SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE contains Sunitinib which belongs to the group of medicines called Protein Kinase Inhibitors. It is used in the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) (a type of cancer of the stomach and bowel) where another anticancer medicine (imatinib) no longer works or you cannot take it and metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC) (type of kidney cancer that has spread to other parts of the body).
SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE is also used to treat pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET) (tumors of the hormone-producing cells in the pancreas) that have progressed or cannot be removed with surgery. Your doctor might ask you to take blood tests, check your blood pressure and take your ECG during treatment with SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE and as clinically indicated.
Before taking SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE, inform your doctor if you have heart, kidney, liver, blood, thyroid or pancreatic problems, seizures and diabetes or if you recently had or are going to undergo any surgery.
Ask your doctor before taking SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE during pregnancy. You should not breastfeed while taking SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE so, consult your doctor before taking it. It is not known if SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE is safe and effective in children and it should be used with caution in elderly patients (65 years and above).
The most common side effects of taking SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE are rashes, itching, muscle cramps, bone pain weakness, tiredness, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, etc. Contact your doctor if any of the symptoms worsen or persists.
SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE treats:
SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE helps control cancer advancement by inhibiting the activity of a special group of proteins which are found to be involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Take SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE as advised by your physician. Swallow with enough water. Do not crush or chew it. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration of SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE treatment depending on your age, body weight and disease condition. Do not stop taking SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE unless your doctor advises you to stop.
Stop taking SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE and contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following side effects:
Nausea or vomiting:
Take SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE with or just after meals. Stick to simple meals. Avoid eating oily or spicy foods. If symptom persists, contact your doctor.
Diarrhea:
To avoid dehydration of your body, drink plenty of fluids such as water, fruit juices or electrolytes. If symptom persists, contact your doctor.
Constipation:
Eat plenty of fiber-rich foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables and cereals and drink more water. Exercise more regularly. If symptom persists, contact your doctor.
Headache:
Apply hot or cold-water bag on your head. Try to rest and relax in a quiet and dark room. Massage the scalp or head gently. Avoid the consumption of excessive alcohol, as it could make your headache worse. If symptom persists, contact your doctor.
Dizziness:
Lie or sit down promptly when you feel dizzy. If you're feeling severe episode of spinning, lie in a dark and quite place and close your eyes. Try to avoid vehicle driving. If symptom persists, contact your doctor.
Skin rash:
Avoid hot showers as it can irritate your skin more. Do not scratch the affected area. Use protective clothing when going outdoors and moisturize your skin regularly. If symptom persists, contact your doctor.
SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE should be used with caution in women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Effective contraception should be used during treatment and for at least 4 weeks after the last dose of SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE. Inform your doctor immediately if you become pregnant or think you got pregnant during treatment with SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE.
Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE and for at least 4 weeks after the last dose. Consult your doctor for advice.
Do not drive or operate any machines if you feel dizzy or unusually tired after taking SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE.
SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE should be used with caution in patients with kidney problems. Consult your doctor before taking SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE.
SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE should be used with caution in patients who have or had liver problems. Consult your doctor before taking SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE.
Do not take SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE if you are allergic to Sunitinib or any of the other ingredients of SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE.
SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE should be used with caution in patients with heart attack, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm changes and other heart problems. Consult your doctor for advice. Consult your doctor before taking SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE.
Before taking SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE, inform your doctor if you:
Use in pediatrics:
It is not known if SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE is safe and effective for use in children. Consult your child’s doctor for advice.
Use in geriatrics:
SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE should be used with caution in elderly patients (aged 65 years and above) as they might be at higher risk of getting side effects. Consult your doctor before taking SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE.
A. Drug-Drug interactions:
Before taking SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE, inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
B. Drug-Food interaction:
Do not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit during treatment with SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE.
Overdosage:
If you or anyone else accidentally take too much of SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE, consult your doctor immediately or visit the nearby hospital.
Drug | : | Sunitinib |
Pharmacological Category | : | Protein Kinase Inhibitors |
Therapeutic Indication | : | Gastrointestinal stromal tumor, Metastatic renal cell carcinoma and Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors |
Dosage Forms | : | Tablet, Capsule |
Is it safe to use SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE in elder people?
SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE should be used with caution in elderly patients (aged 65 years and above) as they might be at higher risk of getting side effects. Consult your doctor before taking SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE.
Can I use SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE if I have heart problems?
SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE should be used with caution in patients with heart attack, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm changes and other heart problems. Consult your doctor for advice. The doctor will determine a proper dose of SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE or select a suitable alternative treatment for you.
Can I take SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE if I have diabetes?
SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE may decrease blood sugar levels. Therefore, if you are a diabetic, you need to be extra careful since blood sugar levels may become so low that you may become unconscious. Keep a regular check on the blood sugar levels, based on which your dose of anti-diabetics may be changed by your doctor.
Can SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE cause any change in blood pressure?
Generally, SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE is known to cause an increase in blood pressure. So, it is important to keep a regular check on blood pressure levels. Inform your doctor if you have severe headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness or a change in vision.
Can I stop taking SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE on my own?
Do not stop taking SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE on your own. You are advised to take SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you, depending on your medical condition. Do not hesitate to talk to your doctor if you experience any difficulty while taking SUTINAT 50 CAPSULE.
1. KD. Tripathi. Anticancer Drugs. Essentials of Medical Pharmacology. Seventh edition. 2013. Page – 871.
2. Robert J. Motzer, Bernard Escudier, Andrew Gannon and Robert A. Figlin. Sunitinib: Ten Years of Successful Clinical Use and Study in Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma. NIH National Library of Medicine, National center for biotechnology information. Pubmed Central. January 2017 [Accessed on 27th August 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5313263/
3. Miriam Argyropulo-Palmer, Aaron Jenkins, Davinder Singh Theti, James Larkin and David Montgomery. Sunitinib in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review of UK Real World Data. NIH National Library of Medicine, National center for biotechnology information. Pubmed Central. August 2015 [Accessed on 27th August 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4548684/
4. Remedica Limited. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC). [Revised in May 2021] [Accessed on 27th August 2022] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.13233.pdf
5. Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc. Sutent (Sunitinib malate capsule). [Revised in August 2021] [Accessed on 27th August 2022] https://labeling.pfizer.com/showlabeling.aspx?id=607
Written By Dr. Jeenal Rajani, Pharm.D.
Last updated on 22 Nov 2022 | 11:21 AM(IST)
The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.