Pazopanib is a drug used to manage advanced renal (kidney) cancer. According to Drugs.com, pazopanib is a chemotherapy medication used to slow the progression and spread of cancer cells throughout the body. Typically, you will take 800mg of pazopanib once a day without food, says the National Library of Medicine.
Common Side Effects
In a placebo-controlled study of 290 patients taking pazopanib, the National Library of Medicine found that 52 percent developed diarrhea, 40 percent experienced hypertension (high blood pressure), 38 percent developed changes in hair color and 26 percent experienced nausea. Additionally, 22 percent developed anorexia (poor appetite with severe decline in weight), 21 percent vomited, 19 percent experienced fatigue, 14 percent developed asthenia (weakness), 11 percent had stomach pain and 10 percent developed a headache. As a toxic medication that affects your cancerous as well as healthy cells, pazopanib is expected to cause these deleterious effects. However, inform your doctor when these side effects become bothersome. He can treat your individual symptoms with certain medications.
Serious Side Effects
According to Drugs.com, pazopanib can cause such potentially life-threatening side effects as radiating chest pain, high blood pressure (hypertension), and bloody or black stools. Chest pain typically indicates ischemia (lack of blood flow) to the heart. Symptoms of severe hypertension include a severe headache, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, trouble breathing, anxiety and ringing in the ears. Chronic hypertension increases the chances of suffering a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or stroke. Bloody or black stools are typically an indication of gastrointestinal bleeding. Inform your doctor when pazopanib causes any of these serious manifestations. Pazopanib's other serious effects include palpitations (pounding heartbeat), hemoptysis (coughing up blood), unsteadiness and jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin). Jaundice may be a sign of liver damage. Call your doctor when you develop these serious symptoms.
Other Concerns
Avoid pazopanib if you are allergic to it. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include respiratory (breathing) difficulties, swelling up of your throat or tongue, and skin welt formations throughout your body.
Drugs.com indicates that pazopanib can pass into your placenta and harm your unborn fetus.
Avoid taking pazopanib if you suffer from blood clots, bleeding, stomach ulcers, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland), and liver or heart disease. Pazopanib can play a role in exacerbating these medical conditions.
Do not take pazopanib while taking other chemotherapy medications, HIV or AIDS medications, steroids or anticonvulsant medications. The combination can cause the aforementioned effects. Other medications can interact with pazopanib, so tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking.
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