Sunitcap Capsule
Prescription Required
Product introduction
Sunitcap Capsule is a medicine used in the treatment of kidney cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumor. It works by blocking specific enzymes that promote the growth of cancer cells. This way it shrinks the tumor and slows down its progression.
Sunitcap Capsule can be taken with or without food, but try to have it at the same time every day to get the most benefits. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to.
Common side effects of this medicine include weakness, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, taste change, and decreased appetite. The doctor may advise for regular monitoring of blood pressure and thyroid gland function while taking this medicine. It may decrease blood sugar levels. In fact, the levels can decrease to the extent that the patient may faint. So, if you are diabetic then it is important to check your blood sugar levels regularly. Additionally, you should also consult the doctor if the dose of anti-diabetic medicines needs to be adjusted.
Before taking it, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, liver, or kidney problems or bleeding disorder. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your healthcare team know all medications you are using. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The use of effective contraception by both males and females during treatment is important to avoid pregnancy.
Uses of Sunitcap Capsule
Side effects of Sunitcap Capsule
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of Sunitcap
- Hand-foot syndrome
- Nausea
- Bleeding disorder
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Rash
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Flatulence
- Cough
- Breathlessness
- Bleeding
- Insomnia (difficulty in sleeping)
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Taste change
- Decreased appetite
- Hair loss
- Decreased level of thyroid hormones
- High blood pressure
- Muscle pain
- Back pain
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Mucositis
- Skin discoloration
- Hand-foot-and-mouth disease
- Change in color of hair
- Decreased white blood cell count (neutrophils)
- Decreased white blood cell count (lymphocytes)
- Increased aspartate aminotransferase
- Increased alanine aminotransferase
- Increased lipase in the blood
- Increased creatinine level in blood
- Decreased in left ventricular ejection fraction
- Decreased potassium level in blood
- Increased sodium level in blood
- Mouth pain
- Tongue pain
- Piles
- Pain in extremity
- Nasopharyngitis (inflammation of the throat and nasal passages)
- Increased bilirubin in the blood
- Dryness in mouth
How to use Sunitcap Capsule
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Sunitcap Capsule may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
How Sunitcap Capsule works
Sunitcap Capsule is an anti-cancer medication. It works by binding and blocking certain cell surface protein (tyrosine kinase) responsible for the propagation of cancer growth. It also restricts the growth of new blood vessels within the tumor. This is how it prevents the proliferation of malignant cancers.
Safety advice
Alcohol
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Sunitcap Capsule. Please consult your doctor.
Pregnancy
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Sunitcap Capsule may be unsafe to use during pregnancy. Although there are limited studies in humans, animal studies have shown harmful effects on the developing baby. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.
Breast feeding
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Sunitcap Capsule is probably unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby.
Driving
UNSAFE
Sunitcap Capsule may cause side effects which could affect your ability to drive.
Sunitcap Capsule may cause dizziness during the treatment. Do not drive or operate machineries if you experience this while on treatment with the medicine.
Sunitcap Capsule may cause dizziness during the treatment. Do not drive or operate machineries if you experience this while on treatment with the medicine.
Kidney
SAFE IF PRESCRIBED
Sunitcap Capsule is safe to use in patients with kidney disease. No dose adjustment of Sunitcap Capsule is recommended.
Liver
SAFE IF PRESCRIBED
Sunitcap Capsule is safe to use in patients with liver disease. No dose adjustment of Sunitcap Capsule is recommended.
What if you forget to take Sunitcap Capsule?
If you miss a dose of Sunitcap Capsule, skip it and continue with your normal schedule. Do not double the dose.
All substitutes
For informational purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.
Sunitcap Capsule
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Quick tips
- Sunitcap Capsule is used for the treatment of thyroid cancer.
- Take it with or without food, preferably at the same time each day.
- Diarrhea may occur as a side effect. Drink plenty of fluids and inform your doctor if it doesn't stop or if you find blood in your stools.
