Table of Contents
Reliable, accurate, trusted information on lenvima (lenvatinib) and other cancer treatments from Ankr – Cancer Education and Navigation Platform
LENVIMA® (lehn-veema) (lenvatinib) capsules
What is LENVIMA?
LENVIMA is a prescription medicine that is used to treat certain kinds of cancer.
- LENVIMA is used by itself to treat differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), a type of thyroid cancer that can no longer be treated with radioactive iodine and is progressing.
- LENVIMA is used along with another medicine called everolimus to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), a type of kidney cancer, after one course of treatment with another anti cancer medicine.
- LENVIMA is used by itself as the first treatment for a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) when it cannot be removed by surgery.
- LENVIMA is used along with another medicine called pembrolizumab to treat advanced endometrial carcinoma, a type of uterine cancer:
- that is not microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR), and
- that has progressed after treatment with anti-cancer medicine, and
- that cannot be treated with surgery or radiation.
It is not known if LENVIMA is safe and effective in children.
Before you take LENVIMA:
tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have high blood pressure
- have heart problems
- have a history of blood clots in your arteries (type of blood vessel), including stroke, heart attack, or change in vision
- have or have had liver or kidney problems
- have a history of a tear (perforation) in your stomach or intestine, or an abnormal connection between two or more body parts (fistula)
- have headaches, seizures, or vision problems
- have any bleeding problems
- plan to have surgery or have had a recent surgery. You should stop taking LENVIMA at least 1 week before planned surgery. See “What are the possible side effects of LENVIMA?”
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. LENVIMA can harm your unborn baby.Females who are able to become pregnant:
- Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with LENVIMA.
- You should use an effective method of birth control during treatment with LENVIMA and for at least 30 days after the last dose of LENVIMA. Talk with your healthcare provider about birth control methods you can use during this time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you are pregnant during treatment with LENVIMA.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if LENVIMA passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with LENVIMA and for at least 1 week after the last dose.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines to show to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
How should I take LENVIMA?
- Take LENVIMA exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.
- Your healthcare provider will tell you how much LENVIMA to take and when to take it. Your healthcare provider may change your dose during treatment, stop treatment for some time, or completely stop treatment with LENVIMA if you have side effects.
- Take LENVIMA 1 time each day at the same time, with or without food.
- If you miss a dose of LENVIMA, take it as soon as you remember. If your next dose is due within 12 hours, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at your regular time.
- If you cannot swallow LENVIMA capsules whole:
- Use a medicine cup to measure about one tablespoon of water or apple juice and place into a small glass.
- Place the LENVIMA capsules into the small glass without breaking or crushing them.
- Leave the capsules in the liquid for at least 10 minutes.
- Stir the contents of the glass for at least 3 minutes.
- Drink the mixture. After drinking, rinse the glass with a small amount of additional water or apple juice and swallow the liquid.
- If you take too much LENVIMA, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.
What are the possible side effects of LENVIMA?
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 medical help right away if you get any of the following symptoms:
- severe chest pain or pressure o trouble talking
- pain in your arms, back, neck or jaw o sudden severe headache
- shortness of breath o sudden vision changes
- numbness or weakness on one side of your body
- 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 have 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 have 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 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 have any signs or symptoms of bleeding during treatment with LENVIMA, including:
- severe and persistent nose bleeds o blood in your urine
- vomiting blood o coughing up blood or blood clots
- red or black (looks like tar) stools o 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.
The most common side effects of LENVIMA in people treated for thyroid cancer include:
- tiredness • headache
- joint and muscle pain • vomiting
- decreased appetite • rash, redness, itching, or peeling of your
- weight loss skin on your hands and feet
- nausea • stomach (abdomen) pain
- mouth sores • hoarseness
The most common side effects of LENVIMA in people treated for kidney cancer include:
- tiredness • cough
- joint and muscle pain • stomach (abdomen) pain
- decreased appetite • trouble breathing
- vomiting • rash
- nausea • weight loss
- mouth sores • bleeding
- swelling in your arms and legs
The most common side effects of LENVIMA in people treated for liver cancer include:
- tiredness
- rash, redness, itching, or peeling of your
- decreased appetite skin on your hands and feet
- joint and muscle pain
- hoarseness
- weight loss
- bleeding
- stomach (abdomen) pain
- change in thyroid hormone levels
- nausea
The most common side effects of LENVIMA when given with pembrolizumab in people treated for uterine cancer include:
- tiredness • constipation
- joint and muscle pain • urinary tract infection
- decreased appetite • hoarseness
- change in thyroid hormone levels • bleeding
- nausea • low magnesium level
- mouth sores • rash, redness, itching, or peeling of your skin on
- vomiting your hands and feet
- weight loss • trouble breathing
- stomach (abdomen) pain • cough
- headache • rash
LENVIMA may cause fertility problems in males and females. Talk to your healthcare provider if this is a concern for you.
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 FDA at 1-800 FDA-1088.
How should I store LENVIMA?
- Store LENVIMA at room temperature, between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C
- Keep LENVIMA and all medicines out of the reach of children.
General information about the safe and effective use of LENVIMA.
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use LENVIMA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give LENVIMA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about LENVIMA that is written for health professionals.
What are the ingredients in LENVIMA?
Active ingredient: lenvatinib
Inactive ingredients: calcium carbonate, mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose, and talc.
Capsule shell contains: hypromellose, titanium dioxide, ferric oxide yellow, and ferric oxide red. The printing ink contains shellac, black iron oxide, potassium hydroxide, and propylene glycol.
This Patient Information has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Revised: 02/2020