Pazopanib and Fatigue: What Users Say

• All...
• June 5, 2013

Pazopanib for Renal Cell Carcinoma "I started on Votrient on May 4, 2013. I take it at bedtime, which has really helped. I took it for about 24 days back in December, during the day, and side effects were far worse. So far, the side effects are more tolerable than Sutent. I do have high blood pressure and low platelets, but the doctor is doing labs weekly. Some days the side effects are worse than others. I went up to 800 mg last week and have more fatigue. I pray it works for my lung tumors as I have heard it has for others."

• Anonymous
• March 25, 2011

Pazopanib for Renal Cell Carcinoma "Votrient was effective in shrinking tumors in lungs and inhibiting progression of tumors in spine and brain; but I had to discontinue it due to elevated liver enzymes. This happened with an 800 mg dose and a reduced dose of 400 mg. Side effects experienced early in treatment included elevated blood pressure (treated) and fatigue (tolerable)."

• PAp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2015

Pazopanib for Renal Cell Carcinoma "Unfortunately, side effects for me have been horrific! I was on 800mg for 6 weeks. I wound up with nausea, extreme hoarseness, high blood pressure, fatigue with sleeping 18 to 22 hours a day. Took a turn for the worse and liver enzymes were high. Could not eat or drink water for 5 days and lost 30 pounds. I was off the Votrient for a month and just started back on half the dose, 400mg. So far so good, one evening of slight nausea. Other than a little more tired, it appears to be better."

• X_C...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2016

Pazopanib for Soft Tissue Sarcoma "After four failed chemo regimens, the doctors decided to try Votrient. The first week or two was the toughest. The worst side effect was the tumor pain, which was in my chest and back. Additionally, there was some fatigue, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. Three months later (now), I feel well, and there has been some slight shrinkage of my tumors. I'm also back in the gym. White hair kicked in within the first month. I'm a 22-year-old covered in white hair, lol."

• Bel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2013

Pazopanib for Soft Tissue Sarcoma "I have started taking Votrient about three weeks ago. One tablet in the morning, one tablet in the afternoon, and one tablet before bedtime. I would be sick during the day (nausea, extreme fatigue, and no appetite.) I told my doctor about my experience and she suggested to take the tablets all at once before going to bed. I have been doing this for a week, and it is not too bad except waking up in the morning feel exhausted. But in the afternoon I would feel fine. I think the medication is working because I always have tumor pain and I will be going to the doctor this week for signs of some shrinkage."

• Tez...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 23, 2017

Pazopanib for Renal Cell Carcinoma "I was diagnosed with Stage IV renal cell carcinoma in January 2012. After two unsuccessful IL-2 treatments, I started taking Votrient in June 2012. At first, I had all of the written side effects, but after completely changing my diet, they diminished significantly. Fatigue and whitening of my skin being my only problems. My last CTs continue to show all of my known tumors as principally stable. The drug works for me! Five years and counting!"

• cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2016

Pazopanib for Renal Cell Carcinoma "Lost my first kidney 5 years ago. Two months ago, cancer was found in my remaining kidney. It had metastasized to my brain and lungs. Had gamma knife surgery on the brain tumor. Started Votrient about 1 month ago. Side effects include fatigue and high blood pressure. So far, doing well on 800 milligrams. Have lost about 45 pounds. I know now I need to eat regular meals in order to keep up my strength. This also helps with the fatigue. So far, lab work looks good, looking for the best results with Votrient."

• Gra...
• March 10, 2017

Pazopanib for Renal Cell Carcinoma "I am 70, female. 19 years ago, had the right kidney removed due to renal cell cancer. In the spring of 2016, my shoulder began to bother me, and it got worse until my upper arm broke just below the shoulder, due to renal cell cancer which had metastasized to my upper arm bone, my pancreas tail, and two spots on my liver. I first had two weeks of IL-2 which gave me awful side effects and no changes to the cancer tumors. Have been on Votrient since September 2015. November scan shows tumors shrinking. February 2017 shows tumors are still shrinking. Side effects are diarrhea every day, body and muscle pain, scaly sores on my bottom, fatigue, and just recently pain in my hands. I take 800 mg daily, late in the day. I take Tramadol for the body pain."

