Cost, implications, applications, dosage details, and further information on Voranigo
Voranigo for certain brain tumors:
Voranigo is a brand-name oral tablet used to treat specific brain tumors in adults and children over 12 years old. Specifically, it's used for grade 2 astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas that have a particular genetic mutation. To learn more about what this drug is used for, check out the "Voranigo uses" section.
Here's the lowdown on Voranigo:
- Drug class: It's an isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 and isocitrate dehydrogenase-2 inhibitor, which is a type of targeted cancer therapy.
- Generic available? Nope, it ain't. You can only cop this bad boy as a brand-name medication.
- Prescription required? You bet your sweet biscuit it does. No scripts, no pills.
- Controlled substance? Negative, officer. It ain't a controlled substance.
Warning: that's not all she wrote!
When it comes to dosage, the amount you take will depend on factors like your age, weight, and side effects experienced. For more details on dosage, scroll down to the "Voranigo dosage" section.
Note: As with all medications, the cost of Voranigo can vary. Your actual cost depends on factors like insurance, location, and pharmacy. If you're struggling to pay for Voranigo or need help understanding your insurance coverage, check out the ServierONE program for assistance.
Voranigo side effects:
Like any other drug on the market, Voranigo can cause side effects. These range from mild to serious. Here are a few to watch out for:
- Mild side effects: fatigue, headache, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, reduced appetite, pain or stiffness in muscles or joints, COVID-19, decreased white blood cell count, increased liver enzymes
- Serious side effects: liver problems (such as pain in upper right abdomen, loss of appetite, severe tiredness or weakness, dark urine, jaundice), seizures
Voranigo uses:
Voranigo is approved for certain specific brain tumors called astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas. These tumors belong to a group of brain tumors called gliomas. Astrocytomas originate in brain cells called astrocytes, while oligodendrogliomas start in brain cells called oligodendrocytes.
Brain tumors are graded from 1 to 4, based on how quickly they grow and spread. Grade 2 brain tumors are slow-growing, but they can still spread into nearby brain tissue. Voranigo is approved for grade 2 astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas that have a certain genetic mutation.
Symptoms of grade 2 astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas can include headaches, nausea and vomiting, problems with vision, hearing, or speech, balance problems, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, changes in personality or behavior, seizures, and more.
Voranigo is a targeted cancer therapy that helps stop the brain tumor from growing and getting worse, after you've had a biopsy or surgery to remove all or part of the tumor.
Voranigo and children:
less than 40 kg (about 88 pounds [lb])
Voranigo is approved for use in children over 12 years old to treat astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas with the specified genetic mutation. It hasn't been studied in children younger than 12 years old, so it's not known whether it's safe or effective for this age group.
Voranigo dosage:
The dose of Voranigo your doc prescribes depends on several factors, including your age, weight, and any side effects experienced. The medication comes as an oral tablet in two strengths: 10 milligrams (mg) and 40 mg.
20 mg once per day
For adults, the usual recommended dosage is 40 mg once per day. For children, the dosage depends on their weight:
- Less than 40 kg: 20 mg once per day
- 40 kg or more: 40 mg once per day
Here's how to take Voranigo:
- You can take the tablet with or without food.
- Take it once per day, at the same time each day to maintain a steady level of the drug in your body.
- If you miss a dose and it's been fewer than 6 hours since the dose was due, take it as soon as possible and then continue with your regular dosing schedule. If more than 6 hours have passed, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
- Don't crush, split, or chew the tablets. Swallow them whole with a glass of water.
- Voranigo is meant to be taken long-term, if your doctor determines that it's safe and effective for you.
So, you've taken too much Voranigo… what now?
If you think you've taken too much Voranigo, call your doctor or POISON CONTROL right away. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
40 kg or more
Voranigo interactions:
Before taking Voranigo, tell your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. This helps you avoid potential interactions.
Here are a few drugs that can interact with Voranigo:
40 mg once per day
- 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
Alcohol and Voranigo:
It may not be safe to consume alcohol while taking Voranigo, as alcohol and Voranigo can cause some similar side effects, such as headache, nausea, diarrhea, and liver problems. If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Voranigo, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Alternatives:
Other brain tumor treatments are available that can treat your condition. If you're interested in finding an alternative to Voranigo, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other treatments that may work well for you.
Things to Consider when Taking Voranigo:
If you can become pregnant, consider the following information about pregnancy, fertility, birth control, and breastfeeding.
- Voranigo and pregnancy: Voranigo can cause fetal harm and should not typically be taken during pregnancy. If you're pregnant, talk with your doctor about your treatment options.
- Voranigo and fertility: Voranigo can reduce fertility in both males and females who take the medication. If you want to have children in the future, talk with your doctor about your options before starting Voranigo treatment.
- Voranigo and birth control: Voranigo is not safe to take during pregnancy. If you're sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control options during Voranigo treatment.
- Voranigo and breastfeeding: Voranigo should not be taken while breastfeeding. If you're currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may suggest a different treatment for your condition or recommend other ways to feed a child who is breastfed.
How Voranigo Works:
• 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
Voranigo is used to treat certain brain tumors called grade 2 astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas, which have a particular genetic mutation. A genetic mutation is an abnormal change in a gene that causes cells to make abnormal versions of a particular protein.
Voranigo works by blocking the action of abnormal IDH1 and IDH2 enzymes in brain tumor cells. This slows down the growth of the tumor cells, which helps stop the brain tumor from growing and getting worse.
- Voranigo is used for certain specific brain tumors like astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas, which belong to the group of brain tumors known as gliomas.
- Brain tumors are graded from 1 to 4, and Voranigo is approved for grade 2 brain tumors that have a certain genetic mutation.
- Side effects of Voranigo can range from mild to serious, including fatigue, headache, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, decreased appetite, pain or stiffness in muscles or joints, liver problems, and seizures.
- The cost of Voranigo can vary depending on factors like insurance, location, and pharmacy. A program called ServierONE can help with costs and insurance coverage.
- The dosage of Voranigo depends on factors like age, weight, and side effects experienced. For children over 12 years old, the dosage is 20 mg once per day for those less than 40 kg, and 40 mg once per day for those 40 kg or more.
- Voranigo is an oral tablet that is a type of targeted cancer therapy, specifically an isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 and isocitrate dehydrogenase-2 inhibitor.
- As with all medications, it's important to talk to a healthcare professional before taking Voranigo, especially if you have other medical conditions like cancer, neurological disorders, mental health issues, or other brain disorders.
- Voranigo is not a generic medication and requires a prescription. It is not a controlled substance.
