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What Are The Withdrawal Symptoms Of Lenvima?

Posted on Tue, 19 Apr 2016

Question: Are there side effects from lenvima withdrawal (other than being terminal)?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
how long was lenvima used

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome

I appreciate your concern

Kindly answer the following to advise accordingly

For how long exactly did your friend use lenvima (lenvatinib).
If possible , kindly mention the dose, too.

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (1 hour later)

I do not know the dosage. My friend used the drug for about six weeks. She discontinued just this week.

My friend had the operation on her thyroid on Nov. 2. Before the operation, they thought she had follicular thyroid cancer, but after the operation (which took 8.5 hours), they found she had anaplastic thyroid cancer although it was fairly defined. I believe she did not start the lenvima until after Thanksgiving; so at the very most she would have used the medication for 11-12 weeks. But she folt the ill effects of it quite early and they have persisted so she discontinued this week. She understands she is now terminal but her husband is wondering if there will be any ill effects from the discontinuation of the medicine in itself. She is presently in hospital but will be moving to a home hospice care fairly soon. She is with her daughters, but her husband and friends are 2000 miles away.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Explained

Detailed Answer:
Hello again.

Thanks for providing the details.

Hello and welcome

I appreciate your concern

FDA approved lenvima (lenvatinib) for treatment of progressive and differentiated thyroid cancer. It's a kinase inhibitor funtion by blocking some of the proteins that help cancer to grow. Studies showed that lenvima treated people live median age of 18.3 months without their disease progressing as compare to 3.6 months in placebo.
Most common side effects are hypertension ,diarrhoea weight loss, vomiting, fatigue, joint pain, inflammation of lining of mouth, swelling of Palm and soles, change in quality of voice.
Most serious side effects include cardiac failure, kidney failure, liver failure, gastrointestinal perforation, fistula formation, thrombophlebitis etc

Withdrawl side effects of the drug are not very severe as such. Stopping the medication does not lead to severe withdrawal effects. Howevery the tumor may increase in size as there will be no inhibtion provided by drug. The decision on whether to stop or continue the medication should be done through informed consent of the patient after discussing the pros and cons with her physician.

wishing you best of health

Hope this will help.

Thanks

Dr M.S Khalil

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (6 hours later)

Thank you. You have been very helpful.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Most welcome

Detailed Answer:
You are most welcome.

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.

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Dr. M.S. Khalil

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar