Lenvatinib

Lenvatinib is given as capsules, so you can take it at home. You may have lenvatinib on its own or in combination with other targeted drugs.

During treatment, you usually see a cancer doctor, a cancer nurse or specialist nurse, and a specialist pharmacist. This is who we mean when we mention doctor, nurse or pharmacist in this information.

You will have regular blood tests throughout your treatment. These allow your doctor to check the levels of different blood cells in your body (your blood count). They also show how your liver and kidneys are working.

Lenvatinib can reduce the levels of substances called electrolytes in your blood, such as potassium, magnesium and calcium. You will have regular blood samples taken to check for this.

You take lenvatinib capsules once a day, with or without food.

Swallow them whole with a glass of water. Do not chew, open or crush them. Take them at the same time every day. If you struggle to swallow the capsules, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

If you forget to take your lenvatinib capsules and it is more than 12 hours until the next dose, take them as soon as you remember. If it is less than 12 hours until the next dose, do not take the missed dose. Take your usual dose at the usual time the next day. You should never take a double dose.

Do not ask someone to open the capsules for you. This is because they may be exposed to the drug, which may be harmful to them. If someone else needs to open them for you, they should wear gloves.

Other things to remember about your capsules:

• Wash your hands after taking your capsules.
• Keep them in the original package and at room temperature, away from heat and direct sunlight.
• Keep them safe and out of sight and reach of children.
• If you are sick just after taking the capsules, contact the hospital. Do not take another dose.
• If your treatment is stopped, return any unused capsules to the pharmacist.

Your nurse, pharmacist or doctor will discuss your treatment plan with you. Usually, you continue taking lenvatinib for as long as it is working for you and side effects can be managed. Do not stop taking it without your doctor’s advice.

If you are having difficult side effects, your doctor may suggest stopping the treatment for a short time or they may lower the dose.

Your doctor can give you anti-sickness drugs if you feel sick. These drugs help prevent or control sickness during treatment. Take them exactly as your nurse or pharmacist tells you. It is easier to prevent sickness than to treat it after it has started.

If you feel sick, take small sips of fluids often and eat small amounts regularly. It is important to drink enough fluids. If you continue to feel sick, or if you are sick (vomit) more than once in 24 hours, contact the hospital as soon as possible. They will give you advice. Your doctor or nurse may change the anti-sickness drug to one that works better for you.

Lenvatinib can also cause indigestion. Tell your doctor or nurse if this happens.

This treatment may cause diarrhoea. Diarrhoea means passing more stools (poo) than is normal for you, or having watery or loose stools. You may also have stomach cramps. If you have a stoma, it may be more active than usual. 

If you are passing loose stools 3 or more times a day and this is not normal for you, contact the hospital as soon as possible on the 24-hour number. Follow the advice they give you about:

• taking anti-diarrhoea medicines 
• drinking enough fluids to keep you hydrated and to replace lost salts and minerals
• any changes to your diet that might help. 

They might also ask you for a specimen of your stool to check for infection.

This treatment can cause constipation. Constipation means that you are not able to pass stools (poo) as often as you normally do. It can become difficult or painful. Here are some tips that may help:

• Drink at least 2 litres (3½ pints) of fluids each day.
• Eat high-fibre foods, such as fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread.
• Do regular gentle exercise, like going for short walks.

If you have constipation, contact the hospital on the 24-hour number for advice. They can give you drugs called laxatives to help. 

If you have not been able to pass stools for over 2 days and are being sick, contact the 24-hour number straight away. 

This treatment may cause a sore mouth and throat. You may also get mouth ulcers. This can make you more likely to get a mouth or throat infection. Use a soft toothbrush to clean your teeth or dentures in the morning, at night and after meals.

If your mouth or throat is sore:

• tell your nurse or doctor – they can give you a mouthwash or medicines to help
• try to drink plenty of fluids
• avoid alcohol, tobacco and foods that irritate your mouth and throat.

Lenvatinib can also cause a dry mouth. Taking regular sips of water or sucking ice cubes or sugar-free lollies can help. 

Some foods may taste different or have no taste. Try different foods to find out what tastes best to you. You may also get a bitter or metallic taste in your mouth. Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can give you advice. It might help to try:

• sucking sugar-free sour or boiled sweets
• eating cold foods
• eating sharp-tasting fresh fruit.

Taste changes usually get better after treatment ends. We have more information about coping with changes to taste.

This treatment can affect your appetite. Don’t worry if you do not eat much for 1 or 2 days. But if your appetite does not come back after a few days, or if you are losing weight, tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. They can give you advice. They may give you food or drink supplements. Or they may suggest changes to your diet or eating habits to help.

Lenvatinib can increase your blood pressure. Some people may need to take tablets to control their blood pressure. Lenvatinib can also cause blood pressure to become lower, but this is less common. 
Your nurse will check your blood pressure regularly.

This treatment may cause headaches. If you have headaches, tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. They can give you advice about painkillers that may help. Tell them if the headache does not get better, or gets worse.

