Leaflet attached to the packaging: information for the user
Sunitinib Ranbaxy, 12.5 mg, hard capsules
Sunitinib Ranbaxy, 25 mg, hard capsules
Sunitinib Ranbaxy, 37.5 mg, hard capsules
Sunitinib Ranbaxy, 50 mg, hard capsules
Sunitinib
You should carefully read the contents of the leaflet before taking the medicine, as it contains important information for the patient.
- You should keep this leaflet, so that you can read it again if you need to.
- If you have any doubts, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed specifically for you. Do not pass it on to others. The medicine may harm another person, even if the symptoms of their illness are the same.
- If the patient experiences any side effects, including any side effects not listed in this leaflet, they should tell their doctor. See section 4.
Table of contents of the leaflet
- 1. What is Sunitinib Ranbaxy and what is it used for
- 2. Important information before taking Sunitinib Ranbaxy
- 3. How to take Sunitinib Ranbaxy
- 4. Possible side effects
- 5. How to store Sunitinib Ranbaxy
- 6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What is Sunitinib Ranbaxy and what is it used for
Sunitinib Ranbaxy contains the active substance sunitinib, which is a protein kinase inhibitor.
It is used to treat cancer. It works by blocking the activity of a special group of proteins, known to be involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Sunitinib Ranbaxy is used to treat the following types of cancer in adults:
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST, a type of stomach and intestine cancer), in cases where imatinib (another anticancer drug) has stopped working or the patient cannot take it;
- Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC, a type of kidney cancer that has spread to other parts of the body);
- Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET, tumors that arise from hormone-producing cells in the pancreas) that are progressing and cannot be surgically removed.
If you have any questions about how Sunitinib Ranbaxy works or why it has been prescribed for you, you should ask your doctor.
2. Important information before taking Sunitinib Ranbaxy
When not to take Sunitinib Ranbaxy:
- If the patient is allergic to sunitinib or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
Warnings and precautions
Before starting treatment with Sunitinib Ranbaxy, you should discuss it with your doctor:
- If you have high blood pressure. Sunitinib Ranbaxy may increase blood pressure. Your doctor may check your blood pressure during treatment with Sunitinib Ranbaxy, and you may need to be treated with blood pressure-lowering medicines.
- If you have or have had blood disorders, bleeding, or bruising. Treatment with Sunitinib Ranbaxy may increase the risk of bleeding or changes in the number of certain blood cells, which can cause anemia or affect the blood's ability to clot. If you are taking warfarin or acenocoumarol, blood-thinning medicines used to prevent blood clots, there may be a higher risk of bleeding. You should tell your doctor about any bleeding during treatment with Sunitinib Ranbaxy.
- If you have heart problems. Sunitinib Ranbaxy may cause heart problems. You should tell your doctor if you experience fatigue, shortness of breath, or swelling of the feet or ankles.
- If you have heart rhythm disorders. Sunitinib Ranbaxy may cause abnormal heart rhythms. During treatment with Sunitinib Ranbaxy, your doctor may perform an electrocardiogram to assess these disorders. You should tell your doctor if you experience dizziness, fainting, or abnormal heart rhythms while taking Sunitinib Ranbaxy.
- If you have recently had problems with blood clots in the veins and/or arteries (a type of blood vessel), including stroke, heart attack, embolism, or thrombosis. You should contact your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms such as chest pain or tightness, arm, back, neck, or jaw pain, shortness of breath, numbness or weakness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, headache, or dizziness.
- If you have or have had an aneurysm (enlargement and weakening of the wall of a blood vessel) or a rupture of the wall of a blood vessel.
- If you have or have had damage to the smallest blood vessels called thrombotic microangiopathy. You should tell your doctor if you experience fever, fatigue, weakness, bruising, bleeding, swelling, confusion, loss of vision, or seizures.
