What Should You Know About Certain Side Effects of LENVIMA® (lenvatinib)What Should You Know About Certain Side Effects of LENVIMA® (lenvatinib)

Every medication has side effects and impacts each person differently. Below is information about certain side effects for LENVIMA. If you have any side effects, tell your doctor about them right away.

Pay attention to side effects

LENVIMA may cause serious side effects, including:

  • High blood pressure (hypertension)

    High blood pressure is a common side effect of LENVIMA and can be serious. Your blood pressure should be well controlled before you start taking LENVIMA. Your healthcare provider should check your blood pressure regularly during treatment with LENVIMA. If you develop blood pressure problems, your healthcare provider may prescribe medicine to treat your high blood pressure.

  • Heart problems

    LENVIMA can cause serious heart problems that may lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get symptoms of heart problems, such as shortness of breath or swelling of your ankles.

  • Problem with blood clots in your blood vessels (arteries)

    Get emergency help right away if you get any of the following symptoms:

    • severe chest pain or pressure
    • pain in your arms, back, neck, or jaw
    • shortness of breath
    • numbness or weakness on one side of your body
    • trouble talking
    • sudden severe headache
    • sudden vision changes
  • Liver problems

    LENVIMA may cause liver problems that may lead to liver failure and death. Your healthcare provider will check your liver function before and during treatment with LENVIMA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following symptoms:

    • your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice)
    • dark “tea-colored” urine
    • light-colored bowel movements (stools)
    • feeling drowsy, confused or loss of consciousness
  • Kidney problems

    Kidney failure, which can lead to death, has happened with LENVIMA treatment. Your healthcare provider should do regular blood tests to check your kidneys.

  • Increased protein in your urine (proteinuria)

    Proteinuria is a common side effect of LENVIMA and can be serious. Your healthcare provider should check your urine for protein before and during your treatment with LENVIMA.

  • Diarrhea

    Diarrhea is a common side effect of LENVIMA and can be serious. If you get diarrhea, ask your healthcare provider about what medicines you can take to treat your diarrhea. It is important to drink more water when you get diarrhea. Tell your healthcare provider or go to the emergency room, if you are unable to drink enough liquids and your diarrhea is not able to be controlled.

  • An opening in the wall of your stomach or intestines (perforation) or an abnormal connection between two or more body parts (fistula)

    Get emergency medical help right away if you develop severe stomach (abdomen) pain.

  • Changes in the electrical activity of your heart called QT prolongation

    QT prolongation can cause irregular heartbeats that can be life threatening. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests before and during your treatment with LENVIMA to check the levels of potassium, magnesium, and calcium in your blood, and may check the electrical activity of your heart with an electrocardiogram (ECG).

  • Low levels of blood calcium (hypocalcemia)

    Your healthcare provider will check your blood calcium levels during treatment with LENVIMA and may tell you to take a calcium supplement if your calcium levels are low.

  • A condition called Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS)

    Call your healthcare provider right away if you get severe headache, seizures, weakness, confusion, or blindness or change in vision.

  • Bleeding

    LENVIMA may cause serious bleeding problems that may lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any signs or symptoms of bleeding during treatment with LENVIMA, including:

    • severe and persistent nose bleeds
    • vomiting blood
    • red or black (looks like tar) stools
    • blood in your urine
    • coughing up blood or blood clots
    • heavy or new onset vaginal bleeding
  • Change in thyroid hormone levels

    Your healthcare provider should check your thyroid hormone levels before starting and every month during treatment with LENVIMA.

  • Wound healing problems

    Wound healing problems have happened in some people who take LENVIMA. Tell your healthcare provider if you plan to have any surgery before or during treatment with LENVIMA.

    • You should stop taking LENVIMA at least 1 week before planned surgery.
    • Your healthcare provider should tell you when you may start taking LENVIMA again after surgery.
  • Severe jawbone problems (osteonecrosis)

    Severe jawbone problems have happened in some people who take LENVIMA. Certain risk factors such as taking a bisphosphonate medicine or the medicine denosumab, having dental disease, or an invasive dental procedure may increase your risk of getting jawbone problems. Your healthcare provider should examine your mouth before you start and during treatment with LENVIMA. Tell your dentist that you are taking LENVIMA. It is important for you to practice good mouth care during treatment with LENVIMA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get signs or symptoms of jawbone problems during treatment with LENVIMA, including jaw pain, toothache, or sores on your gums. Tell your healthcare provider if you plan to have any dental procedures before or during treatment with LENVIMA. You should avoid having invasive dental procedures if possible, during treatment with LENVIMA. Stopping your bisphosphonate medicine before an invasive dental procedure may help decrease your risk of getting these jaw problems.

    • You should stop taking LENVIMA at least 1 week before planned dental surgery or invasive dental procedures.
    • Your healthcare provider should tell you when you may start taking LENVIMA again after dental procedures.
  • LENVIMA may cause fertility problems in males and females. Talk to your healthcare provider if this is a concern for you.
  • Your healthcare provider may need to reduce your dose of LENVIMA, or delay or completely stop treatment, if you have certain side effects.
  • These are not all the possible side effects of LENVIMA. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or visit www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Talk to your healthcare provider about any side effects you may experience

The most common side effects of LENVIMA in people treated for thyroid cancer include tiredness, joint and muscle pain, decreased appetite, weight loss, nausea, mouth sores, headache, vomiting, rash, redness, itching, or peeling of your skin on your hands and feet, stomach (abdomen) pain, and hoarseness.

The most common side effects of LENVIMA in people treated for kidney cancer in combination with everolimus include tiredness, joint and muscle pain, decreased appetite, vomiting, nausea, mouth sores, swelling in your arms and legs, cough, stomach (abdomen) pain, trouble breathing, rash, weight loss, and bleeding.

The most common side effects of LENVIMA in people treated for liver cancer include tiredness, decreased appetite, joint and muscle pain, weight loss, stomach (abdomen) pain, rash, redness, itching, or peeling of your skin on your hands and feet, hoarseness, bleeding, decrease in thyroid hormone levels, and nausea.

Tips for managing certain side effects

  • Blood pressure

    In clinical trials, some people taking LENVIMA developed high blood pressure. It’s important to monitor your blood pressure. Tell your doctor immediately if your blood pressure levels are high.

  • These tips may help manage blood pressure:

    • Get your blood pressure checked regularly. Some people find it helpful to use a blood pressure monitor at home
    • Eat a healthy diet with plenty of whole grains, and try to limit sodium and alcohol
    • Exercise lightly (talk to your doctor before starting any new activities)
    • If you’re a smoker, consider quitting
  • Diarrhea

    If you experience diarrhea, tell your doctor right away, and try these tips:

    • Eat easy-to-digest foods like applesauce, bananas, toast, and rice
    • Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol
  • Fatigue

    Feeling tired can be a common side effect.

    Tell your doctor if you feel overly tired, and try these tips:

    • Rest—if you’re able to take short naps during the day, the extra rest may help
    • Move—moderate daily exercise may help
    • Hydrate—try to drink more water. Dehydration can make you feel tired
    • Reach out—don’t be afraid to ask for help. Your healthcare team is always available to support you

This is not the full list of possible side effects you may experience while taking LENVIMA. Please read the Patient Information for LENVIMA and discuss it with your doctor. The physician Prescribing Information also is available.

Eisai Patient Support

There are resources available to help support your treatment journey.