/nodules in my lungs with one large residual tumor in my abdomen they could not remove with surgery. I have been taking 800 mg Votrient which elevated my blood pressure – now controlled with meds (40mg of Lisinopril). My blood pressure started to go up within two weeks of taking Votrient. Diarrhea started after a month and was just gotten worse. Since I work in an office it is not a big deal but when traveling or on vacation I have to take anti-diarrhea medicine and hope for the best. White hair and change of taste started after the second month. I am sorry to say I do not think anybody escapes the side effects of Votrient.

PS
Elevated blood pressure may be a good thing I have read that doctors are using it an important bio-marker to prove that the drug is working. – Got to go now my wife is taking me to a yoga class tonight. Carpe Diem – BDS

good work! BDS
You've got the right attitude and perspective. Keep going. We are pulling for you! Side effects smide effects. They are adaptable. Tex, keep going!

foxhd said:

good work! BDS
You've got the right attitude and perspective. Keep going. We are pulling for you! Side effects smide effects. They are adaptable. Tex, keep going!

Keeping going
Will do if you do Fox (and I can be sure you will).

Texas_wedge said:

Votrient
Someone must be watching over you!! With your perfect attitude, I'm thinking you'll do well on Votrient and you'll make nothing of the side-effects. I'm two weeks into it and doing fine at a few months older than you. Hope it goes to plan and the treatment avoids the need for yet more operations.

Watching over me
Yes and a good set of Dr's sure help. With the holiday I have not gotting word about co-pay help. Starting at $8000 but after medicare and BS / BC in Ma The pharmacy called to get me help with the balance $2570 due. I am waiting news from OncoMed Oncology Pharmacy
They say no news is good news, but does not help in the stress. Also had a MRI Friday for a possible tear in rotor cuf. Never has been easy, I take one at a time. Thanks for your posts. This is a first time for me to blog

Texas_wedge said:

Sides
Thanks for all of that BDS. While it's not actually a bio-marker guaranteeing success, it does seem strongly indicative and I'm glad, therefore, that we have both been thus affected. Mine shot up almost the moment I started taking Votrient, so I've been put on a BP med from tomorrow.

Sorry to hear you have a sarcomatoid component but, thankfully, it's small - I'm mostly sarcomatoid, which is bad news. Is your underlying histology clear-cell?

Any tips on how to head off/mitigate the main side-effects?

Has anyone had any heart
Has anyone had any heart issues on Votrient to report. Imodium for loose stools works. Gatorade and a multi complex vitamin b, avemar to help the drugs work better and help immune system. Going to have all things ready for mom. Need to purchase Avemar o line, bet she won't use it though, very fussy eater. Lol TW how is your pressure?

KJones1969 said:

BDX
My husband had very few side effects on Votrient, mostly just being tired and the white hair, it just stopped working after 5 1/2 months. Sounds like you are having success with the Votrient, I will keep you in my prayers and please keep us updated!

votrient
This is my 3rd day on Votrient and the only side effect has been very tired, some nasurea
Still having pain because of the tear on my rotaror cuff, causing a lot of extra stress.Still no word on help with co-pay for meds.