Overview: Lenvima is used to treat certain types of thyroid, kidney, liver, and uterus cancers. Common side effects include nausea, tiredness, diarrhea, and mouth sores. Keep all appointments to have your blood and pee (urine) checked. Get emergency help if you get chest pain or pressure, trouble breathing or talking, sudden vision changes, numbness or weakness on one side of your body, severe headache, severe stomach pain, or pressure or pain in your arms, back, neck, or jaw.
Uses
What is Lenvima used for?
Lenvima (lenvatinib) is commonly used to treat the following cancers.
Lenvima may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.
How does Lenvima work (mechanism of action)?
Lenvima is a special type of medicine called a kinase inhibitor that targets certain proteins in the body called kinases. Kinases can cause cancer cells to grow and divide and new blood vessels to form. Lenvima blocks these proteins in cancer cells and helps stop cancer cells from growing and spreading.
How is Lenvima supplied (dosage forms)?
Brands and other names
- Lenvima
Dosage forms and strengths
- 4 mg oral capsules
- 10 mg oral capsules
How should I store Lenvima?
Lenvima should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F and 77 F (20 C and 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F and 86 F (15 C and 30 C) for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Store in a cool, dry place.
Do not remove tablets from blister packs until you are ready to take them.
Side Effects
What are the most common side effects of Lenvima?
The most common side effects of Lenvima are listed below. Tell your health care provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you. These side effects may vary depending on the condition that is being treated.
- Tiredness
- Low appetite, weight loss, or stomach pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation
- Diarrhea (see below)
- Muscle or joint pain
- Increased blood pressure (see below)
- Mouth sores
- Headache
- Protein in urine (see below)
- Hoarseness
- Skin reaction on your hands and feet (hand-foot syndrome)
- Bleeding (see below)
- Low thyroid hormones (see below)
- Kidney or bladder infection
- Rash
- Fluid retention
- Cough
There may be other side effects of Lenvima that are not listed here. Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088 (800-332-1088). In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.
What are the serious side effects of Lenvima?
While less common, the most serious side effects of Lenvima are described below, along with what to do if they happen.
Severe Allergic Reactions. Lenvima may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking Lenvima and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.
- Breathing problems or wheezing
- Racing heart
- Fever or general ill feeling
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
- Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
- Itching or skin rash
- Bumps on the skin called hives that can be red, pink, white, or brown depending on your skin tone
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
- Stomach cramps
- Joint pain
Increased Blood Pressure (Hypertension). Lenvima may increase your blood pressure or make it worse if you have a history of high blood pressure. Call your health care provider if your blood pressure increases while taking this medicine. Keep all appointments with your health care provider, including those for blood pressure checks, while taking Lenvima, or follow the instructions given by your health care provider about checking your blood pressure at home.
If you measure your blood pressure and the top number (systolic) is 180 or higher or the bottom number (diastolic) is 120 or higher, get medical attention right away. Increases in blood pressure may not be noticeable, but look out for and tell your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of severely high blood pressure.
- Sudden severe headache
- Chest pain
- Dizziness or confusion
- Trouble breathing
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blurry or other changes to vision
- Anxiety
- Buzzing in the ears
- Nosebleed
- Feeling of skipped heartbeats
Heart Problems. Lenvima can cause heart problems, such as cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Call your health care provider right away or get emergency help if you have any of the following symptoms.
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing, especially while lying down
- Swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs
- Unusually fast weight gain
- Unusual tiredness
- Chest pain
- Feeling of skipped heartbeats
Blood Clots. Lenvima may cause a blood clot in your arteries or veins and could cause a stroke, heart attack, or venous thromboembolism, including a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism) or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Stop taking Lenvima and get emergency help if you have any of the following signs of blood clots.