- If you have thyroid problems. Sunitinib Ranbaxy may cause thyroid problems. You should tell your doctor if you easily get tired, feel colder than others, or experience a deepened voice while taking Sunitinib Ranbaxy. Your doctor should check your thyroid function before starting treatment with Sunitinib Ranbaxy and regularly during treatment. If your thyroid does not produce enough thyroid hormone, you may need to be treated with replacement thyroid hormone.
- If you have or have had problems with your pancreas or gallbladder. You should tell your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms: stomach pain (upper abdomen), nausea, vomiting, and fever. These may be symptoms of pancreatitis or gallbladder inflammation.
- If you have or have had liver problems. You should inform your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms of liver disorders: itching, yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, or pain or discomfort in the right upper abdomen. Your doctor should perform blood tests to check liver function before starting treatment with Sunitinib Ranbaxy, during treatment, and if there are clinical signs.
which may include yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, or pain or discomfort in the right upper abdomen. Your doctor should perform blood tests to check liver function before starting treatment with Sunitinib Ranbaxy, during treatment, and if there are clinical signs.
- If you have or have had kidney problems. Your doctor will monitor your kidney function.
- If you are going to have surgery or have recently had surgery. Sunitinib Ranbaxy may affect wound healing. The medicine is usually stopped in patients before surgery. Your doctor will decide when to restart Sunitinib Ranbaxy.
- A dental check-up is recommended before starting treatment with Sunitinib Ranbaxy:
- -if you experience mouth pain, tooth pain, and/or jaw pain, swelling, or mouth ulcers, numbness, or a feeling of heaviness in the jaw, or tooth mobility, you should immediately inform your oncologist and dentist.
- -if you need invasive dental treatment or oral surgery, you should inform your dentist that you are taking Sunitinib Ranbaxy, especially if you are also taking or have taken intravenous bisphosphonates. Bisphosphonates are medicines used to prevent bone problems, which may be taken due to another disease.
- If you have or have had skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders. During treatment with this medicine, pyoderma gangrenosum (painful skin ulcers) or necrotizing fasciitis (a rapidly spreading infection of the skin and/or soft tissues that can be life-threatening) may occur. You should immediately contact your doctor if you experience symptoms of infection around a skin injury, including fever, pain, redness, swelling, or discharge of pus or blood. These disorders usually resolve after discontinuation of Sunitinib Ranbaxy. During treatment with this medicine, severe skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme) have been observed, which initially appear as reddened spots with a target-like shape or round spots, often with centrally located blisters. The rash can transform into widespread blisters or skin peeling and can be life-threatening. If you experience a rash or the above-mentioned skin symptoms, you should immediately contact your doctor.
- If you have or have had seizures. You should inform your doctor as soon as possible if you experience high blood pressure, headache, or vision loss.
If you have diabetes. In patients with diabetes, blood sugar levels should be regularly checked to assess whether it is necessary to adjust the dose of the anti-diabetic medicine to minimize the risk of low blood sugar. You should inform your doctor as soon as possible if you experience symptoms related to low blood sugar (fatigue, palpitations, excessive sweating, hunger, and loss of consciousness).
Children and adolescents
Sunitinib Ranbaxy is not recommended for patients under 18 years of age.
Sunitinib Ranbaxy and other medicines
You should tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you are currently taking or have recently taken, including those that are available without a prescription, as well as any medicines you plan to take.
Some medicines may affect the levels of Sunitinib Ranbaxy in your body. You should inform your doctor if you are taking medicines containing the following active substances:
- ketokonazole, itraconazole - used to treat fungal infections,
- erythromycin, clarithromycin, rifampicin - used to treat infections,
- ritonavir - used to treat HIV infections,
- dexamethasone - a corticosteroid used in various diseases (such as allergic disorders and/or respiratory disorders or skin diseases),
- phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital - used to treat epilepsy and other neurological conditions,
- herbal products containing St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) - used to treat depression and anxiety disorders.
