Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose)
Generic name: Lenvatinib [ len-VA-ti-nib ]
Brand names: Lenvima (10 MG Daily Dose), Lenvima (12 MG Daily Dose), Lenvima (14 MG Daily Dose), Lenvima (18 MG Daily Dose), Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose),
... show all 8 brands
Drug classes: Multikinase inhibitors, VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 28, 2023.
Uses of Lenvima:
- It is used to treat thyroid cancer.
- It is used to treat kidney cancer.
- It is used to treat liver cancer.
- It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.
What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take Lenvima?
- If you are allergic to Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib); any part of Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib); or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
- If you have high blood pressure.
- If you are taking any drugs that can cause a certain type of heartbeat that is not normal (prolonged QT interval). There are many drugs that can do this. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
- If you are breast-feeding. Do not breast-feed while you take Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib) and for 1 week after your last dose.
This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib).
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib) with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.
What are some things I need to know or do while I take Lenvima?
- Tell all of your health care providers that you take Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib). This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
- High blood pressure has happened with Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib). Rarely, very bad health problems from high blood pressure have happened. Check your blood pressure as your doctor has told you.
- A type of abnormal heartbeat (prolonged QT interval) can happen with Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib). Call your doctor right away if you have a fast heartbeat, a heartbeat that does not feel normal, or if you pass out.
- A very bad and sometimes deadly brain problem called posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) has happened with Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib). Call your doctor right away if you have signs like feeling confused, lowered alertness, change in eyesight, loss of eyesight, seizures, or very bad headache.
- Kidney problems have happened with Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib). Sometimes, these have been deadly. Talk with the doctor.
- Severe and sometimes deadly bleeding problems have happened with Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib).
- Call your doctor right away if you have any signs of bleeding problems, like bruising; black, tarry, or bloody stools; bleeding gums; blood in the urine; coughing up blood; cuts that take a long time to stop bleeding; feel dizzy; feeling very tired or weak; nosebleeds; pain or swelling; throwing up blood or throw up that looks like coffee grounds; or very bad headache.
- Very bad and sometimes deadly holes in the GI (gastrointestinal) tract or fistulas have happened with Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib). Talk with the doctor.
- Very bad and sometimes deadly liver problems have happened with Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib). Call your doctor right away if you have signs of liver problems like dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.
- Very bad blood clots like heart attack have happened with Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib). Call your doctor right away if you have signs of heart attack like chest pain or pressure; arm, back, neck, or jaw pain; or shortness of breath. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of stroke like confusion, numbness or weakness on 1 side of your body, very bad dizziness or headache, or change in speech or eyesight.
- If you are 75 or older, use Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib) with care. You could have more side effects.
- This medicine may affect fertility. Fertility problems may lead to not being able to get pregnant or father a child.
- This medicine may cause harm to the unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant.
- If you are able to get pregnant, a pregnancy test will be done to show that you are NOT pregnant before starting Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib). Talk with your doctor.
- Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while taking Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib) and for 1 month after stopping Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib).
- If you get pregnant while taking Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib) or within 1 month after your last dose, call your doctor right away.
How is this medicine (Lenvima) best taken?
Use Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib) as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.
- Take Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib) at the same time of day.
- Keep taking Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib) as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well.
- Take with or without food.
- Swallow whole. Do not chew or crush.
- If you have trouble swallowing Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib), the capsule can be dissolved in a small glass of water or apple juice. Dissolve the capsule as you have been told or read the package insert. Do not crush or break. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions.
- After mixing, take your dose right away. Do not store for future use.
- After drinking, rinse the rest of the drug in the glass with more juice or water and drink.
- Have your urine checked as you have been told by your doctor.
- Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
- You will need to have heart function tests while taking Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib). Talk with the doctor.
- This medicine may affect how wounds heal. If you have surgery, you may need to stop Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib) before surgery. Start taking it again after surgery as you are told by your doctor.
- If diarrhea or throwing up happens, talk with the doctor. You will need to make sure to avoid dehydration and electrolyte problems.
- Be careful in hot weather or while being active. Drink lots of fluids to stop fluid loss.
What do I do if I miss a dose?
- Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
- If it is less than 12 hours until the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
- Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.
Related/similar drugs
Keytruda, pembrolizumab, megestrol, medroxyprogesterone, Avastin, Provera, Armour Thyroid, nivolumab, doxorubicin, bevacizumab
What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?
WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:
- Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Signs of fluid and electrolyte problems like mood changes, confusion, muscle pain or weakness, a heartbeat that does not feel normal, very bad dizziness or passing out, fast heartbeat, more thirst, seizures, feeling very tired or weak, not hungry, unable to pass urine or change in the amount of urine produced, dry mouth, dry eyes, or very bad upset stomach or throwing up.
- Signs of kidney problems like unable to pass urine, change in how much urine is passed, blood in the urine, or a big weight gain.
- Signs of high or low blood pressure like very bad headache or dizziness, passing out, or change in eyesight.
- Signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI) like blood in the urine, burning or pain when passing urine, feeling the need to pass urine often or right away, fever, lower stomach pain, or pelvic pain.
- Signs of low thyroid levels like constipation; not able to handle cold; memory problems; mood changes; or a burning, numbness, or tingling feeling that is not normal.
- Redness or irritation of the palms of hands or soles of feet.
- Very bad belly pain.
- Diarrhea that will not go away.
- Severe diarrhea.
- A wound that does not heal.
- Heart failure has rarely happened in people taking Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib). Sometimes, this has been deadly. Call your doctor right away if you have shortness of breath, a big weight gain, or swelling in the arms or legs.
What are some other side effects of Lenvima?
All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:
- Change in taste.
- Constipation.
- Cough.
- Not hungry.
- Diarrhea.
- Dizziness.
- Dry mouth.
- Hair loss.
- Headache.
- Stomach pain or heartburn.
- Mouth pain.
- Mouth irritation or mouth sores.
- Muscle or joint pain.
- Upset stomach or throwing up.
- Feeling tired or weak.
- Not able to sleep.
- Change in voice.
- Weight loss.
These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.
How do I store and/or throw out Lenvima?
- Store at room temperature.
- Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
- Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
- Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
- If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
- Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
- Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about Lenvima (20 MG Daily Dose) (lenvatinib), please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does it take for Lenvima to work?
- How long do you take Lenvima?
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- How effective is Lenvima?
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More about Lenvima (lenvatinib)
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- Drug images
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- Patient tips
- During pregnancy
- FDA approval history
- Drug class: multikinase inhibitors
- Breastfeeding
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