- Chest pain or pressure
- Fast or abnormal heartbeat
- Trouble breathing
- Pain in your back, jaw, throat, or arm
- Sweating, upset stomach, vomiting, or dizziness
- Sudden weakness on one side of your body
- Sudden and severe headache
- Slurred speech or trouble understanding speech
- Pain, swelling, or tenderness in your arm or leg
- Vision loss
- Bulging eyes
- Double vision
Liver Damage. Liver damage, also called hepatotoxicity, can happen when taking Lenvima. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of liver damage.
- Nausea or vomiting
- Stomach or belly pain
- Fever
- Weakness or unusual tiredness
- Itching
- Loss of appetite
- Light-colored poop
- Dark-colored urine (pee)
- Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)
Kidney Damage. Kidney damage, including kidney failure, which can lead to death, can happen when taking Lenvima. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of kidney damage.
- Reduced need to pee
- Swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs
- Weakness or unusual tiredness
- A hard time catching your breath or chest pain/pressure
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Seizures
Protein In Urine. Lenvima can cause high levels of protein to be in your pee (urine), a condition called proteinuria. Keep all appointments to have your pee checked. Your health care provider may need to stop or lower your dose of Lenvima.
Diarrhea. Diarrhea is common with Lenvima. Call your health care provider right away if you have diarrhea. If you are given medicine to prevent or treat diarrhea, take it exactly as your health care provider tells you. Drink plenty of water to prevent yourself from becoming dehydrated. Get emergency help if you think that you are dehydrated. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following.
- Severe diarrhea
- Diarrhea that does not go away
- Diarrhea with weakness, dizziness, or fever
Fistula or Gut Tear. Lenvima may increase your risk of getting a fistula, an abnormal connection between two or more body parts. The medicine may also cause a gut tear (perforation). Get emergency help if you have severe stomach pain.
Heart Rhythm Changes. Lenvima may cause a rare, dangerous heart rhythm problem called QT prolongation and torsade de pointes. Some people have a higher risk of this, including people who are older, have other people in their family who have had these conditions, have low potassium or magnesium levels, or who take medicines that can prolong the QT interval. Tell your health care provider right away if you faint or have changes in your heart rate or rhythm, such as a fast or skipping heartbeat.
Low Calcium Levels (Hypocalcemia). Lenvima can cause low calcium levels, which can be serious. Low calcium levels can cause a rare but dangerous heart rhythm problem called QT prolongation and torsade de pointes. Some people have a higher risk of this, including people who are older, have other people in their family who have had these conditions, have low potassium or magnesium, or who take some medicines for other heart rhythm problems. Keep all appointments with your health care provider to have your calcium levels checked while taking Lenvima. Stop taking Lenvima and call your health care provider if you have any of the following symptoms.
- Changes in your heart rate or rhythm, such as a fast or skipping heartbeat
- Fainting
- Numbness, tingling, or a burning sensation in your arms, feet, or face (paresthesia)
- Muscle pain or spasms
- Seizures
Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES). Lenvima may cause a rare but serious brain condition called PRES. PRES involves swelling and narrowing of blood vessels in your brain. If PRES is not treated, it can lead to a stroke. Call your health care provider right away if you have the following symptoms of PRES.
- Changes in thinking or behavior
- Weakness
- Confusion or hallucinations
- Sudden decrease or change in vision
- Sudden severe headache
- Seizures
Bleeding. Lenvima can increase your risk of bleeding or cause bleeding problems that can be life-threatening. Keep all appointments with your health care provider while taking Lenvima. Stop taking Lenvima and call your health care provider if you have any of the following symptoms of bleeding.
- Severe nosebleeds or nosebleeds that keep coming back
- Vomit blood
- Black or tarry poop
- Blood in your pee
- Coughing up blood
- New or heavy bleeding from your vagina
Low Thyroid Hormones (Hypothyroidism). Lenvima can cause the function of your thyroid gland to change, which can lead to low thyroid levels. Keep all appointments to have your blood checked. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following signs of low thyroid hormones.
