What is Stivarga?

Commonly Used Brand Name(s)Stivarga

Blackbox WarningTOP

Oral route (Tablet)

Severe and sometimes fatal hepatotoxicity has occurred with regorafenib therapy. Monitor hepatic function prior to and during therapy. Adjust dose or interrupt or discontinue therapy if hepatoxicity occurs .

OverviewTOP

Regorafenib is used to treat metastatic cancer (cancer that has spread) of the colon and rectum. It is used in patients who have already been treated with other cancer medicines that did not work well. Regorafenib prevents the growth of tumors.

Regorafenib is also used to treat metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) in patients who have already received other medicines that did not work well. GIST is a rare cancer that affects the stomach, bowel, or esophagus. This medicine is used to treat a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular cancer (HCC) in patients who have already been treated with sorafenib.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Proper UseTOP

Medicines used to treat cancer are very strong and can have many side effects. Before using this medicine, make sure you understand all the risks and benefits. It is important for you to work closely with your doctor during your treatment.

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

This medicine comes with a patient information insert. It is very important that you read and understand this information. Be sure to ask your doctor about anything you do not understand.

Swallow the tablet whole with water. Do not crush, break, or chew it.

Take this medicine at the same time each day with a low-fat meal (less than 30% fat).

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine. Grapefruit products may increase the amount of medicine in your body.

DosingTOP

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For hepatocellular cancer (HCC):
  - Adults—160 milligrams (mg) (four 40 mg tablets) once a day for 21 days of each 28-day cycle. Your doctor may adjust the dose if needed.
  - Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For metastatic cancer of the colon or rectum:
  - Adults—160 milligrams (mg) (four 40 mg tablets) once a day for 21 days of each 28-day cycle. Your doctor may adjust the dose if needed.
  - Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST):
  - Adults—160 milligrams (mg) (four 40 mg tablets) once a day for 21 days of each 28-day cycle. Your doctor may adjust the dose if needed.
  - Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed DoseTOP

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Use & StorageTOP

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store the medicine in its original container. Do not place the tablets in daily or weekly pill boxes.

Throw away any unused tablets 7 weeks after opening the bottle for the first time.

Before UsingTOP

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

AllergiesTOP

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

PediatricTOP

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of regorafenib in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

GeriatricTOP

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of regorafenib in the elderly.

Breast FeedingTOP

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug InteractionsTOP

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Amiodarone
Boceprevir
Bupropion
Carbamazepine
Ceritinib
Cilostazol
Clarithromycin
Cobicistat
Conivaptan
Dasabuvir
Doxorubicin
Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome
Eliglustat
Enzalutamide
Fosphenytoin
Idelalisib
Indinavir
Itraconazole
Ketoconazole
Lopinavir
Lumacaftor
Mitotane
Nefazodone
Nelfinavir
Ospemifene
Phenytoin
Piperaquine
Posaconazole
Rifampin
Rifapentine
Ritonavir
Saquinavir
St John's Wort
Telaprevir
Telithromycin
Voriconazole
Warfarin

Other InteractionsTOP

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Grapefruit Juice

PrecautionsTOP

If you will be taking this medicine for a long time, it is very important that your doctor check you at regular visits for any problems or unwanted effects that may be caused by this medicine. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Men and women should use an effective form of birth control during treatment and for up to 2 months after treatment. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine or within 2 months after the last dose, tell your doctor right away.

Your doctor will check your blood pressure on a regular basis while you are taking this medicine. You may also need to monitor your blood pressure at home. Tell your doctor right away if you have a severe headache, lightheadedness, or changes in your vision.

Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or yellow skin or eyes. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

This medicine may increase your risk of developing infections. Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections while you are using this medicine. Wash your hands often. Tell your doctor if you have any kind of infection before you start using this medicine. Also tell your doctor if you have ever had an infection that would not go away or an infection that kept coming back.

This medicine may increase your chance of bleeding and cause wounds or injuries to heal more slowly. To help with this problem, stay away from rough sports or situations where you could be bruised, cut, or injured. Brush and floss your teeth gently. Be careful when using sharp objects, including razors and fingernail clippers.

This medicine may cause serious skin problems, including hand-foot skin reaction or a severe rash. Call your doctor right away if you have skin redness, pain, blisters, bleeding, or swelling of the palms of your hands and soles of your feet.

This medicine may cause serious heart problems. Check with your doctor right away if you are having chest pain or discomfort, nausea, pain or discomfort in your arms, jaw, back, or neck, shortness of breath, sweating, or vomiting.

Check with your doctor right away if you have a headache, seizures, confusion, blurred vision or other visual problems. These may be symptoms of a rare and serious brain condition called reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS).

Check with your doctor right away if you have severe burning, cramps, or pain in the stomach area, a high fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or severe diarrhea. These could be symptoms of a serious stomach or bowel problem.

Make sure any doctor who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop the medicine several days before having surgery.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (eg, St. John's wort) or vitamin supplements.