What are the common side effects of cabozantinib? How to alleviate adverse reactions

Cabozantinib (Cabozantinib) is a multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), mainly used to treat renal cell carcinoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. Because its mechanism of action involves inhibiting multiple growth factor receptors, while exerting anti-tumor effects, it may cause the following common side effects:

Gastrointestinal adverse reactions: such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite and stomatitis.

Skin and mucous membrane problems: including hand and foot skin reactions, rashes, hair loss, etc.

Hypertension: Some patients may experience an increase in blood pressure during use.

Fatigue and weakness: Common and may affect daily activities.

Abnormal liver function: Some patients may experience elevated liver enzymes and require regular monitoring.

Ways to alleviate adverse reactions

To alleviate these side effects, the following measures can be taken:

Gastrointestinal reaction management: Try to avoid spicy and greasy foods in your diet, eat more easily digestible, high-protein foods, and add enough water. Your doctor may recommend antidiarrheal medications (such as loperamide) to relieve diarrhea.

Skin care: For hand-foot syndrome, you can use moisturizing cream and hand cream to reduce friction and irritation, and avoid soaking in hot water. If the rash is severe, anti-inflammatory drugs or steroid ointments can be used under the guidance of a doctor.

Blood pressure monitoring: Patients with hypertension should measure their blood pressure regularly. If there is a sustained increase, antihypertensive drugs can be adjusted under the guidance of a doctor.

Reduce fatigue: ensure adequate sleep, engage in moderate light exercise (such as walking), and arrange rest time reasonably.

Liver function monitoring: Liver function should be checked regularly during treatment. If abnormalities occur, the dose can be adjusted appropriately or hepatoprotective drugs can be used.

If side effects are severe and affect your quality of life, your doctor may adjust the dose or temporarily stop the medication. Therefore, during the use of cabozantinib, patients should pay close attention to their own reactions and provide timely feedback to their doctors to ensure safe and effective treatment.

Reference:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabozantinib