Cost, effects, applications, and administration details of Voranigo medication
Refreshed and Revised Article:
Hey there, fren! This chatter’s all about Voranigo, a gnarly oral tablet prescription for some brain tumors. This badass drug is chock-full of the active ingredient vorasidenib.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stood up and approved Voranigo to rock those grade 2 astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas in grown-ups and kids who are 12 years old or more. They use this drug in some special situations to treat these suckers. Learn more in the "Voranigo uses" section, man.
Drug specifics
Here’s the lowdown on Voranigo's key details:
- Drug family: Voranigo is an isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 and isocitrate dehydrogenase-2 inhibitor, which is a type of targeted cancer therapy.
- Generic available? Nah, buddy, it ain't.
- Prescription required? You bet your sweet lavender.
- Controlled substance? Naw, man.
Voranigo generic
Voranigo is only available as a brand-name medicine. There ain't no generic version of it yet.
A generic drug is a dead ringer for the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs.
Voranigo cost and coupons
Voranigo cost can vary, depending on your insurance, location, and pharmacy used, man.
Financial and insurance assistance: If you’re broke, remember there’s help available for you to cover the cost of Voranigo or get a better handle on insurance coverage.
Promotion called ServierONE is on offer for Voranigo. For more deets and to see if you’re eligible for financial assistance like a copay card, call 800-813-5905 or head on over to the program's website.
Voranigo side effects
Voranigo can bring on mild or serious side effects. The following lists cover some key side effects that might pop up while on this drug. Remember, this ain't a comprehensive list, so talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
- Mild side effects:
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Reduced appetite
- Muscle or joint pain
- COVID-19
- Lowered white blood cell count
- Increased liver enzymes
Most of these side effects should pass within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they get more intense or stick around, holler at your doc or pharmacist, friend.
- Serious side effects:
- Liver trouble
- Right upper abdomen pain
- Loss in appetite
- Severe tiredness or weakness
- Darkened urine
- Yellowness of the skin or eyes
- Seizures
- Staring into space
- Rapid blinking
- Sudden stiffening of arms and body
- Jerking body movements
- Loss of consciousness
- Liver trouble
ALLERGIC REACTION Some peeps might experience an allergic reaction to Voranigo, but it wasn't reported in the drug's studies. In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or severe.
Voranigo uses
Voranigo for certain brain tumors
Voranigo is FDA approved to rock certain brain tumors in adults and kids who are 12 years old or more.
Specifically, it's approved for grade 2 astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas, which belong to a group of brain tumors called gliomas. These tumors develop from brain cells called astrocytes for astrocytomas and oligodendrocytes for oligodendrogliomas.
Brain tumors get graded from 1 to 4 depending on the speed at which they're likely to grow and multiply. Grade 2 brain tumors are considered low-grade, slow-growing suckers, but they can invade nearby brain tissue.
Voranigo is approved for tumors that have a certain genetic mutation (an abnormal change in a gene). It's approved for tumors with an isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) or isocitrate dehydrogenase-2 (IDH2) mutation. Your doc will likely take a biopsy to confirm cells from the tumor have this gene mutation before prescribing Voranigo.
Symptoms of grade 2 astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas include:
- Morning headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Issues with vision, hearing, or speech
- Imbalance problems
- Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- Changes in personality or behavior
- Seizures
Voranigo is a targeted cancer therapy that assists in stopping the brain tumor from expanding. They use this puppy after a biopsy or surgery to remove all, or part of the tumor.
Voranigo and children
Voranigo is approved for use in kids who are 12 years old and above to treat grade 2 astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas with the IDH1 or IDH2 genetic mutation.
Voranigo ain't been studied in children younger than 12 years old. It's unknown whether this drug is safe or effective for them.
Voranigo dosage
The Voranigo dosage your doc prezies you depends on various factors, such as age, body weight, and whether you experience certain side effects from Voranigo. For more specific dosage information, check your dosage prescription.
About taking Voranigo
When to take:
Take Voranigo once per day. Take your daily dose at whatever time you fancy, but try and stick to the same time every day. Popping the pill around the same time can help maintain a steady level of the drug in your body, making it work its magic.
less than 40 kg (about 88 pounds [lb])
If you miss a dose:
If you've missed a dose and it's been 6 hours or less, take it as soon as you can. After that, take your next dose at your usual time. If it's been more than 6 hours since your missed dose, skip it and take your next dose at your usual time. Never double-up on doses or take extra pills to make up for missed doses. Overdosing can lead to extra side effects.
Taking Voranigo with food:
You can drown Voranigo pills with or without a meal, bro.
Crushing, splitting, or chewing Voranigo:
Swallow the Voranigo tablets whole with a glass of water. Don't crush, break, or chew the tablets. If you're finding it tough to swallow, consultation with your doctor or pharmacist is advisable.
Length of use:
20 mg once per day
Voranigo is intended as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine it's safe and effective for you, you'll be taking it for the long haul.
Length of time to work:
Voranigo starts working as soon as you start taking it, but you might not feel the effects. The drug helps slow the growth of the brain tumor and keeps it from getting worse.
Overdose
Don't take more Voranigo than your doctor prescribes. Overdosing can lead to unwanted side effects or harmful reactions.
What to do if you overdose on Voranigo:
If you think you've taken too much of it, connect with your doctor. You can also get in touch with America's Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If your symptoms feel severe or life-threatening, call 911 or your regional emergency number, or get to the nearest emergency room ASAP.
Voranigo interactions
Voranigo can interact with several other meds, so be sure to chat with your doc and pharmacist about all the prescriptions, medications, supplements, and products you’re taking.
Interactions with medications, foods, and supplements:
Here’s a list of meds, supplements, and foods that can engage in a rumble with Voranigo. Remember, this ain’t an exhaustive list; consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about drug interactions.
- Medications that can interact with Voranigo:
- 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 interaction:
It might not be wise to imbibe alcohol while taking Voranigo, as alcohol and Voranigo can cause similar side effects, such as headache, nausea, diarrhea, and liver issues. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have queries about the safety of drinking alcohol while taking Voranigo.
40 kg or more
Alternatives
Other treatments for brain tumors are available, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Discuss alternative treatments with your doctor if you’re interested in finding one that suits you better.
Things to consider when taking Voranigo
Voranigo and pregnancy:
Voranigo can harm an unborn fetus and should generally not be taken during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant (or may become pregnant), talk to your doctor about your treatment options.
If you’re planning a pregnancy or thinking about becoming pregnant, chat with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may suggest birth control options for you during treatment with Voranigo.
Voranigo and fertility:
40 mg once per day
Voranigo can affect your fertility, in both males and females. If you wanna have kids in the future, talk to your doctor about your options before starting taking Voranigo.
Note: This article uses the terms "female" and "male" to refer to an individual's sex assigned at birth. For more information, see this article about the difference between sex and gender.
Voranigo and birth control:
Voranigo can make certain types of hormonal birth control less effective at preventing pregnancy. If you're on Voranigo and are sexually active, use a nonhormonal form of birth control, such as condoms, while on Voranigo and for three months after your last dose.
For females taking Voranigo:
If there's a possibility of pregnancy, use nonhormonal birth control, such as condoms, while taking Voranigo and for three months after your last dose. Voranigo can reduce the effectiveness of some forms of hormonal birth control, such as the pill, patch, or ring.
For males taking Voranigo:
If your partner could get pregnant, use an effective form of birth control while taking Voranigo and for three months after your last dose.
Voranigo and breastfeeding:
Voranigo should not be taken while breastfeeding. If you're breastfeeding now or planning to do so, consult your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may suggest a different treatment option or suggest other ways to feed your child.
How Voranigo works
Voranigo is used to treat certain brain tumors called grade 2 astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas. It's used for these tumors that have a certain genetic mutation.
A genetic mutation is an abnormal change in a gene. A gene carries instructions for making particular proteins in cells. When a cell has a mutated gene, it causes the cells to make abnormal versions of a particular protein.
Voranigo is approved for tumors that have a mutation in the gene for isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) or isocitrate dehydrogenase-2 (IDH2). If you’re ready to explore further, this article deep dive into how Voranigo works.
Common questions about Voranigo
Can Voranigo be used for glioblastoma?
No, buddy! Voranigo ain’t FDA approved for treating glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is a particularly aggressive and fast-growing type of brain tumor that's also known as a grade 4 astrocytoma.
Voranigo is approved to treat only grade 2 astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas. Some glioblastomas might have the same genetic mutation that Voranigo targets, but Voranigo hasn’t been studied in recurrent glioblastoma at this time. If you’re interested in taking Voranigo for glioblastoma, chat with your doctor.
Is Voranigo chemotherapy?
No way, José! Voranigo isn’t chemotherapy. Instead, it’s a targeted cancer therapy.
Chemotherapy works by killing off all the cells in your body that are rapidly growing and multiplying, including cancer cells and healthy cells like blood cells. As a result, chemotherapy can cause many side effects throughout your body.
• 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
Targeted therapies, like Voranigo, work by blocking certain proteins or processes that specifically help cancer cells grow rapidly. These drugs tend to have less effect on healthy cells compared to chemotherapy; however, they can still cause some serious side effects.
If you've got further questions about chemotherapy versus Voranigo, chat with your doc.
Voranigo precautions
Before taking Voranigo, have a heart-to-heart with your doc about your health history. Voranigo may not wind up being your jam if you’ve got various medical conditions or factors affecting your health. Talk to your doc if any of the following apply to you:
- Liver problems
- Kidney problems
- Previous allergic reaction to this or a similar drug
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Smoking
Disclaimer: This article should not be used as a replacement for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. Always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained in this article is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
- Although Voranigo is a targeted cancer therapy for certain brain tumors, it's important to note that it isn't a chemotherapy treatment.
- Other brain disorders, like glioblastoma, may not be treated with Voranigo as it's only FDA-approved for grade 2 astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas with specific genetic mutations.
- Certain medications, such as ciprofloxacin, cyclosporyne, fluvoxamine, phenytoin, and rifampin, may interact with Voranigo, potentially causing unwanted effects.
- In addition to the interactions with medications, people taking Voranigo may experience various side effects, such as mild symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, and headache or more serious issues like liver trouble and seizures.
- Voranigo can impact fertility in both males and females, and it's recommended to discuss alternative treatment options with a medical professional for those planning to have children in the future.