Regorafenib

What is Regorafenib?

Regorafenib is prescribed to treat colon and rectal cancer that has spread to other parts of body in people who have been treated with certain drugs.

It also treats gastrointestinal stromal tumors in people who have already been treated successfully with certain medicines.

Doctors prescribe Regorafenib 40 mg to treat hepatocellular carcinoma in patients who are already treated with Sorafenib.

Regorafenib dose is generally given after other cancer medicines that have been tried without success.

Also, you can find Regorafenib in market under brand name Stivarga.

One can save great on Regorafenib price, if ordered from a licensed online pharmacy.

This medicine can be purchased from a drugstore only after a prescription from a doctor.

Uses of Regorafenib

Doctors prescribe Regorafenib for treating following medical conditions:

• Colorectal cancer
• Gastrointestinal stromal cancer
• Hepatocellular carcinoma

Working mechanism of Regorafenib

Regorafenib acts as targeted drug therapy in cancer treatment.

It is an anticancer medicine that belongs to a class of drugs known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors. 

This medicine restricts growth of blood vessels present inside cancer cells and acts against proteins called receptor tyrosine kinases.

Receptor tyrosine kinases interrupt cell signaling and stop growth & spread of cancer cells.

How to take Regorafenib?

Before starting treatment with Regorafenib, make sure to read patient information leaflet provided with medicine itself.

If you have any questions or doubts about this medicine or its dosage then discuss it with doctor once.

Swallow tablet as a whole with a glass of plain water without crushing, chewing, or breaking it.

Take this medicine by mouth with a low-fat meal as prescribed by doctor, mainly once daily for 21 days.

After 21 days, you need to stop this medication for 7 days as this is considered one cycle of treatment.

It is important to take this medication exactly in same way as suggested by doctor.

Make sure you take Regorafenib with a low-fat meal to attain its maximum benefits.

Do not take more or less of Regorafenib tablet or take it more often than directed by a doctor.

Your doctor can decrease your dose of Regorafenib or tell you to stop taking this medication for some time during your treatment.

However, this will depend on how well medication works for you and any side effects you might experience.

Even if you start feeling better after a few days of treatment. Do not stop taking this medicine without talking to a doctor.

Take this medicine regularly to attain maximum benefit from it. Try taking Regorafenib tablet at same time every day that you are scheduled to take it.

Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medicine unless doctor says you can do it safely.

Consumption of grapefruit during treatment can increase your chance of experiencing Regorafenib side effects.

Since this medicine can be absorbed through lungs and skin & might harm an unborn baby.

Women who are pregnant or who plan to get pregnant should not handle this drug or breathe dust from Regorafenib tablets.

Your blood pressure needs to be checked often. Doctor might also check liver function before starting treatment.

In case, you need to undergo any surgery then inform doctor beforehand about using this medicine.

Regorafenib might cause problems with wound healing such as surgical incisions.

Before you have any surgery, make sure to stop taking this medication almost 2 weeks before.

• Missed dose

If you miss a dose of Regorafenib then take it as soon as you remember.

However, it’s time for your next prescribed dose then skip missed dose and get back to a regular schedule.

You must never take two doses of Regorafenib at same time to make up for your missed one.

Taking this medicine more often than directed by a doctor can make you suffer from an overdose and cause severe side effects.

• Overdose

Get emergency medical help, if you experience any serious side effects of Regorafenib.

Precautions and warnings for Regorafenib

Do not take Regorafenib, if you are allergic to it or have any other allergies like hives, breathing difficulty, and others.

This medicine might contain some inactive ingredients which can make you suffer from allergic reactions.

If you experience infection, shortness of breath, severe bleeding or rapid heartbeat then contact a doctor immediately.

To prevent serious complications, your doctor will monitor a few things periodically:

• Complete blood counts
• Thyroid panel
• Blood sugar
• Kidney parameters
• Urine test

Before undergoing treatment with Regorafenib, report doctor about following medical conditions (if any):

• Diabetes
• Problems in your heart
• Hypertension
• Kidney disorder
• Liver problem
• Skin issues
• Blood disorders

Doctors recommend not to undergo any surgical procedures during treatment with Regorafenib as it increases chance of bleeding.

Contact doctor immediately if you experience vision changes, itching, dizziness, or confusion during treatment with Regorafenib.

Intake of this medicine can harm an unborn baby. Before starting treatment, inform doctor if you are pregnant or planning to have a baby.

It is suggested for both men and women to follow effective contraceptive methods during and eight weeks after last dose of Regorafenib tablet.

Also, avoid breastfeeding your baby when you are on treatment with Regorafenib.

This medicine can impact growth and development of baby as it can pass into breast milk.

To prevent dehydration, make sure you drink sufficient water.

Intake of this medication can also make you feel weak or dizzy. If fatigue or dizziness strike, stay away from using heavy machinery or driving.

Use of Regorafenib might weaken your immune system and make you vulnerable to infections.

While taking Regorafenib tablet, it is suggested to avoid coming in contact with people who suffer from an infection.

Side effects of Regorafenib

Like other medicines, Regorafenib tablets can also make patients suffer from mild and serious side effects.

Though doctor has advised this medicine because he thinks its benefits are greater than side effects of Regorafenib.

All patients taking this medicine do not experience serious side effects of Regorafenib.

Some major and minor side effects of Regorafenib:

• Dizziness
• Coughing up cold
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Weakness
• Bleeding gums
• Hair loss
• Blurred vision
• Nosebleed
• Dark colored urine
• Dry skin
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Fever or chills
• Indigestion

Call your doctor promptly, if any side effects of Regorafenib continue or become worse with time.

Interactions

All medicines interact differently from patient to patient. You must check all possible interactions with a doctor before starting treatment.

Do not start, stop, or change dose of any medicines without consulting with a doctor.

Your doctor should know about all other products you use including prescription & non-prescription drugs and herbal supplements.

Here are some medicines that interact with Regorafenib:

• Efavirenz
• Leflunomide
• Aspirin
• Rosuvastatin
• Warfarin
• Clarithromycin
• Diclofenac

This is not a complete list of interactions. Make sure you discuss with doctor about all possible interactions once.

Frequently asked questions about Regorafenib (FAQs)

• Is Regorafenib a chemotherapy treatment?

Yes, Regorafenib is considered a chemotherapy treatment for cancer of stomach, colon, or rectal.

This medicine is given to patients who have been treated with other cancer treatments or are not cured with other treatments.

• Does Regorafenib tablet shrink tumors?

Yes, Regorafenib tablet works either by reducing tumor or stopping it from growing further.

• Do you need to conduct any tests while starting treatment?

Yes, some blood tests are required before and after treatment with Regorafenib to check levels of blood cells.