Votrient (pazopanib) is a prescription drug used to treat certain types of cancer. Votrient can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. Examples include diarrhea and high blood pressure.

Specifically, Votrient is prescribed for adults in certain situations to treat:

The active ingredient in Votrient is pazopanib. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) The drug comes as an oral tablet.

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects Votrient can cause. For a general overview of the drug, including details about its uses, see this article.

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during Votrient treatment. Examples of the drug’s more commonly reported side effects include:

  • diarrhea
  • high blood pressure
  • nausea and vomiting
  • reduced appetite
  • change in hair color, such as your hair turning white

Mild side effects have been reported with Votrient. These include:

  • diarrhea
  • nausea and vomiting
  • abdominal pain
  • indigestion (upset stomach)
  • reduced appetite
  • weight loss
  • fatigue (low energy)
  • weakness
  • headache
  • pain in your muscles, bones, or joints
  • tumor pain
  • hair loss
  • change in hair color, such as your hair turning white
  • change in skin color, such as your skin losing pigment and becoming lighter
  • skin rash
  • bitter, sour, or metallic taste in your mouth
  • shortness of breath
  • mild allergic reaction*†

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking Votrient unless your doctor recommends it.

Votrient may cause mild side effects other than those listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after taking Votrient, but this side effect wasn’t reported in studies.

Serious side effects have been reported with Votrient. These include:

If you develop serious side effects while taking Votrient, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after taking Votrient, but this side effect wasn’t reported in studies.

Note: After the FDA approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Votrient, visit MedWatch.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Votrient’s side effects.

How long do side effects of Votrient usually last?

It depends. Some mild side effects may get better in a few days to weeks as your body gets used to the drug. But others may continue throughout Votrient treatment. And if you have serious side effects, these may sometimes last a long time.

How long side effects last can vary depending on many factors, including your age, other medical conditions, and your general health.

If you have Votrient side effects that don’t ease after a few days to weeks, talk with your doctor. They may be able to recommend ways to treat, reduce, or manage any problems.

If you’re concerned about how long side effects may last with Votrient, talk with your doctor. They can give you a better idea of what you can expect with this treatment.

Does Votrient cause long-term side effects?

It’s possible. Long-term side effects include those that may start at any time while you’re taking a drug, even if you’ve taken it for a long time. It also includes side effects that may not go away even after you stop taking the drug.

Examples of long-term side effects reported in Votrient’s studies include:

  • liver damage*
  • heart failure
  • changes in hair color

Talk with your doctor to learn more about possible side effects of Votrient and how long they may last.

* Votrient has a boxed warning for the risk of liver damage. To learn more, see the section just below.

Learn more about some of the side effects Votrient may cause.

Risk of liver damage

Votrient has a boxed warning for the risk of liver damage that can be severe or even fatal. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Changes in liver function in tests were a common side effect reported in studies of Votrient. These changes can be a sign of liver damage. Severe liver damage, liver failure, and death due to liver damage were rare in Votrient studies.

Liver damage may cause symptoms such as:

  • nausea and vomiting
  • pain in the upper-right part of your abdomen
  • loss of appetite
  • tiredness
  • dark-colored urine
  • bruising more easily than usual
  • jaundice (yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes)

A factor that can increase the risk of liver damage when taking this drug is being aged 65 years or older.

What might help

Your doctor will order frequent blood tests to monitor your liver function while you’re taking Votrient. But if you have symptoms of liver damage during Votrient treatment, contact your doctor. They’ll likely order more tests to check your liver function.

If you have liver damage, your doctor may reduce your Votrient dosage or have you stop taking the drug to let your liver recover. But if the damage is severe or doesn’t get better, they may permanently stop your Votrient treatment.

Blood clots

Blood clots were a rare side effect reported in studies of Votrient. Blood clots can occur in your arteries, causing a heart attack, stroke, or transient ischemic attack (ministroke). They can also occur in your veins, causing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE), which is a blood clot in the lungs.

Votrient can also cause a condition called thrombotic microangiopathy, which involves blood clots in small blood vessels in your body. This can damage organs such as your kidneys and brain. With this condition, you may also have reduced levels of red blood cells and platelets.