This treatment may affect your skin. It can cause a rash, which may be itchy. Your doctor or nurse can tell you what to expect. If your skin feels dry, try using an unperfumed moisturising cream every day. Some people may get areas of skin thickening.

Always tell your doctor or nurse about any skin changes or if skin changes get worse. They can give you advice and may prescribe creams or medicines to help.

This treatment can affect the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet. This is called palmar-plantar or hand-foot syndrome. 

If you have white skin these areas may become red. If you have black or brown skin, these areas might get darker. 

The skin on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet may:

• be sore
• be painful, tingle, or swell
• peel, crack or blister. 

If you have any of these symptoms, contact the hospital straight away on the 24-hour number. They can give you advice. This is especially important if you have any broken skin or if walking is difficult. They can prescribe creams and painkillers to help.

You can care for your hands and feet by: 

• keeping your hands and feet cool by washing in cool water
• gently moisturising your hands and feet regularly
• wearing gloves to protect your hands and nails when working in the house or garden
• wearing loose cotton socks and avoiding tight-fitting shoes and gloves.

You may get pain in your muscles, joints, or back. If this happens, tell your doctor so they can give you painkillers. Tell them if the pain does not get better.

This treatment can reduce the number of platelets in your blood. Platelets are cells that help the blood to clot. Tell your doctor if you have any bruising or bleeding that you cannot explain. This includes:

• nosebleeds
• bleeding gums
• tiny red or purple spots on the skin that may look like a rash.

Some people may need a drip to give them extra platelets. This is called a platelet transfusion.

Lenvatinib can sometimes cause other types of bleeding which can be serious. Contact the hospital straight away on the number you have been given if, for example, you:

• have black or bloodstained stools
• vomit or cough up blood
• have vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

This treatment can reduce the number of white blood cells in your blood. These cells fight infection. If the number of white blood cells is low, you are more likely to get an infection. A low white blood cell count is called neutropenia.

If you have an infection, it is important to treat it as soon as possible. Contact the hospital straight away on the 24-hour contact number you have if:

• your temperature goes over 37.5°C (99.5°F)
• you suddenly feel unwell, even with a normal temperature
• you have symptoms of an infection.

Symptoms of an infection include:

• feeling shivery
• a sore throat
• a cough
• diarrhoea
• needing to pass urine often.

It is important to follow any specific advice your cancer treatment team gives you.

Lenvatinib can sometimes make the thyroid gland less active. Your doctor will check how your thyroid is working with regular blood tests. Possible symptoms of thyroid changes include:

• tiredness and difficulty concentrating
• feeling depressed
• weight gain
• constipation
• feeling cold
• dry skin and dry hair.

If you notice any symptoms, tell your doctor. Thyroid changes can be treated with medication. They go back to normal after the treatment is finished.

If you have had your thyroid gland removed, the dose of your thyroid hormone replacement tablets may need to be changed.

This treatment can affect how your liver and kidneys work. You will have blood tests before and during treatment to check how your liver and kidneys are working.

Your urine will also be tested for protein while you are having this treatment.

You may notice your hair becomes thinner. We have more information about coping with hair loss.

You may notice changes to your voice. Tell your doctor or nurse if this happens.

Some medicines can affect how this treatment works or be harmful while you are having it. Always tell your cancer doctor, nurse or pharmacist about any drugs you are taking or planning to take, such as: 

• medicines you have been prescribed
• medicines you buy in a shop, pharmacy or online
• vitamins or supplements 
• herbal drugs and complementary or homeopathic therapies
• recreational drugs – for example, cannabis.

Doctors usually recommend that people with cancer have vaccinations for flu and for coronavirus (covid). These help reduce your risk of serious illness from these infections. Most people can have these vaccines, including people with weak immune systems.

If your immune system is weak, you should not have live vaccinations. Live vaccines can make you unwell because they contain a very weak version of the illness they will protect you against. Live vaccines include Zostavax^®, which is a shingles vaccine, and the yellow fever vaccine.

It is important to ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice about having vaccinations. They can explain what vaccines are right for you and when it is best to have them.

Your doctor will advise you not to get pregnant or make someone pregnant while having this treatment. The drugs may harm a developing baby. It is important to use contraception during your treatment and for a while after treatment finishes. It is not known if lenvatinib makes the contraceptive pill less effective so you or your partner should also use barrier contraception (a condom).

Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can tell you more about this.

Some cancer drugs can affect whether you can get pregnant or make someone pregnant. If you are worried about this, it is important to talk with your doctor before you start treatment.

You are advised not to breastfeed while having this treatment, or for some time after treatment ends. This is because the drugs could be passed to the baby through breast milk. 

Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can give you more information.

If you need medical treatment for any reason other than cancer, always tell the healthcare professional that you are having cancer treatment. Give them the contact details for your cancer doctor or cancer team so they can ask for advice.

If you have appointments with a dentist, always tell them you are having cancer treatment. Talk to your cancer team before you have any dental treatment.