• Mea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 15, 2020

Pazopanib for Soft Tissue Sarcoma "I was on Votrient for 6 months at 600 mg a day. The diarrhea, fatigue, and cramping were so bad that I got off the treatment. While on it, my tumors and nodules were shrinking. I immediately felt better when I got off the treatment, so I golfed, rode my bike, and had a wonderful summer. After a summer being off Votrient, my doctor talked me into trying again at a lower dose. I started over at 200 mg for a month and felt good, so I increased to 400 mg a day. I started to feel fatigue and decided to stay at this dose. It's been 4 months now since I started over, and all tumors and nodules have shrunk considerably, and uptake on the PET scan is way lower. It seems to be working. Thinking now about going back to work if I could just get past the need for afternoon naps. I feel blessed. It could be so much worse. Glad I tried Votrient again at a lower dose."

• vot...
• February 22, 2017

Pazopanib for Soft Tissue Sarcoma "My wife has a very aggressive cancer that started in the uterus (removed a 2.5 lb tumor last June), which had metastasized to the lung and elsewhere. She was stage 4 at diagnosis. Two chemo drugs did not work. After a bad spell at Christmas (including kidney failure), they were talking about hospice but also wanted to try Votrient. The Votrient resulted in visible tumor shrinkage within 24 hours. We have continued with the Votrient, and after six weeks, the lung tumors shrank by 20 and 30 percent. The doctor tells us we may get one more good scan, and then it may stop working. But the reprieve has been sweet, and things are going in the right direction. She takes 3 pills (600 mg), not 4. About the fatigue: she gets some low-dose Ritalin."

• Slk...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 8, 2018

Pazopanib for Renal Cell Carcinoma "Been on 600 mg of Votrient for 1 1/2 years. No new cancer cells, and the few I had after right kidney removal and brain tumor removal have decreased. I do experience stomach pain and fatigue, but it is not that bad since the cells are smaller and some non-existent - stage 4 RCC since October 2016."

• Bik...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 23, 2020

Pazopanib for Renal Cell Carcinoma "I was diagnosed with stage IV RCC in October 2014. Had spread to adrenal gland, lungs, lymph nodes, and had attached itself to my bowel and vena cava. Had an attempted nephrectomy in December 2014 but failed. Kidney was embolized just after this. I started on 800 mg Pazopanib in January 2015 and have been on that dose ever since. My hair has gone white, I get fatigued easily, incredible diarrhea at times, and other minor side effects, but I have no discernible tumors now and am able to work, live life, and keep my fingers crossed that it keeps working. I know how incredibly fortunate I have been, and I am full of gratitude."

• Anonymous
• September 29, 2017

Pazopanib for Renal Cell Carcinoma "I have been on Votrient since April. Had to stop after 2 weeks because blood pressure put me in the hospital, being too high. Started taking it again at 1 a day. I am now up to 4 (800 mg) a day. Doing better the longer I take it. Have more good days where I feel like doing my housework. Food doesn't taste good. I can eat fruit: pineapple, grapes, cantaloupe, things like that. Even some Chinese food some days, like sweet and sour chicken. Chicken tastes best. No beef or pork tastes good. Took my second CT scan this week, waiting on results. The first one said it hadn't grown any, so that's a plus. I too have many side effects: diarrhea, the worst. Fatigue, taste issues, white hair everywhere, my hands are beginning to get very rough also. I have bruises come up too."

• meo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2017

Pazopanib for Renal Cell Carcinoma "Left nephrectomy in July 2015 for a large renal cell tumor. First bad CT was in Nov 2016, which showed multiple lesions throughout the abdomen and pelvis. Biopsy in Dec 2016 confirmed recurrence of RCC. Started 800 mg Votrient in Jan 2017. Horrible side effects with fatigue and intense abdominal pain. Stopped after 3 weeks and took a week break before starting 600 mg. Side effects eased slightly, but blood work showed poor liver function after 3 weeks, so took a week break and started 400 mg. CT in March 2017 showed several lesions 10% smaller. Side effects have calmed down, with the worst being daily diarrhea and inconsistent appetite. ALL hair turned white. Good luck to everyone."