- Weight gain
- Feeling cold
- Tiredness that does not go away or continues to worsen
- Constipation
Wound Healing Problems. Lenvima can make it hard for your body to heal wounds. Tell your health care provider if you have any planned or emergency surgeries or if you have any injuries that occur while taking Lenvima. Follow any instructions from your health care provider about stopping Lenvima around any surgeries.
Severe Jawbone Problems (Osteonecrosis). Lenvima can rarely cause severe jawbone problems, also called osteonecrosis of the jaw. In this condition, your jawbone may get damaged due to reduced blood flow. You may be at a higher risk if you are undergoing certain dental procedures (such as a tooth extraction or dental implants), have poor oral health, or have cancer or certain other conditions. You may be told to see a dentist before starting Lenvima and to practice good mouth care. Tell your health care provider if you have any planned dental procedures or surgeries, and follow any instructions from your health care provider about stopping Lenvima around any dental procedures. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of jaw osteonecrosis.
- Jaw pain or discomfort
- Mouth sores
- Loose teeth
Warnings & Precautions
Who should not use Lenvima?
Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take Lenvima.
- Lenvatinib
- Lenvima
- Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed
Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in Lenvima.
What should I know about Lenvima before using it?
Do not take Lenvima unless it has been prescribed to you by a health care provider. Take it as prescribed.
Do not share Lenvima with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.
Keep Lenvima out of the reach of children.
Lenvmia may make it hard for you to get pregnant or get your partner pregnant. If you have concerns, talk to your health care provider.
You should use effective birth control while taking Lenvima and for 30 days after taking the last dose of the medicine.
Take Lenvima at the same time each day. Swallow Lenvima whole; do not crush or chew the medicine. If you cannot swallow Lenvima, the medicine can be dissolved in water or apple juice and taken by mouth, or it can be mixed with water and given through a feeding tube (if needed). Talk to your health care provider or follow the patient information paper that comes with the medicine to learn more.
What should I tell my health care provider before using Lenvima?
Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them know if Lenvima is right for you.
In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.
Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following.
- High blood pressure
- Heart problems
- History of blood clots, including heart attack, stroke, or changes in vision
- Liver or kidney problems, or a history of these conditions
- A tear in your stomach or intestines (perforation) or an abnormal connection between two or more body parts (fistula)
- Headaches, seizures, or vision problems
- Bleeding problems
Surgery. Tell your health care provider if you have any upcoming surgeries or have recently had surgery, including dental surgery. Your health care provider may ask you to stop taking Lenvima at least one week before any planned surgery.
Other Medicines and Supplements. Lenvima may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before taking Lenvima, tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.
Pregnancy. Lenvima may cause harm to a fetus. Your health care provider may have you take a pregnancy test before you start taking Lenvima. Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, contact your health care provider right away.
Breastfeeding. Do not take Lenvmia while you are breastfeeding and for at least one week after taking the last dose. It is not known if Lenvima can pass into breast milk. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
How can I get more information about Lenvima?
For more information about Lenvima, you can visit the drugmaker’s website at www.lenvima.com or call them at 877-873-4724.
Interactions
Does Lenvima interact with foods or drinks?
There are no known interactions between Lenvima and foods or drinks.
It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect Lenvima, but both Lenvima and alcohol can increase your risk of bleeding. It is best to limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
Does Lenvima interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?
Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.
In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking Lenvima.
- Any medicine that can cause QT prolongation, which is a potentially dangerous heart rhythm problem
- A medicine for osteoporosis
This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with Lenvima. Always check with your health care provider.
Overdose/Missed Dose
What should I do if I accidentally use too much Lenvima?
If you or someone else has used too much Lenvima, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.
What should I do if I miss a dose of Lenvima?
If you miss a dose of Lenvima and it is more than 12 hours from your next dose, take it as soon as you remember. If your next scheduled dose is within 12 hours, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at your regular scheduled time. Do not take double or extra doses.
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