sunitinib
Used for Cancer
NowPatient helps you obtain your sunitinib prescription for free or at low-cost. Drug savings programs are suitable for individuals who are insured, don't have insurance or are underinsured and can't afford your medicine.
Manufactured by various FDA-approved generic manufacturers.
*You can pay as little as $0 per fill using Drug Coupons or Patient Assistance Programs. Subject to applicability & eligibility requirements.
This content is intended for US audiences only
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sunitinib key facts
What dosages is sunitinib available in?
sunitinib is available as 12.5 mg, 25 mg, 37.5 mg, or 50 mg oral capsule
What is sunitinib used for?
sunitinib is a kinase inhibitor indicated for:
- Treatment of adult patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) after disease progression on or intolerance to imatinib mesylate
- Treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC)
- Adjuvant treatment of adult patients at high risk of recurrent RCC following nephrectomy
- Treatment of progressive, well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET) in adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic disease
How does sunitinib work?
sunitinib targets proteins in cancer cells and stops the cancer cells from growing.
How do I take sunitinib?
sunitinib is dosed as follows:
GIST and Advanced RCC:
- The recommended dosage is 50 mg orally once daily for the first 4 weeks of each 6-week cycle (Schedule 4/2)
Adjuvant Treatment of RCC:
- The recommended dosage is 50 mg orally once daily for the first 4 weeks of a 6-week cycle (Schedule 4/2) for a maximum of 9 cycles
pNET:
- The recommended dosage is 37.5 mg orally once daily
Is it safe for me to take sunitinib?
sunitinib is a safe and effective treatment when used for FDA licensed indications. However, like all medications, they may give you unwanted side effects. You should always discuss potential side effects with your physician to ensure the medication is suitable and right for you.
sunitinib Common Side Effects
Common side effects of sunitinib:
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- Diarrhea
- Pain, swelling or sores inside of your mouth
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Indigestion
- Vomiting
- Stomach-area (abdominal) pain
- Blisters or rash on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet
- High blood pressure
- Taste changes
- Low platelet counts
sunitinib Serious Side Effects
Serious side effects are rare with sunitinib. Contact your doctor if you experience any of the following.
- Heart problems
- Abnormal heart rhythm changes
- Bleeding problems
- Serious stomach and intestinal problems
- Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS)
- Abnormal changes in the brain
- Blood clots
- Serious skin and mouth reactions
- Thyroid problems
- Jawbone problems (osteonecrosis)
Wound healing problems
Effects of other drugs, drug classes and over-the-counter products on sunitinib
The following medications may interact with sunitinib:
- CYP3A4 Inhibitors: Consider dose reduction of sunitinib when administered with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors
- CYP3A4 Inducers: Consider dose increase of sunitinib when administered with strong CYP3A4 inducers
Who makes sunitinib?
Various FDA-approved generic manufacturers
Is sunitinib safe in pregnancy?
sunitinib can harm your unborn baby.
Females who are able to become pregnant:
- Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with sunitinib
- You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment and for at least 4 weeks after your last dose of sunitinib
- Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you are pregnant during treatment with sunitinib
- Males with female partners who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment and for 7 weeks after your last dose of sunitinib
- sunitinib may cause fertility problems in males and females. Tell your healthcare provider if this is a concern for you
The FDA's medical product safety reporting program for health professionals, patients and consumers.
Learn more about reporting side effects in the USDrug Savings Guide
A practical guide to saving money and receiving support with prescription costs
How can NowPatient help me to lower the cost of my sunitinib prescription?
After you create a FREE account with NowPatient, you will have access to 4 programs that can help lower the cost of your sunitinib prescription
Applicability to each program will be dependent on your insurance status.
How do the NowPatient sunitinib savings programs work?
After you have created your FREE account with NowPatient, you can access the various programs from your account dashboard. Each program has clear instructions on how to check your eligibility. You can see how the process works by clicking on the feature link below and seeing the ‘How it works’ steps.
Drug Coupon and Patient Assistance Programs require an eligibility quiz to be completed.
Are the NowPatient sunitinib savings programs suitable for everyone, regardless of insurance status?
No. Each program has its own eligibility and applicability requirements. The table below shows if a program is available to you, based on your insurance status.
| Rx Advantage Card* for sunitinib | Canadian Prescription Savings* for sunitinib | sunitinib Drug Coupon* | sunitinib Patient Assistance Program* | |
| Insured (federal, state or government) | Available | Available | Not Available | Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company |
| Insured (Commercial or Private) | Available | Available | Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company | Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company |
| Uninsured | Available | Available | Not Available | Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company |
| Insured but without pharmacy benefit or drug coverage | Available | Available | Not Available | Available If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company |
*This is not insurance.
Are the NowPatient drug savings programs suitable for brand and generic versions of sunitinib?
