Cost, effects, applications, administration, and additional details regarding Voranigo medication
"Yo, dawg here's the lowdown on Voranigo, alright?"
What's the deal with Voranigo?
Voranigo is a brand-name pill for certain brain tumors. It's all about that active ingredient, vorasidenib. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the green light for using Voranigo in August 2024 to treat grade 2 astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas in individuals aged 12 and over. Grundy, these tumors are called, ya know, brain tumors!
So, what's the scoop on that?
When it comes to drug class, Voranigo is an isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 and isocitrate dehydrogenase-2 inhibitor. This is a fancy way of saying it's a targeted cancer treatment. And here's the deal, mate: as of now, there's no generic version available.
What about insurance and cost?
Like most medications, the cost of Voranigo can vary. The final price depends on your insurance plan, location, and pharmacy you choose to cross.
If you need some financial support or help with understanding your insurance coverage, there's help out there! The program called ServierONE is for Voranigo. To get more information and find out if you're eligible for help like copay cards, call 800-813-5905 or visit the program website.
What about side effects?
Voranigo can cause mild or serious side effects. Here's a round-up of some:
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Reduced appetite
- Muscle or joint pain or stiffness
- COVID-19
- Lower white blood cell count
- Increased liver enzymes
If you get any side effects that become more severe or don't go away, talk with your doc or pharmacist.
Serious side effects?
Serious side effects from Voranigo are not common, but they can happen. If you experience them, call your doc right away:
- Liver problems: jaundice, upper right abdominal pain, loss of appetite, severe tiredness or weakness, dark urine.
- Seizures: staring into space, rapid blinking, sudden body stiffening, jerking movements, loss of consciousness.
What if I got an allergic reaction?
less than 40 kg (about 88 pounds [lb])
In some cases, Voranigo could trigger an allergic reaction, but that wasn't reported in the drug's studies. If you notice any symptoms like rashes, call your doc. For more severe allergic reaction symptoms like swelling or trouble breathing, dial 911 or your local emergency number ASAP.
What's the deal with using Voranigo?
Voranigo is FDA approved to treat specific brain tumors called astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas. These tumors belong to a group of brain tumors called gliomas. Astrocytomas develop from cells called astrocytes, while oligodendrogliomas develop from cells called oligodendrocytes. They both are unique in their functions in the brain.
20 mg once per day
Grade 2 brain tumors are slow-growing, low-grade tumors that can spread into nearby brain tissue. Voranigo is approved for these tumors that have a specific genetic mutation, which is an abnormal change in a gene. To make sure your tumor has this mutation, your doc may take a biopsy.
What about kids?
Voranigo has been approved for kids ages 12 and over, but it hasn't been studied in younger kids.
What's the dosage for Voranigo?
The dosage your doc prescribes depends on factors like age, weight, and side effects. The medication comes in two strengths: 10mg and 40mg.
Alert!
40 kg or more
Never take more Voranigo than your doc recommends, as it could lead to unwanted side effects or overdose.
What about interactions?
Voranigo may interact with several other medications, so always bring up all your medications, supplements, and even vitamins with your doc and pharmacist.
40 mg once per day
What about alcohol?
You may want to think twice about getting smashed while taking Voranigo, as alcohol and Voranigo can cause some similar side effects, like headache, nausea, diarrhea, and liver problems. If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Voranigo, chat it up with your doc or pharmacist.
What's the scoop on alternatives?
Other brain tumor treatments are available. If you're interested in finding an alternative to Voranigo, have a talk with your doc. They can tell you about other options that might work for you, like chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding. What's the lowdown?
Voranigo can cause harm during pregnancy and should not typically be taken during pregnancy. If you're pregnant, talking with your doc about your treatment options is crucial.
If you're planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, your doc will suggest birth control options to use during Voranigo treatment. If you're a woman taking Voranigo, use a non-hormonal form of birth control like condoms while taking Voranigo and for 3 months after your last dose. Voranigo could make some forms of hormonal birth control less effective.
If you have a sexual partner who can become pregnant, use an effective form of birth control while taking Voranigo and for 3 months after your last dose.
Voranigo should not be taken while breastfeeding, as it's not safe to do so. If you're breastfeeding or planning to do so, have a natter with your doc before taking this medication. They may suggest a different treatment for your condition or recommend other ways to feed a child who is breastfed.
• ciprofloxacin (Cipro)• cyclosporine (Neoral, others)• fluvoxamine (Luvox)• phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek)• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimatane)• hormonal forms of birth control, such as the combined pill, minipill, or patch
How does Voranigo work?
The deal with Voranigo is that it targets brain tumors called grade 2 astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas that have a certain genetic mutation. A genetic mutation is an abnormal change in a gene. Voranigo blocks the action of abnormal enzymes in brain tumor cells, which slows down the growth of the tumor cells and helps stop the brain tumor from growing and getting worse.
- Voranigo is a targeted cancer treatment for certain brain tumors, specifically astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas, and is used to treat grade 2 brain tumors with a specific genetic mutation.
- Voranigo can cause side effects such as fatigue, headache, nausea, diarrhea, and liver problems, and serious side effects include liver problems and seizures.
- If you have an allergic reaction while taking Voranigo, seek medical help immediately.
- Voranigo may interact with other medications, supplements, and even vitamins, so it's important to discuss all your medications with your doctor and pharmacist.
- Voranigo is not safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, so it's important to discuss treatment options with your doctor if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breastfeeding.