Venetoclax is used on its own or together with other medicines to treat certain types of cancer of the lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell in the body that help fight infection) including:
- chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (a type of cancer where the bone marrow produces too many lymphocytes)
- small lymphocytic lymphoma (a type of cancer where abnormal lymphocytes grow and form tumours in the lymph nodes)
- acute myeloid leukaemia (a type of blood cancer where the bone marrow produces too many white blood cells)
Take Venetoclax exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
Take it together with food or immediately after a meal. Try to take it at the same time each day.
Venetoclax is available as a tablet. Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. Do not chew, crush, dissolve, or cut the tablet.
The dose of this medicine will be decided by your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on the course of treatment depending on the type of your condition and your response to the medication.
Venetoclax must be taken regularly for it to be effective. Continue taking this medicine even when you feel better. Do not stop taking it unless instructed by the doctor.
If you miss a dose and it is more than 8 hours after your usual dosing time, skip the missed dose and return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
If you often forget to take your medicine, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
If you are being treated for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma, do not take Venetoclax with medicines used to treat fungal, viral or bacterial infection and certain heart conditions. Please see the section "Can I take this with other medicines?" below for more information.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- current or at risk of infection
- kidney disease
- liver disease
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Inform your doctor if you have been recently vaccinated. Do not receive any vaccinations without first asking your doctor.
Why is it important to keep my appointments with the doctor?
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.
- Pregnancy tests must be done before treatment to know if this medicine is suited for you to take.
- Routine tests (e.g. kidney function, complete blood count, blood electrolyte levels) may be done while you are being treated with this medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have these tests.
- Regular monitoring of signs and symptoms of infection may also be needed.
Venetoclax may cause dizziness and tiredness. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert.
Other side effects include any of the following: headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, constipation, and muscle pain.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- fast or abnormal heartbeat, passing out, trouble passing urine, muscle weakness or cramps, fits or seizures
- fever, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, more sputum production or change in color of the sputum, mouth sores, feeling weak or confused
This medicine will cause the level of your red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets to drop.
Red blood cells carry oxygen around your body. A fall in the level of red blood cells may make you feel tired and worn out.
White blood cells help your body to fight infections. A fall in the level of your white blood cells may put you at higher risk for infections, such as coughs, colds and flu, which may lead to more serious infections. Avoid crowded places and people who are sick. Alert your doctor if you have a fever, cough, or flu that does not go away.
Platelets help your blood to clot when there is a cut in the skin. A fall in the level of your platelets may put you at risk of bleeding more than usual. Do not take part in activities where you may fall or get injured, such as contact sports. Alert your doctor if you get any unusual bruising (large bruises or several bruises, especially if the bruises appeared on their own) or bleeding that takes a long time to stop (for example, too much bleeding when you floss or brush your teeth).
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Do not take Venetoclax with the following medicines:
- medicines to treat fungal infection e.g. itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole
- certain antibiotics e.g. clarithromycin, erythromycin, fluconazole
- ritonavir (medicine for HIV infection)
- medicines for high blood pressure and other heart conditions e.g. verapamil, diltiazem
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- medicines for irregular or abnormal heartbeat e.g. amiodarone, digoxin
- other medicines for high blood pressure e.g. captopril, carvedilol, felodipine
- medicines for fits or seizures e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin
- medicines used in organ transplants or certain immune disorders e.g. everolimus, sirolimus, ciclosporin
- rifampicin (medicine to treat TB, a lung infection known as tuberculosis)
- St. John's wort (herbal medicine)
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with this medicine.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements, and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Avoid excessive consumption (more than 1 litre a day) of grapefruit juice.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
As Venetoclax is a cancer medicine, always return any unused or expired medicine to the clinic, hospital, or pharmacy for disposal. Do not throw it away in the household waste.
Sign Out
Continue with Google