Taking Sunitinib Ranbaxy with food and drink
While taking Sunitinib Ranbaxy, you should not drink grapefruit juice.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or plan to have a child, you should consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.
Women who may become pregnant should use effective contraception during treatment with Sunitinib Ranbaxy.
Women who are breastfeeding should inform their doctor. You should not breastfeed while taking Sunitinib Ranbaxy.
Driving and using machines
If you experience dizziness or significant fatigue, you should be careful when driving or operating machinery.
Sunitinib Ranbaxy contains sodium
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) of sodium per hard capsule, which means it is essentially 'sodium-free'.
3. How to take Sunitinib Ranbaxy
This medicine should always be taken exactly as your doctor has told you. If you are not sure, you should ask your doctor.
Your doctor will prescribe the dose that is right for you, depending on the type of cancer. For patients being treated for:
- GIST or MRCC, the usual dose is 50 mg taken once a day for 28 days (4 weeks), followed by a 14-day (2-week) break (without the medicine), in 6-week treatment cycles.
- pNET, the usual dose is 37.5 mg taken once a day continuously.
Your doctor will determine the correct dose for you and when to stop taking Sunitinib Ranbaxy.
Sunitinib Ranbaxy can be taken with or without food.
Taking more Sunitinib Ranbaxy than prescribed
If you have taken too many capsules, you should contact your doctor immediately.
Medical attention may be necessary.
Missing a dose of Sunitinib Ranbaxy
You should not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Sunitinib Ranbaxy can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
You should contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following side effects (see also Important information before taking Sunitinib Ranbaxy):
Heart problems. You should tell your doctor if you feel very tired, have shortness of breath, or swelling of the feet and ankles. These may be symptoms of heart problems, including heart failure and problems with the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy).
Lung or breathing problems. You should tell your doctor if you experience coughing, chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, or coughing up blood. These may be symptoms of a condition called pulmonary embolism, which occurs when blood clots move to the lungs.
Kidney problems. You should tell your doctor if you experience changes in urination frequency or inability to urinate, which may be a sign of kidney failure.
Bleeding. You should tell your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms or severe bleeding during treatment with Sunitinib Ranbaxy: stomach pain and swelling; vomiting blood; black and tarry stools; blood in the urine; headache or changes in consciousness; coughing up blood or bloody sputum from the lungs or airways.
Tumor lysis syndrome leading to intestinal perforation. You should tell your doctor if you experience severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, blood in the stool, or changes in bowel movements.
Other side effects of Sunitinib Ranbaxy may include:
- Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people
- Decreased number of platelets, red blood cells, and/or white blood cells (e.g., neutrophils).
- Shortness of breath.
- High blood pressure.
- Extreme fatigue, loss of strength.
- Swelling caused by fluid accumulation under the skin and around the eyes, allergic rash, deep rash.
- Pain and/or irritation in the mouth, painful ulcers and/or inflammation, and/or dryness of the mouth, taste disorders, stomach disorders, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain and/or swelling, loss of and/or decreased appetite.
- Decreased thyroid activity (hypothyroidism).
- Dizziness.
- Headache.
- Nosebleeds.
- Back pain, joint pain.
- Pain in the arms and legs.
- Yellowing of the skin and/or discoloration, excessive skin pigmentation, hair color changes, rash on the palms and soles, rash, dry skin.
- Cough.
- Fever.
- Difficulty sleeping.
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
- Blood clots in blood vessels.
- Inadequate blood supply to the heart due to a blockage or narrowing of the coronary arteries.
- Chest pain.
- Decreased amount of blood pumped by the heart.
- Fluid accumulation, including in the lungs.
- Infections.
- A complication of severe infection (sepsis), which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
- Low blood sugar levels (see section 2).
- Protein loss in the urine, sometimes causing swelling.
- Flu-like syndrome.
- Abnormal blood test results, including pancreatic and liver enzymes.
- High levels of uric acid in the blood.
- Hemorrhoids, anal pain, gum bleeding, difficulty swallowing, or loss of swallowing ability.
- Burning or pain in the mouth, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, excessive gas in the stomach or intestines.
- Weight loss.
- Musculoskeletal pain (muscle and bone pain), muscle weakness, muscle fatigue, muscle pain, muscle cramps.
- Dryness of the nasal mucosa, feeling of nasal congestion.
- Excessive tearing.
- Skin sensitivity disorders, itching, skin peeling, and inflammation, blisters, acne, nail discoloration, hair loss.
- Skin sensation disorders.
- Disorders related to increased or decreased sensitivity, especially to touch.
- Heartburn.
- Dehydration.
- Hot flashes.
- Abnormal urine color.
- Depression.
- Chills.
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
- Life-threatening infection of soft tissues, including the perianal area (see section 2).
- Stroke.
- Heart attack caused by interruption or reduction of blood supply to the heart.
- Changes in heart rhythm or electrical activity.
- Fluid accumulation around the heart (pericardial effusion).
- Liver failure.
- Stomach pain (abdominal pain) caused by pancreatitis.
- Tumor lysis syndrome leading to intestinal perforation.
- Inflammation of the gallbladder (with or without gallstones).
- Formation of abnormal connections between one body cavity and another or with the skin.
- Mouth pain, tooth pain, and/or jaw pain, swelling, or mouth ulcers, numbness, or a feeling of heaviness in the jaw, or tooth mobility. These may be symptoms of jawbone damage (osteonecrosis), see section 2.
- Overproduction of thyroid hormones leading to increased resting metabolism.
- Impaired wound healing after surgery.
- Increased activity of the muscle enzyme (creatine phosphokinase) in the blood.
- Excessive allergic reaction, including fever, skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of any part of the body, and difficulty breathing.
- Inflammation of the large intestine (colitis, ischemic colitis).
Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1000 people
- Severe skin and mucous membrane reaction (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme).
- Tumor lysis syndrome, which is a group of metabolic complications that can occur during cancer treatment. These complications are caused by the breakdown products of dying cancer cells and may include nausea, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, muscle cramps, seizures, lack of urine clarity, and fatigue associated with abnormal laboratory test results (high levels of potassium, uric acid, and phosphorus, and low levels of calcium in the blood), which can lead to kidney changes and acute kidney failure.
- Abnormal muscle breakdown, which can cause kidney disease (rhabdomyolysis).
- Abnormal brain changes, which can cause a syndrome of symptoms including headache, disorientation, seizures, and vision loss (reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome).
- Painful skin ulcers (pyoderma gangrenosum).
- Hepatitis.
- Thyroid inflammation.
- Damaged smallest blood vessels called thrombotic microangiopathy.
Frequency not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
- Enlargement and weakening of the wall of a blood vessel or rupture of the wall of a blood vessel (aneurysm and arterial dissection).
- Lack of energy, confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, or coma - these symptoms may be a sign of the toxic effect of high ammonia levels in the blood on the brain (hyperammonemic encephalopathy).
Reporting side effects
If you experience any side effects, including any side effects not listed in the leaflet, you should tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
Side effects can be reported directly to the Department of Adverse Reaction Monitoring of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices, and Biocidal Products:
Jerozolimskie Avenue 181C, 02-222 Warsaw, tel.: 22 49-21-301, fax: 22 49-21-309
Website: https://smz.ezdrowie.gov.pl
Side effects can also be reported to the marketing authorization holder.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Sunitinib Ranbaxy
- The medicine should be stored out of sight and reach of children.
- Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the carton, bottle, and blister after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month stated.
- There are no special precautions for storing the medicine.
