Cabozantinib

This information from UpToDate^® Lexidrug^™ explains what you need to know about this medication, including what it’s used for, how to take it, its side effects, and when to call your healthcare provider.

Brand Names: US

Cabometyx; Cometriq (100 MG Daily Dose); Cometriq (140 MG Daily Dose); Cometriq (60 MG Daily Dose)

Brand Names: Canada

Cabometyx

What is this drug used for?

• It is used to treat cancer.

What do I need to tell the doctor BEFORE my child takes this drug?

• If your child is allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell the doctor about the allergy and what signs your child had.
• If your child has active bleeding or is at risk for severe bleeding.
• If your child has had recent bleeding or coughing up blood.
• If your child has any of these health problems: High blood pressure or liver disease.
• If your child takes any drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) that must not be taken with this drug, like certain drugs that are used for HIV, infections, seizures, and others. There are many drugs that must not be taken with this drug.

If your child is breast-feeding a baby:

• Be sure your child does not breast-feed a baby while taking this drug and for 4 months after the last dose.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this drug.

Tell the doctor and pharmacist about all of your child’s drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe to give this drug with all of your child’s other drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug your child takes without checking with the doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while my child takes this drug?

• Tell all of your child’s health care providers that your child is taking this drug. This includes your child’s doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• This drug may affect how wounds heal. If your child has surgery, you may need to stop giving this drug before surgery. Start giving it again after surgery as you are told by the doctor. Call the doctor right away if your child has a wound that does not heal or any other wound problems.
• Have your child’s blood work and other lab tests checked as you have been told by the doctor.
• High blood pressure has happened with this drug. Have your child’s blood pressure checked as you have been told by the doctor.
• High triglyceride levels have happened with this drug. Tell your child’s doctor if your child has ever had high triglyceride levels.
• There are different brands and forms (capsules and tablets) of this drug. Check your child’s drug when you get a new prescription to make sure you have the right drug. Call the doctor or pharmacist right away if you think you were given the wrong drug or if you are not sure what your child’s drug should look like.
• Avoid giving your child grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
• This drug may lower the ability of the bone marrow to make blood cells that the body needs. If blood cell counts get very low, this can lead to bleeding problems, infections, or anemia. If you have questions, talk with the doctor.
• Your child may bleed more easily. Make sure your child is careful and avoids injury. Be sure your child has a soft toothbrush. Rarely, some bleeding problems have been deadly.
• Severe jaw problems have happened. Have your child get a dental exam before starting this drug. Take good care of your child’s teeth.
• This drug may affect growth in children and teens in some cases. They may need regular growth checks. Talk with the doctor.
• This drug may affect fertility. Fertility problems may lead to not being able to get pregnant or father a child. If your child plans to get pregnant or father a child, talk with the doctor before your child takes this drug.
• If your child is of childbearing age, a pregnancy test will need to be done before starting this drug to make sure your child is not pregnant.

If your child is or may be sexually active:

• This drug may cause harm to the unborn baby if your child takes it during pregnancy.
• If your child may become pregnant, birth control must be used while taking this drug and for 4 months after the last dose. Talk to the doctor about what kind of birth control to use. If your child becomes pregnant, call the doctor right away.
• If your child’s sex partner may become pregnant, birth control may need to be used while taking this drug and for 4 months after the last dose. Talk to the doctor about whether your child needs to use birth control and what kind to use. If your child’s partner gets pregnant, call the doctor right away.