• Kat...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 15, 2020

Pazopanib for Soft Tissue Sarcoma "I'm taking Votrient for over 5 years, it stopped the spread of mets. Just before I started the trial, every scan like MR, CT, PET was showing new mets. I had clinical chemo like doxorubicin, ifosfamide, and it stopped only for a while. My oncologist was always suggesting Votrient, but it’s the 4th line treatment and expensive for the government (complicated to explain when health care is for “free” in my country). Anyway, for me, it was the last option. The regional CEO oncologist refused me the treatment. But my oncologist is a researcher and sent me to a capital hospital. So that since 18.9.2015, I’m on Votrient. First of all, I had no side effects, then, after half a year, I started having nausea, diarrhea, fatigue. And of course, my skin is as pale and cannot find the lightest foundation tone, and color my hair and henna brows and lashes..."

• meo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 4, 2017

Pazopanib for Renal Cell Carcinoma "Update: tolerating Votrient 400 mg. Last 2 scans, status quo. Diarrhea controlled with Imodium. Pattern of a couple good weeks followed by fatigue and general awful feeling. Medicinal marijuana has been a godsend for these bad times. Almost like setting a reset button, both mentally and physically. Only do it when I feel awful and won't be leaving the house."

• Anonymous
• December 27, 2021

Pazopanib for Renal Cell Carcinoma "My husband had a nephrectomy of his left kidney, it had spread to his left testicle, and he had the testicle removed as well. Before the operation, the surgeon said that the mass had been slow-growing for roughly ten years. He is 67 and in mostly good health outside of the cancer. It has been a year and a half on Votrient. The first dosage was too high and caused him a few hospital visits to stabilize his liver function. Now he is on half that dose, the only prominent side effect is the occasional nausea, fatigue, and vomiting/fainting spells. Of course, his hair has also gone completely white. He is very thin and struggles to put on weight but has a healthy appetite. It seems that this dosage is working, his cancer cells have shrunk. He goes for a PET scan twice a year and has been clear so far. In 4 months, it will be 2 years since diagnosis. So far, the medication is working. The diet seems to be the trickiest part, and I would recommend that you see an expert dietician. A specific diet is NB."

• For...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2021

Pazopanib for Renal Cell Carcinoma "Daddy has clear cell renal cell carcinoma. He was first put on Opdivo and Yervoy-an immunotherapy. This worked great! It was shrinking my dad's tumors that he had in his stomach, liver, lungs, and right atrium (heart). It even got rid of all the cancer in his stomach. The cancer spread to his brain, and he had to be put on chemotherapy. Votrient had a lot of side effects: nausea, super high blood pressure, major fatigue, and chemo brain fog. He lost 80 pounds on Votrient from not eating. Became frail and fragile, and we were afraid he would die from malnutrition. We begged the doctor to take him off it because she even said he wouldn't live much longer on it, but the issue was the Votrient was SHRINKING the tumors in his liver. This was a sign it was working. His doctor put him on dexamethasone 2 mg, which helped his energy levels and his appetite tremendously. He gained 40 pounds! He was on Votrient 6 months, but BP and brain fog got worse, though, so she then put him on Avastin."

• Bob...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 2, 2024

For Renal Cell Carcinoma "I was diagnosed Christmas Eve 2007 with a stage 4 tumor on the right kidney. Had nephrectomy of the R kidney, adrenal gland, and a portion of the renal vein in Jan 08. A few months later had a tumor on the L adrenal gland removed. In 2014 RCC met on the left shoulder blade; had 1/3rd of the blade removed. In 2015 a scan showed 7 lesions of various sizes on the liver. Started on 800 mg daily of Votrient in March 2015. Overnight my hair went from dark brown to grey. This is the only side effect I have experienced. The tumors on the liver have gone from 7 to 2 in about 9 years. I do have fatigue, but it is due to a lack of adrenal glands and no hormones. I take synthetic meds for fatigue and replace some hormones. After 5 years, I started having severe diarrhea, so I take a combo of Imodium AD and a probiotic. It helps control it. I feel great as of today, but early on with RCC, had problems walking but could still function. Daily exercise is a must even when one does not feel up to it."