- Do not use this medicine if you notice that the packaging is damaged or there are signs of previous attempts to open it.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. You should ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines that are no longer needed. This will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Sunitinib Ranbaxy contains
Sunitinib Ranbaxy, 12.5 mg, hard capsules
The active substance of the medicine is sunitinib. Each hard capsule contains sunitinib malate equivalent to 12.5 mg of sunitinib. The other ingredients are:
- Capsule content:mannitol, sodium croscarmellose, povidone (K-30), and magnesium stearate.
- Capsule shell:titanium dioxide (E 171), gelatin, iron oxide red (E 172)
- Printing ink:shellac, propylene glycol, titanium dioxide (E 171), potassium hydroxide.
Sunitinib Ranbaxy, 25 mg, hard capsules
The active substance of the medicine is sunitinib. Each hard capsule contains sunitinib malate equivalent to 25 mg of sunitinib. The other ingredients are:
- Capsule content:mannitol, sodium croscarmellose, povidone (K-30), and magnesium stearate.
- Capsule shell:titanium dioxide (E 171), gelatin, iron oxide yellow (E 172), iron oxide red (E 172), iron oxide black (E 172).
- Printing ink:shellac, propylene glycol, titanium dioxide (E 171), potassium hydroxide.
Sunitinib Ranbaxy, 37.5 mg, hard capsules
The active substance of the medicine is sunitinib. Each hard capsule contains sunitinib malate equivalent to 37.5 mg of sunitinib. The other ingredients are:
- Capsule content:mannitol, sodium croscarmellose, povidone (K-30), and magnesium stearate.
- Capsule shell:titanium dioxide (E 171), gelatin, iron oxide yellow (E 172).
- Printing ink:shellac, propylene glycol, potassium hydroxide, iron oxide black (E 172).
Sunitinib Ranbaxy, 50 mg, hard capsules
The active substance of the medicine is sunitinib. Each hard capsule contains sunitinib malate equivalent to 50 mg of sunitinib. The other ingredients are:
- Capsule content:mannitol, sodium croscarmellose, povidone (K-30), and magnesium stearate.
- Capsule shell:titanium dioxide (E 171), gelatin, iron oxide yellow (E 172), iron oxide red (E 172), and iron oxide black (E 172).
- Printing ink:shellac, propylene glycol, titanium dioxide (E 171), potassium hydroxide.
What Sunitinib Ranbaxy looks like and contents of the pack
Sunitinib Ranbaxy 12.5 mg is available in the form of self-locking, hard gelatin capsules with a reddish-brown cap and reddish-brown body, with white ink printing "RM53" on the cap and "RM53" on the body, containing a powder with a color ranging from yellow to orange.
Sunitinib Ranbaxy 25 mg is available in the form of hard, self-locking gelatin capsules with a caramel cap and reddish-brown body, with white ink printing "RM54" on the cap and "RM54" on the body, containing a powder with a color ranging from yellow to orange.
Sunitinib Ranbaxy 37.5 mg is available in the form of hard, self-locking gelatin capsules with a yellow cap and yellow body, with black ink printing "RM55" on the cap and "RM55" on the body, containing a powder with a color ranging from yellow to orange.
Sunitinib Ranbaxy 50 mg is available in the form of hard, self-locking gelatin capsules with a caramel cap and caramel body, with white ink printing "RM56" on the cap and "RM56" on the body, containing a powder with a color ranging from yellow to orange.
Blister packs:
The medicine is available in blisters made of PCV/PCTFE/Aluminum foil containing 28 hard capsules in a cardboard box.
HDPE bottle
The medicine is available in HDPE bottles with a PP cap and an induction seal containing 28 and 30 hard capsules in a cardboard box.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing authorization holder
Ranbaxy (Poland) Sp. z o.o.
Idzikowskiego 16
00-710 Warsaw
Manufacturer/Importer
Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Europe B.V.
Polarisavenue 87
2132 JH Hoofddorp
Netherlands
Terapia S.A.
Strada Fabricii Nr 124
400632 Cluj-Napoca
Romania
Date of last revision of the leaflet:27.06.2024