Sutent vs. Votrient

Sutent (sunitinib malate) and Votrient (pazopanib) are kinase inhibitors used to treat kidney cancer.

Sutent is also used to treat gastrointestinal stromal tumor after disease progression on, or intolerance to imatinib mesylate, and for progressive, well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic disease.

Votrient may also be used to treat certain other types of cancer (soft tissue sarcoma).

Side effects of Sutent and Votrient that are similar include unusual or unpleasant taste in the mouth, cough, nausea, vomiting, stomach or abdominal pain or upset, diarrhea, changes in skin or hair color, hair loss, joint pain, fatigue, tiredness, weakness, mouth pain/sores, skin rash, loss of appetite, pain or swelling in the arms or legs, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

Side effects of Sutent that are different from Votrient include constipation, dry skin or cracked skin, back pain, fever, blisters or rash on hands or feet, numbness or tingling of the arms or legs, bleeding, watery eyes, swelling around the eyes, general ill feeling (malaise), and irregular heartbeats.

Side effects of Votrient that are different from Sutent include headache, weight loss, numbness/tingling/redness in hands/feet, muscle pain, high blood pressure (hypertension), tumor pain, dizziness, and swelling of the mouth or lips.

Both Sutent and Votrient may interact with St. John's wort, antibiotics, antifungals, seizure medications, and HIV/AIDS medicines.

Sutent may also interact with dexamethasone, imatinib, isoniazid, nefazodone, barbiturates, heart or blood pressure medications, medicines to treat narcolepsy, medications to treat osteoporosis or Paget's disease of bone, and grapefruit and grapefruit juice.

Votrient may also interact with other drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising such as antiplatelet drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin, and blood thinners; antidepressants, rifamycins; and other drugs that can affect the heart rhythm (QT prolongation), including amiodarone, dofetilide, pimozide, procainamide, quinidine, and sotalol.

Common side effects of Sutent include:

• unusual or unpleasant taste in the mouth
• cough
• nausea
• vomiting
• upset stomach
• constipation
• dry skin
• changes in skin or hair color (yellow skin or lighter skin/hair)
• hair loss
• joint pain
• back pain
• fatigue
• tiredness
• weakness
• fever
• diarrhea
• mouth pain/sores
• abdominal pain
• rash or other skin changes such as dry or cracked skin
• blisters or rash on hands or feet
• loss of appetite
• pain or swelling in the arms or legs
• numbness or tingling of the arms or legs
• shortness of breath
• bleeding
• watery eyes
• swelling around the eyes
• chest pain
• general ill feeling, or
• uneven heart rate.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Sutent including:

• headache,
• easy bruising or bleeding,
• swelling ankles or feet,
• unusual weight changes,
• cold or heat intolerance,
• unusual tiredness,
• black or bloody stools,
• vomit that looks like coffee grounds,
• coughing up blood,
• slow wound healing,
• jaw pain,
• toe/joint/back pain,
• painful urination,
• cloudy/pink/bloody urine,
• changes in the amount of urine,
• muscle weakness/cramping/twitching,
• signs of low blood sugar (such as hunger, shakiness, fast heartbeat, sweating),
• mental/mood changes (such as decreased alertness, irritability, nervousness), or
• vision changes (such as decreased vision).

Common side effects of Votrient include:

• headache,
• loss of appetite,
• weight loss,
• altered sense of taste,
• nausea and vomiting (may be severe),
• diarrhea,
• numbness/tingling/redness in hands/feet,
• changes in hair or skin color,
• joint or muscle pain,
• feeling tired/weak,
• fatigue,
• high blood pressure (hypertension),
• tumor pain,
• stomach or abdominal pain,
• shortness of breath,
• peeling rash,
• cough,
• swelling of extremities,
• mouth sores,
• hair loss,
• dizziness,
• swelling of the mouth or lips, or
• chest pain.

Many people have more frequent/loose stools or diarrhea while taking Votrient. Diarrhea can cause a serious loss of body water (dehydration). Tell your doctor if you develop signs of dehydration (such as extreme thirst, decreased urination, muscle cramps, weakness, or fainting). Votrient may cause high blood pressure. Temporary hair loss and/or change in hair or skin color may occur. Normal hair growth should return after treatment with Votrient has ended.

Sutent (sunitinib malate) is a multi-kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor after disease progression on, or intolerance to imatinib mesylate, for advanced renal cell carcinoma, and for progressive, well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic disease. Sutent is available in generic form.

Votrient (pazopanib) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor used to treat kidney cancer, and it may also be used to treat certain other types of cancer (soft tissue sarcoma).

Sutent may interact with dexamethasone, imatinib, isoniazid, nefazodone, St. John's wort, antibiotics, antifungals, barbiturates, heart or blood pressure medications, HIV/AIDS medicines, medicines to treat narcolepsy, medications to treat osteoporosis or Paget's disease of bone, seizure medications, or grapefruit and grapefruit juice. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Votrient may interact with other drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising such as antiplatelet drugs, NSAIDs, aspirin, or blood thinners. It can also interact with azole antifungals, antidepressants, antibiotics, rifamycins, St. John's wort, seizures medications, HIV medicines, and other drugs that can affect the heart rhythm (QT prolongation), including amiodarone, dofetilide, pimozide, procainamide, quinidine, or sotalol. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

The recommended dose of Sutent (strengths available are 12.5, 25 and 50mg tablets). Sutent may be taken without food. Dose modification depends on the type of cancer treated and is determined by the treating doctor. Severe side effects include hepatotoxicity.

The recommended dose of Votrient is 800 mg orally once daily without food (at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal).