LONSURF Side Effects
Potential Side Effects
Low blood counts are common with LONSURF and can sometimes be severe and life-threatening. LONSURF can cause a decrease in your white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Low white blood cells can make you more likely to get serious infections that could lead to death. Your healthcare provider may lower your dose of LONSURF or stop LONSURF if you have low white blood cell or platelet counts.
Your healthcare provider should do blood tests before you receive LONSURF, at day 15 during treatment with LONSURF, and as needed to check your blood cell counts.
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs and symptoms of infection during treatment with LONSURF: fever, chills, or body aches.
What are the most common side effects?
The most common side effects of LONSURF when used in combination with bevacizumab include:
- Low blood counts
- Tiredness and weakness
- Nausea
- Certain abnormal liver function blood tests
- Decreased salt (sodium) in your blood
- Diarrhea
- Stomach-area (abdominal) pain
- Decreased appetite
The most common side effects of LONSURF when used alone include:
- Low blood counts
- Tiredness and weakness
- Nausea
- Decreased appetite
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Stomach-area (abdominal) pain
- Fever
Tell your healthcare provider if you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that gets worse or does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of LONSURF.
A thermometer is available within the Treatment Kit to remind you to check your temperature. It also includes a treatment calendar that has a place for you to record your temperature and side effects. Discuss any changes in temperature and side effects with your healthcare provider at your next appointment. A digital version of the calendar is also available here.
You can also call the Taiho Oncology 24/7 hotline with questions about, or to report, side effects with LONSURF at 1‑844‑US‑TAIHO (1‑844‑878‑2446). You may report side effects to the FDA at 1‑800‑FDA‑1088 (1‑800‑332‑1088).
How to manage LONSURF side effects
Your healthcare provider may have ways to help manage some of the side effects of treatment. This could include adjusting your treatment plan by changing your dosage of LONSURF or stopping treatment. After discussing any side effects, your healthcare provider may prescribe medications or recommend certain lifestyle changes or non-prescription medications that can help.
The following information may also be helpful to you in managing some of these side effects that may occur with LONSURF alone or in combination with bevacizumab while under the care of your healthcare provider.
This information is not meant to replace your healthcare provider's advice. Always discuss any side effects with your healthcare provider.
- Exercise regularly*
- Try to eat plenty of foods that are high in fiber such as fruits and vegetables
- Avoid foods that produce gas
- Try deep breathing, yoga, or other ways to relax. This can help with muscle tension, anxiety, and pain
- Try to eat soup if you do not feel like eating solid foods, or drink milkshakes, smoothies, and juice
- Choose foods that are high in calories and/or protein
- Being active may help you feel hungrier. Try going for a 15-minute walk, stretching, swimming, or riding a bike*
- Try to eat or drink foods high in sodium and potassium, like bananas, oranges, peach and apricot nectar, and boiled or mashed potatoes
- Try to eat or drink low-fiber foods including tender meats, tofu, eggs, fish, white bread, white rice, and fruit and vegetable juices
- Drink 8 to 12 cups of clear, room temperature liquids slowly each day
- Try to avoid foods that are greasy, fried, sweet, or spicy if they've made you feel sick after eating them
- Try to eat 5 or 6 small meals a day, instead of 3 big ones (this does not change your dosing schedule)
- Have food and drinks that are warm or cool instead of hot or cold
- Try sucking on ice cubes or taking small bites of ice pops or fruit ices (stop if the cold temperature bothers you)
- Do the things that are most important first each day. Don't overdo it
- Try to be active each day. Go for a 15-minute walk, practice yoga, or ride an exercise bike*
- Ask family members and friends for help with chores, driving to your appointments, shopping, and cooking
- Take time to rest and take short naps throughout the day
- Try adding bathing, reading, listening to music, or meditation to your bedtime routine to help you feel more relaxed
Abdominal Pain
+
−
- Exercise regularly*
- Try to eat plenty of foods that are high in fiber such as fruits and vegetables
- Avoid foods that produce gas
- Try deep breathing, yoga, or other ways to relax. This can help with muscle tension, anxiety, and pain
Decreased Appetite
+
−
- Try to eat soup if you do not feel like eating solid foods, or drink milkshakes, smoothies, and juice
- Choose foods that are high in calories and/or protein
- Being active may help you feel hungrier. Try going for a 15-minute walk, stretching, swimming, or riding a bike*
Diarrhea
+
−
- Try to eat or drink foods high in sodium and potassium, like bananas, oranges, peach and apricot nectar, and boiled or mashed potatoes
- Try to eat or drink low-fiber foods including tender meats, tofu, eggs, fish, white bread, white rice, and fruit and vegetable juices
- Drink 8 to 12 cups of clear, room temperature liquids slowly each day
Nausea and Vomiting
+
−
- Try to avoid foods that are greasy, fried, sweet, or spicy if they've made you feel sick after eating them
- Try to eat 5 or 6 small meals a day, instead of 3 big ones (this does not change your dosing schedule)
- Have food and drinks that are warm or cool instead of hot or cold
- Try sucking on ice cubes or taking small bites of ice pops or fruit ices (stop if the cold temperature bothers you)
Tiredness (fatigue/weakness)
+
−
- Do the things that are most important first each day. Don't overdo it
- Try to be active each day. Go for a 15-minute walk, practice yoga, or ride an exercise bike*
- Ask family members and friends for help with chores, driving to your appointments, shopping, and cooking
- Take time to rest and take short naps throughout the day
- Try adding bathing, reading, listening to music, or meditation to your bedtime routine to help you feel more relaxed
*You should check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.