- Use a reliable contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy while you are taking this medicine and for a month after you stop taking it.
- It may affect wound healing time. Be careful while shaving, cutting fingernails or toenails, or using sharp objects.
- Monitor your blood pressure regularly while taking this medication. Inform your doctor if you notice symptoms of very high blood pressure such as severe headache, confusion, problems with your eyesight, nausea or vomiting.
- Monitoring of thyroid gland function is required while taking this medicine. Inform your doctor if you notice symptoms of weight gain, dry skin, and hair.
- It may cause serious bleeding problem. Inform your doctor if you get headaches, stomach pain or if you notice blood in your urine or stools.
- Inform your doctor about the consumption of Sunitcap Capsule before going for surgical procedure.
- Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant, planning to conceive or breastfeeding.
Fact Box
Chemical Class
Indole and Pyrrole Derivative
Habit Forming
No
Therapeutic Class
ANTI NEOPLASTICS
Action Class
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors
Patient concerns
FAQs
Q. How should I take Sunitcap Capsule?
You should take Sunitcap Capsule exactly as directed by your doctor. It should be started by doctors who have experience in administering cancer medicines. Take it once a day with or without food. Do not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit during your treatment with Sunitcap Capsule, as the chances of side effects may be more.
Q. Does Sunitcap Capsule have any effect on skin and hair?
During treatment with Sunitcap Capsule, your skin may get lighter and there may be hair loss. Also, patient may experience dryness, thickness or cracking of the skin, blisters, or rashes on the palms and soles. But, these side effects are reversible and go away once the medicine is stopped. Sunitcap Capsule may also cause serious skin reactions such as severe rash or rapidly spreading skin ulceration which could be fatal. Therefore, inform your doctor immediately if symptoms of infection occur around a skin injury. Let your doctor know if you have fever, pain, redness, swelling, or drainage of pus or blood.
Q. What is the most important thing I need to know about Sunitcap Capsule?
Sunitcap Capsule can cause serious side effects such as severe liver problems that can lead to death. Therefore, tell your doctor right away if you experience itching, yellow eyes or skin, dark urine or pain or discomfort in the right upper stomach area. Your doctor will get blood tests done to check your liver function before and during treatment with Sunitcap Capsule. In case you develop liver problems, your doctor may stop the medicine temporarily or permanently.
Q. Are generics available for Sunitcap Capsule? How does Sunitcap Capsule work?
There are no generics available for Sunitcap Capsule. Sunitcap Capsule blocks an enzyme which promotes the growth and spread of cancer cells. This enzyme is called protein kinase and is present on the surface of cancer cells. Blocking this enzyme stops the spread of cancer. Examples of other protein kinase inhibitors are erlotinib, gefitinib, lapatinib, vemurafenib and dasatinib.
Q. Can Sunitcap Capsule be used in combination with other chemotherapy medicines?
There are no studies that support the use of Sunitcap Capsule with other chemotherapy medicines. For example, Sunitcap Capsule is used in Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), a type of cancer of the stomach and bowel, when imatinib (another anticancer medicine) no longer works or the patient cannot take imatinib.
Q. Does Sunitcap Capsule have any effect on blood sugar levels in diabetics?
Yes, Sunitcap Capsule may decrease your blood sugar levels. Therefore, if you are a diabetic, you need to be extra careful since your 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.
Q. Can Sunitcap Capsule cause any change in blood pressure?
Generally, Sunitcap Capsule is known to cause an increase in blood pressure. Therefore, it is important that you keep a regular check on your blood pressure levels. Inform your doctor if you have severe headache, dizziness, lightheadedness or change in vision. Your doctor may prescribe a medicine to treat the increase blood pressure or may stop your treatment temporarily till your blood pressure returns to normal.