Symptoms of blood clots can vary depending on their location in your body. They may include:

  • chest pain, pressure, or tightness that may spread to your back, arm, neck, or jaw
  • difficulty breathing
  • dizziness
  • sudden weakness or numbness on one side of your face or body
  • difficulty speaking
  • pain, swelling, or skin discoloration in an arm or leg
  • bruising or tiny red or purple spots on your skin
  • confusion
  • weakness
  • seizure

Factors that can increase your risk of blood clots when taking this drug include having a history of blood clots, heart attack, or stroke.

What might help

If you have symptoms of a blood clot while taking Votrient, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. You’ll need to receive emergency treatment in a hospital.

If you have a DVT or PE, your doctor may pause your Votrient treatment until the clot has been treated. In severe cases, your doctor may permanently stop your Votrient treatment. If you’ve had a heart attack or stroke, or you have thrombotic microangiopathy, your doctor will permanently stop your Votrient treatment.

If you have questions or concerns about the risk of blood clots with Votrient, talk with your doctor.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Votrient can cause an allergic reaction in some people. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies. Symptoms can be mild to serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin (usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet)
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms. Examples include:

  • an oral antihistamine, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • a product you apply to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a mild allergic reaction to Votrient, they’ll decide whether you should continue taking it.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Votrient, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Keeping track of side effects

During your Votrient treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. You can then share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start taking a new drug or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug you were taking when you had the side effect
  • how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your symptoms were
  • how your symptoms affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how Votrient affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Below is important information you should consider before starting Votrient.

Boxed warning: Risk of liver damage

Votrient has a boxed warning for the risk of liver damage. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. Votrient can cause liver damage that can be severe or even fatal. Your doctor will monitor your liver function while you’re taking Votrient.

To learn more, see the “Side effects explained” section above.

Other warnings

Votrient can sometimes cause harmful effects in people with certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Votrient is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before taking Votrient. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

  • liver problems
  • kidney problems
  • dehydration (low fluid level)
  • being older than age 65 years
  • heart problems, such as long QT syndrome, slow or irregular heart rate, heart failure, or coronary artery disease
  • history of heart attack or stroke
  • high blood pressure
  • electrolyte disturbances
  • history of bleeding in your lungs, brain, or digestive system
  • underactive thyroid
  • large amount of cancer in your body or cancer that’s spreading quickly
  • past allergic reaction to Votrient
  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding
  • recent or upcoming surgery

Alcohol and Votrient

There are no known interactions between alcohol and Votrient. However, Votrient and alcohol can cause some similar side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, and headache. So you may have an increased risk of these side effects if you drink alcohol while taking Votrient.

Additionally, Votrient can cause liver damage.* Drinking alcohol could worsen any effect Votrient has on your liver.

If you have questions about consuming alcohol during Votrient treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* Votrient has a boxed warning for the risk of liver damage. To learn more, see the “Side effects explained” section above.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding with Votrient

Votrient is usually prescribed for someone who’s pregnant or breastfeeding only if the benefits of treatment outweigh the potential risks to the fetus or child.

Pregnancy

Votrient is not safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your treatment options.

If you’re able to become pregnant, your doctor may recommend using a form of birth control during Votrient treatment. They’ll likely recommend that you use it while taking Votrient and for 2 weeks after you’ve stopped.

If you’re male* and your sexual partner is able to become pregnant, your doctor will likely recommend using condoms throughout Votrient treatment and for 2 weeks after your treatment ends.

* In this article, we use the term “male” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

Breastfeeding

Votrient is not safe to take while breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed while taking Votrient and for 2 weeks after your treatment ends. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor about your options.

Like most drugs, Votrient can cause a number of side effects that range from mild to serious. However, most are temporary and go away after a few days to weeks. If you have questions about side effects that Votrient can cause, talk with your doctor. Examples of questions to help get you started include:

  • How often do serious side effects occur with Votrient?
  • Do I have a higher risk of side effects than other people?
  • Can my other treatment options cause similar side effects?

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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein 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.