Nexavar

Pronunciation: soe-RAF-e-nib
Generic Name: Sorafenib
Brand Name: Nexavar

Nexavar is used for:

Treating advanced kidney cancer. It is also used to treat certain types of liver cancer. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Nexavar is a multikinase inhibitor. It works by decreasing tumor growth and replication.

Do NOT use Nexavar if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Nexavar


• you have a certain type of irregular heartbeat (congenital long QT syndrome)


• you have a certain type of lung cancer (squamous cell) and are taking carboplatin and paclitaxel

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Nexavar:

Some medical conditions may interact with Nexavar. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding


• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement


• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances


• if you have heart failure or other heart problems (eg, disease of the blood vessels in the heart, a recent heart attack, slow or irregular heartbeat), chest pain, high blood pressure, bleeding problems, active bleeding, blood electrolyte problems (eg, low blood calcium, magnesium, or potassium levels), or liver or kidney problems


• if you are on dialysis, or you have or are being treated for lung cancer


• if you have had or will be having surgery or a dental procedure


• if you take any medicine that may increase the risk of a certain type of irregular heartbeat (prolonged QT interval). Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure if any of your medicines may increase the risk of this type of irregular heartbeat

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Nexavar. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Warfarin because risk of bleeding may be increased


• Docetaxel, doxorubicin, fluorouracil/leucovorin, or irinotecan because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Nexavar


• Barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital, primidone), carbamazepine, dexamethasone, hydantoins (eg, fosphenytoin, phenytoin), nevirapine, oral neomycin, rifamycins (eg, rifabutin, rifampin), or St. John's wort because they may decrease Nexavar's effectiveness

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Nexavar may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Nexavar:

Use Nexavar as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• An extra patient leaflet is available with Nexavar. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.


• Take Nexavar on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating.


• Swallow Nexavar whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.


• Take Nexavar with a full glass of water (8 oz/240 mL).


• Continue to take Nexavar even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.


• If you miss a dose of Nexavar, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Nexavar.

Important safety information:

• Nexavar may reduce the number of clot-forming cells (platelets) in your blood. Avoid activities that may cause bruising or injury. Tell your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding. Tell your doctor if you have dark, tarry, or bloody stools.


• Nexavar may lower the ability of your body to fight infection. Avoid contact with people who have colds or infections. Tell your doctor if you notice signs of infection like fever, sore throat, rash, or chills.


• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Nexavar before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.


• Both men and women who are taking Nexavar should use effective contraception (birth control) during treatment with Nexavar and for at least 2 weeks after stopping treatment.


• Lab tests, including blood pressure, blood electrolyte levels, and electrocardiograms (ECGs), may be performed while you use Nexavar. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.


• Nexavar should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.


• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Nexavar may cause harm to the fetus. Avoid becoming pregnant while you are taking it and for at least 2 weeks after you stop taking it. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of taking Nexavar while you are pregnant. It is not known if Nexavar is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Nexavar.

Possible side effects of Nexavar:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Constipation; diarrhea; dry skin; hair thinning or loss; headache; loss of appetite; mouth, bone, muscle, stomach, or joint pain; nausea; tiredness; vomiting; weakness; weight loss.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); black, tarry stools; chest, jaw, or left arm pain; confusion; coughing or vomiting blood; decreased sexual ability; decreased urination; depression; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; mouth sores; numbness of an arm or leg; one-sided weakness; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; redness, pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, ulcers, or blisters on the palms of hands or soles of feet; seizures; severe or persistent dizziness, headache, or light-headedness; severe stomach pain, vomiting, or nausea; shortness of breath; speech changes; sudden increased sweating; sudden weight gain; swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet; symptoms of liver problems (eg, dark urine, loss of appetite, pale stools, unusual tiredness, yellowing of the eyes or skin); unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness or weakness; vision changes; vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: Nexavar side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include rash, redness, swelling, blistering, or itching of skin; severe or persistent diarrhea.

Proper storage of Nexavar:

Store Nexavar at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Nexavar out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Nexavar, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.


• Nexavar is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.


• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.


• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Nexavar. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Nexavar resources

• Nexavar Side Effects (in more detail)
• Nexavar Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Nexavar Drug Interactions
• Nexavar Support Group
• 3 Reviews for Nexavar - Add your own review/rating

• Nexavar Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Nexavar Consumer Overview


• Nexavar Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Nexavar Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Sorafenib Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)

Compare Nexavar with other medications

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