Q. How should I take Sunitcap Capsule?
You should take Sunitcap Capsule exactly as directed by your doctor. It should be started by doctors who have experience in administering cancer medicines. Take it once a day with or without food. Do not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit during your treatment with Sunitcap Capsule, as the chances of side effects may be more.
Q. Does Sunitcap Capsule have any effect on skin and hair?
During treatment with Sunitcap Capsule, your skin may get lighter and there may be hair loss. Also, patient may experience dryness, thickness or cracking of the skin, blisters, or rashes on the palms and soles. But, these side effects are reversible and go away once the medicine is stopped. Sunitcap Capsule may also cause serious skin reactions such as severe rash or rapidly spreading skin ulceration which could be fatal. Therefore, inform your doctor immediately if symptoms of infection occur around a skin injury. Let your doctor know if you have fever, pain, redness, swelling, or drainage of pus or blood.
Q. What is the most important thing I need to know about Sunitcap Capsule?
Sunitcap Capsule can cause serious side effects such as severe liver problems that can lead to death. Therefore, tell your doctor right away if you experience itching, yellow eyes or skin, dark urine or pain or discomfort in the right upper stomach area. Your doctor will get blood tests done to check your liver function before and during treatment with Sunitcap Capsule. In case you develop liver problems, your doctor may stop the medicine temporarily or permanently.
Q. Can Sunitcap Capsule be used in combination with other chemotherapy medicines?
There are no studies that support the use of Sunitcap Capsule with other chemotherapy medicines. For example, Sunitcap Capsule is used in Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), a type of cancer of the stomach and bowel, when imatinib (another anticancer medicine) no longer works or the patient cannot take imatinib.
Q. Does Sunitcap Capsule have any effect on blood sugar levels in diabetics?
Yes, Sunitcap Capsule may decrease your blood sugar levels. Therefore, if you are a diabetic, you need to be extra careful since your 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.
Q. Can Sunitcap Capsule cause any change in blood pressure?
Generally, Sunitcap Capsule is known to cause an increase in blood pressure. Therefore, it is important that you keep a regular check on your blood pressure levels. Inform your doctor if you have severe headache, dizziness, lightheadedness or change in vision. Your doctor may prescribe a medicine to treat the increase blood pressure or may stop your treatment temporarily till your blood pressure returns to normal.
Q. Are generics available for Sunitcap Capsule? How does Sunitcap Capsule work?
There are no generics available for Sunitcap Capsule. Sunitcap Capsule blocks an enzyme which promotes the growth and spread of cancer cells. This enzyme is called protein kinase and is present on the surface of cancer cells. Blocking this enzyme stops the spread of cancer. Examples of other protein kinase inhibitors are erlotinib, gefitinib, lapatinib, vemurafenib and dasatinib.
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Disclaimer:
Tata 1mg's sole intention is to ensure that its consumers get information that is expert-reviewed, accurate and trustworthy. However, the information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This may not cover everything about particular health conditions, lab tests, medicines, all possible side effects, drug interactions, warnings, alerts, etc. Please consult your doctor and discuss all your queries related to any disease or medicine. We intend to support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship.References
- Chabner BA, Barnes J, Neal J, et al. Targeted Therapies: Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors, Monoclonal Antibodies, and Cytokines. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. p. 1740.
- Chu E, Sartorelli AC. Cancer Chemotherapy. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. p. 955.
- Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. p. 1304.
- Sunitinib malate [Prescribing Information]. New York, New York: Pfizer Inc.; 2021. [Accessed 25 Oct. 2023] (online) Available from:
- Sunitinib malate. Sandwich, Kent: Pfizer Limited; 2006 [revised Feb. 2019]. [Accessed 27 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from:
- Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). [Accessed 27 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from:
Marketer details
Name: Allieva Pharma
Address: 14/16/1, GROUND FLOOR, SAHIBABAD INDUSTRIAL AREA, GHAZIABAD, U.P.-201010
Country of origin: India
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