Vandetanib, pronounced (van det' a nib), is a medicine used to treat a certain type of thyroid cancer that cannot be treated with surgery or has spread to other parts of the body. It belongs to a class of drugs called kinase inhibitors, which work by blocking the action of abnormal proteins that signal cancer cells to multiply, thereby helping to slow or stop the spread of cancer cells.

Important warnings before taking vandetanib

Vandetanib may cause QT prolongation, an irregular heartbeat that can lead to serious consequences such as fainting, loss of consciousness, seizure, or sudden death. You should tell your doctor if you or a family member has or has had long QT syndrome, or if you have low levels of calcium, potassium, or magnesium in your blood, an irregular heartbeat, heart failure, or a heart attack. Also, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking certain medicines that may interact with vandetanib, such as chloroquine, clarithromycin, haloperidol, medicines to treat irregular heartbeats (such as amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, procainamide, and sotalol), certain medicines to treat nausea (such as dolasetron and granisetron), methadone, moxifloxacin, and pimozide. Stop taking vandetanib and get emergency medical help right away if you have symptoms such as a fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat, fainting, dizziness, or loss of consciousness.

How to take vandetanib

Vandetanib is an oral tablet that is usually taken once daily with or without food. Take it at about the same time each day. Swallow the tablet whole with water. Do not split, chew, or crush it. If the tablet is accidentally crushed, avoid contact with the skin and wash the affected area thoroughly with water. If you are unable to swallow the tablet whole, you can dissolve it in 2 ounces of pure, non-carbonated drinking water, stir for about 10 minutes until the tablet is in very small pieces, then drink the mixture immediately, then rinse the glass with another 4 ounces of non-carbonated water and drink the rinse water.

Side Effects

Common Side Effects

Common side effects may include nausea, vomiting, heartburn, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach pain, runny nose, extreme tiredness, weakness, trouble falling or staying asleep, and depression. Tell your doctor if these symptoms are severe or do not go away.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects that need immediate medical attention include diarrhea, rash or acne, dry, flaky or itchy skin, blisters or sores on the skin or in the mouth, redness of the face, hands, or soles of the feet, muscle or joint pain, fever, chest pain (which may be worse with deep breathing or coughing), hiccups or shortness of breath, sudden shortness of breath, persistent cough, swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs, sudden weight gain, numbness or weakness of the face, arms, or legs (especially on one side of the body), sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, sudden vision problems in one or both eyes, sudden trouble walking or balancing, sudden severe headache, seizure, and unusual bruising or bleeding.