What are the side effects of Lenvatinib? What adverse reactions should patients pay attention to when using this drug?

Lenvatinib is a targeted anti-cancer drug mainly used to treat liver cancer, kidney cancer, thyroid cancer, etc. As a multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor, lenvatinib exerts anti-tumor effects by inhibiting multiple tumor-related receptor tyrosine kinases, such as VEGFR, FGFR, PDGFR, etc. However, like other anti-cancer drugs, lenvatinib may also cause some side effects, and patients need to pay special attention to these adverse reactions during use.
1. Common side effects
Common side effects of lenvatinib include high blood pressure, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mouth ulcers, hand-foot syndrome (hand-foot skin reaction), etc. High blood pressure is one of the most common side effects of lenvatinib, and some patients may need antihypertensive drugs to control blood pressure. In addition, due to the effect of drugs on tumor blood vessels, hand-foot syndrome is common, manifesting as redness, swelling, peeling, and pain on the palms and soles of the feet. In severe cases, it may affect the patient's daily activities. Loss of appetite and digestive system discomfort (such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) are also common adverse reactions in patients, which may lead to weight loss and malnutrition.
2. Serious side effects

Although most of the side effects of lenvatinib are mild to moderate, there are still some more serious side effects that patients need to pay close attention to. For example, lenvatinib may cause abnormal liver function, manifested as jaundice, elevated liver enzymes and other symptoms. Patients need to monitor liver function regularly during use. Another more serious side effect is renal function problems. Lenvatinib may cause renal function damage or acute kidney injury, and patients should undergo regular renal function tests. Lenvatinib may also cause bleeding symptoms, such as epistaxis, hematuria, gastrointestinal bleeding, etc. Severe bleeding reactions can be life-threatening, so patients should seek medical attention immediately if bleeding symptoms occur.

3. Side effects affecting the cardiovascular system
Lenvatinib may affect the cardiovascular system, leading to angina, heart failure, QT interval prolongation and other problems. The occurrence of heart failure is usually related to long-term use or high-dose use of drugs, and patients need to regularly monitor their heart health during treatment. If the patient has a history of underlying cardiovascular disease, special caution is required when using lenvatinib, and the treatment plan should be adjusted under the guidance of a physician. In addition, QT prolongation may lead to serious cardiac arrhythmias, so patients should have regular electrocardiograms while taking lenvatinib, especially those with a history of heart disease.
4. Precautions for use by patients
While taking lenvatinib, patients need to undergo regular physical examinations, including blood pressure, liver and kidney function, heart function, etc. Because medications may cause hypertension, patients should monitor their blood pressure early in treatment and make adjustments as needed. If blood pressure control is not optimal, your doctor may prescribe antihypertensive medications. At the same time, patients should inform their doctors whether they have cardiovascular disease, liver and kidney dysfunction and other problems so that the dosage or treatment plan can be adjusted.
In addition, side effects of lenvatinib include oral ulcers and hand-foot skin reactions. Patients should pay attention to maintaining oral hygiene and avoid eating irritating foods to reduce the discomfort caused by oral ulcers. For skin reactions on the hands and feet, patients can use moisturizers or antibacterial ointments to relieve symptoms. If symptoms are severe, the medication may need to be suspended or the dose reduced. During use, patients should also maintain adequate fluid intake and avoid strenuous activities to reduce physical discomfort.
Overall, although lenvatinib is effective in treating a variety of cancers, it also carries a certain risk of side effects. Patients need to be under the supervision of a doctor when using it, and possible side effects should be discovered and dealt with in a timely manner to ensure the smooth progress of treatment and the safety of their own health.
Reference: https://www.lenvima.com/