No. Each program has applicability requirements. Please see below
| Rx Advantage Card* for sunitinib | Canadian Prescription Savings* for sunitinib | sunitinib Drug Coupon* | sunitinib Patient Assistance Program* | |
| Brand | Yes | Yes | Yes, If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company | Yes, If Offered by Pharmaceutical Company |
| Generic | Yes | Yes | No | No |
*This is not insurance.
If you have Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage and none of the sunitinib savings options are applicable or affordable for me, what can you do?
If you are insured with Medicare and the sunitinib drug savings options are not applicable to you and still remain unaffordable, then you can check Medicaid eligibility in your state by following the instructions at HealthCare.gov.
The government site is easy to use and after you have selected your state, it will navigate you to the appropriate contact point to make the application. State Medicaid programs may cover the full cost of your medication.
People who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid are called ‘dual eligibles’.
If you are denied Medicaid for sunitinib, and you are still unable to afford your copay or co-insurance element (for example if you are in the coverage gap or Donut Hole) then you may be eligible for a federal support program like Low Income Subsidy. To be eligible for Low Income Subsidy, you need to be a resident in one of the 50 States or the District of Columbia. You can check eligibility online at SSA Medicare D Extra Help. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
I am uninsured or underinsured and none of the sunitinib prescription saving options are applicable or affordable for me, what can I do?
If you are uninsured or underinsured (for example, sunitinib is not covered by your plan) and the drug savings options are not applicable or still unaffordable, then you can check Medicaid eligibility in your state by following the instructions at HealthCare.gov.
The government site is easy to use and you can select your state and it will navigate you to the appropriate contact point to make the application. State Medicaid programs may cover the full cost of your medication.
If you are denied and all else fails, and if you have been prescribed sunitinib for an FDA-approved indication, you can call the pharmaceutical company to see if they have any other assistance programs.
I am commercially or privately insured and none of the sunitinib prescription saving options are applicable or affordable for me, what can I do?
If your medication is not covered by your plan, you can appeal your insurance company’s decision. Sometimes, a formal appeal can result in the drug being covered if it is deemed medically necessary.
If you cannot afford your copay contribution, then you can check Medicaid eligibility in your state by following the instructions at HealthCare.gov.
However, being privately insured might complicate your eligibility for Medicaid, as having private insurance may be considered in the financial eligibility assessment.
The government site is easy to use and you can select your state and it will navigate you to the appropriate contact point to make the application. If you qualify, state Medicaid may cover the full cost of your medication.
If I have federal, state or commercial insurance and none of the sunitinib prescription saving options are applicable or affordable for me, are there any other support organisations that can help me with my co-insurance or copay contributions?
If you have already tried Medicaid and received a denial letter or if you are insured with Medicare and have been denied Low-Income Subsidy, then you can try one of the following organizational support programs:
1. Patient Access Network Foundation (PAN) assistance for sunitinib
If you are having trouble paying for your sunitinib medication due to unaffordable copays or deductibles, the Patient Access Network Foundation (PAN), may be able to assist you. To qualify for PAN assistance for sunitinib you will need to meet one or all of the following criteria:
- Your income is below 400% of the federal poverty level
- sunitinib is prescribed for an approved FDA indication
- You live in and receive treatment in the United States or U.S. territories, even if you do not have U.S. citizenship
- You have Medicare insurance coverage that covers sunitinib
- If sunitinib is listed on PAN’s list of covered medications
You can check the Patient Access Network Foundation Website for more information.
2. HealthWell Foundation Copay Program for sunitinib
If you are having trouble paying for your sunitinib medication due to unaffordable copays or deductibles, the HealthWell Foundation Copay Program may be able to assist you. To qualify for assistance for sunitinib you will need to meet the following criteria:
- You live in and are being treated in the United States
- You are insured and your plan covers sunitinib
- If sunitinib is listed on the HealthWell Foundation’s list of covered medications
You can check the HealthWell Foundation Website for more information.
3. Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief Program for sunitinib
Patient Advocate Foundation’s Co-Pay Relief program exists to help reduce the financial distress you or your family may face when paying for your sunitinib treatment. If you qualify and can demonstrate the need, the foundation will provide you with direct payment covering co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles. To qualify for assistance for sunitinib you will need to meet the following criteria:
- You must be currently insured and have coverage for sunitinib
- You must have a confirmed diagnosis and treatment plan
- You must reside and receive treatment in the United States
- Your Income must fall at or below 300% or 400% of the Federal Poverty Guideline (FPG) with consideration for the Cost of Living Index (COLI) and number in the household
- Applications can also be completed by contacting the program sponsor, toll-free at 866-512-3861.
You can check the Patient Advocate Foundation Website for more information.
Medical Disclaimer
NowPatient has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that all material is factually accurate, complete, and current. However, the knowledge and experience of a qualified healthcare professional should always be sought after instead of using the information on this page. Before taking any drug, you should always speak to your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider.
The information provided here about medications is subject to change and is not meant to include all uses, precautions, warnings, directions, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or negative effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a particular medication does not imply that the medication or medication combination is appropriate for all patients or for all possible purposes.
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