Cometriq (Cabozantinib S-Malate)

Cabozantinib (thyroid cancer) (ka'' boe zan' ti nib) Cometriq® Cabozantinib may cause you to develop a fistula (abnormal connection between 2 organs inside your body, or between an organ and the outside of your body) or a tear in the wall of your stomach or intestine. These conditions are serious and may be life-threatening. Call your doctor immediately if you experience severe stomach pain or if you begin to cough, gag, or choke, especially while you are eating or drinking. Cabozantinib may cause serious or life-threatening bleeding. Tell your doctor if you have recently had any episodes of unusual or heavy bleeding and if you have been coughing up blood. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: coughing up blood or blood clots, vomiting material that is bloody or that looks like coffee grounds, blood in stool, black and tarry stools, heavy menstrual bleeding, or other unusual bruising or bleeding. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking cabozantinib.

Cabozantinib (Cometriq) is used to treat a certain type of thyroid cancer that is getting worse and that has spread to other parts of the body. Cabozantinib (Cometriq) is in a class of medications called tyrosine kinase inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of an abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. This helps slow or stop the spread of cancer cells. Cabozantinib is also available as a tablet (Cabometyx) to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC; a type of cancer that begins in the cells of the kidneys). This monograph only gives information about cabozantinib capsules (Cometriq) for thyroid cancer. If you are using this medication for advanced RCC, read the monograph entitled cabozantinib (advanced renal cell carcinoma).

Cabozantinib (Cometriq) comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It is taken usually once a day on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before and 2 hours after eating. Take cabozantinib (Cometriq) at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take cabozantinib (Cometriq) exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Swallow the capsules whole with a full glass (8 ounces, 240 mL) of water. Do not open them. Your doctor may decrease your dose of cabozantinib (Cometriq) or tell you to stop taking the medication for a time or permanently if you experience serious side effects. Be sure to talk to your doctor about how you are feeling during your treatment with cabozantinib (Cometriq). The length of your treatment depends on how well you respond to the medication and the side effects you experience. Continue to take cabozantinib (Cometriq) even if you feel well. Do not stop taking cabozantinib (Cometriq) without talking to your doctor. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.

Before taking cabozantinib (Cabometyx), tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to cabozantinib (Cabometyx, Cometriq), any other medications, or any of the ingredients in cabozantinib tablets. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: boceprevir (Victrelis), carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol, Teril), clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac), conivaptan (Vaprisol), indinavir (Crixivan), itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox), ketoconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir (Viracept), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), posaconazole (Noxafil), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate, Rifater), rifapentine (Priftin), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra, Technivie, Viekira Pak), saquinavir (Invirase), telithromycin (Ketek), and voriconazole (Vfend). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with cabozantinib (Cabometyx), so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list. tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any unusual bleeding, high blood pressure, or liver disease. tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant during your treatment and for 4 months after your final dose. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods that you can use during your treatment. If you become pregnant while taking cabozantinib (Cabometyx), call your doctor immediately. tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. Your doctor may tell you not to breastfeed during your treatment and for 4 months after your final dose. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking cabozantinib (Cabometyx). Your doctor will probably tell you to stop taking cabozantinib (Cabometyx) at least 28 days before your surgery, and will tell you when you should start taking the medication again after your surgery. you should know that your blood pressure may increase during your treatment with cabozantinib. Your doctor will probably monitor your blood pressure before and during your treatment.

Do not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit or any foods or supplements that contain grapefruit or grapefruit juice while you are taking this medication.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is less than 12 hours until your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Cabozantinib (Cometriq) may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: diarrhea constipation hemorrhoids nausea vomiting heartburn change in ability to taste food difficulty swallowing redness, swelling, or pain in your mouth or throat loss of appetite tiredness or weakness bone pain muscle pain or spasms anxiety numbness, burning, or tingling in the hands, arms, feet, or legs rash dry skin patchy thickening of the skin redness, pain, swelling, or blistering on the palms or the soles hair loss hair color turning lighter or gray voice changes or hoarseness Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment: swelling or pain in the arms or legs shortness of breath lightheadedness or fainting sweating numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg on one side of your body dizziness difficulty with balance or coordination sudden, severe headache jaw pain toothache seizures vision problems confusion difficulty thinking clearly difficulty eating or drinking due to mouth sores or nausea and vomiting Cabozantinib (Cometriq) may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication. If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program. It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your body's response to cabozantinib (Cometriq). Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.