What are some side effects that I need to call my child’s doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your child’s doctor or get medical help right away if your child has any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of high blood sugar like confusion, feeling sleepy, unusual thirst or hunger, passing urine more often, flushing, fast breathing, or breath that smells like fruit.
• Signs of high or low blood pressure like very bad headache or dizziness, passing out, or change in eyesight.
• Signs of dehydration like dry skin, mouth, or eyes; thirst; fast heartbeat; dizziness; fast breathing; or confusion.
• Signs of electrolyte problems like mood changes; confusion; muscle pain, cramps, or spasms; weakness; shakiness; change in balance; an abnormal heartbeat; seizures; loss of appetite; or severe upset stomach or throwing up.
• Signs of thyroid problems like change in weight; feeling nervous, excitable, restless, or weak; hair thinning; depression; eye or neck swelling; not able to focus; trouble with heat or cold; menstrual changes; shakiness; or sweating.
• Signs of bleeding like throwing up or coughing up blood; vomit that looks like coffee grounds; blood in the urine; black, red, or tarry stools; bleeding from the gums; abnormal vaginal bleeding; bruises without a cause or that get bigger; or bleeding you cannot stop.
• Signs of liver problems like dark urine, tiredness, decreased appetite, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.
• Fever, chills, or sore throat.
• Sweating a lot.
• Trouble walking.
• Coughing, gagging, or choking (mainly when eating or drinking).
• Jaw pain.
• Tooth pain.
• Mouth sores.
• Redness or irritation of the palms of hands or soles of feet.
• Change in skin to hard and thick.
• Swelling.
• A burning, numbness, or tingling feeling that is not normal.
• Blood clots have happened with this drug. This includes heart attack, stroke, and blood clots in the lung or leg. Sometimes these have been deadly. Call the doctor right away if your child has chest, arm, back, neck, or jaw pain or pressure; coughing up blood; numbness or weakness on 1 side of the body, trouble speaking or thinking, change in balance, or change in eyesight; shortness of breath; or swelling, warmth, or pain in the leg or arm.
• Heart failure has rarely happened in people taking this drug. Sometimes, this has been deadly. Call your child’s doctor right away if your child has shortness of breath, a big weight gain, or swelling in the arms or legs.
• Holes and fistulas in the GI (gastrointestinal) tract have happened with this drug. Sometimes this has been deadly. Call the doctor right away if your child has severe stomach pain or swelling; black, tarry, or bloody stools; or a high fever.
• A severe and sometimes deadly brain problem called posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) has happened with this drug. Call the doctor right away if your child has signs like feeling confused, lowered alertness, change in eyesight like loss of eyesight, seizures, or severe headache.

What are some other side effects of this drug?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your child’s doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother your child or do not go away:

• Feeling dizzy, tired, or weak.
• Weight loss.
• Mouth irritation.
• Change in taste.
• Headache.
• Joint pain.
• Muscle spasm.
• Change in voice.
• Dry skin.
• Hair loss.
• Change in color of hair.
• Heartburn.
• Stomach pain.
• Constipation, diarrhea, upset stomach, throwing up, and decreased appetite are common with this drug. If these happen, talk with the doctor about ways to lower these side effects. Call the doctor right away if any of these effects bother your child, do not get better, or are severe.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your child’s doctor. Call your child’s doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to your national health agency.

How is this drug best given?

Give this drug as ordered by your child’s doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

Cabometyx:

• Give this drug on an empty stomach. Give at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after your child eats.

Omcazio:

• Give this drug with or without food.
• Do not open the capsules.

All products:

• Have your child swallow whole. Do not let your child chew, break, or crush.
• Give this drug with a full glass of water.
• Keep giving this drug to your child as you have been told by your child’s doctor or other health care provider, even if your child feels well.

What do I do if my child misses a dose?

• Give a missed dose as soon as you think about it and go back to your child’s normal time.
• If it is less than 12 hours until your child’s next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your child’s normal time.
• Do not give 2 doses at the same time or within 12 hours of each other.

How do I store and/or throw out this drug?

• Store at room temperature in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

General drug facts

• If your child’s symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your child’s doctor.
• Do not share your child’s drug with others and do not give anyone else’s drug to your child.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with your child’s doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider’s examination and assessment of a patient’s specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms.

Last Reviewed Date

2026-10-08

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