frequently asked questions
about COMETRIQ

  • How does COMETRIQ work to treat MTC?

    COMETRIQ may work in 3 important ways

    How does COMETRIQ work?

    With this triple action, COMETRIQ may temporarily stop the growth of, and even shrink, MTC tumors.

    COMETRIQ treatment may not only target cancer cells.

    • Other parts of your body may also be affected by your treatment with COMETRIQ, which could result in side effects

    Please click here to see Important Safety Information for COMETRIQ and click here to see the full Prescribing Information.

  • What are the benefits of taking COMETRIQ?

    In a clinical study, COMETRIQ was shown to help people with MTC that had spread to other parts of the body.

    COMETRIQ may help to:

    • Delay the growth of MTC tumors in some people
    • Shrink MTC tumors in some people

    COMETRIQ does not work for everyone. COMETRIQ was not shown to help people with metastatic MTC live longer.

    Please click here to see Important Safety Information for COMETRIQ and click here to see the full Prescribing Information.

  • What are the risks of taking COMETRIQ?

    To learn more, please click here to see Important Safety Information for COMETRIQ and click here to see the full Prescribing Information.

Taking COMETRIQ

  • How do I take COMETRIQ?

    COMETRIQ comes in 80 mg and 20 mg capsules. Your healthcare provider will tell you how many of each capsule to take.

    Remember:

    Do not eat food for at least 2 hours before or 1 hour after taking COMETRIQ
    • Do not take COMETRIQ with food. Do not eat for at least 2 hours before and at least 1 hour after taking COMETRIQ
    • Swallow COMETRIQ capsules whole with at least 8 ounces of water. Do not crush, open, or chew COMETRIQ capsules. Take all capsules that make up your dose, swallowing each capsule individually
    • Take COMETRIQ exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it

    Do NOT substitute COMETRIQ capsules with cabozantinib tablets.

    Call your healthcare provider if you have any problems or experience side effects.

    Please click here to see Important Safety Information for COMETRIQ and click here to see the full Prescribing Information.

  • What can I do to help me remember to take my dose every day?

    Take COMETRIQ at the same time every day. You'll need to figure out what works best for you and fits in with your daily schedule.

    Suggestions for scheduling COMETRIQ around meals

    If you take COMETRIQ at bedtime

    Do not eat for at least 2 hours before bedtime, then take your dose just before bedtime

    If you take COMETRIQ when you wake up

    Take your dose as soon as you get up in the morning, then wait for at least 1 hour before having breakfast

    If you take COMETRIQ during the day

    After a meal, wait for at least 2 hours before taking your dose and make sure you don't eat again for at least 1 hour

    Do NOT substitute COMETRIQ capsules with cabozantinib tablets.

    Remember to also think about days when your routine is different, such as weekends or days off. Try to be as consistent as possible.

    Store at room temperature
    Set up reminders on your phone or computer, or have someone remind you
    Keep out of reach of children
    Bring your medicine with you when you travel

    Call your healthcare provider immediately if you take more than your prescribed dose of COMETRIQ.

    Click here to learn what to do if you miss your scheduled dose.

    Please click here to see Important Safety Information for COMETRIQ and click here to see the full Prescribing Information.

  • Is there anything I should avoid while taking COMETRIQ?

    Store at room temperature
    Keep in mind that COMETRIQ may make you feel tired or weak
    Keep out of reach of children
    You should NOT drink or eat anything that contains grapefruit or grapefruit juice or St. John's wort

    Please click here to see Important Safety Information for COMETRIQ and click here to see the full Prescribing Information.

  • I forgot to take my dose—what should I do?

    If you miss a dose and your next dose is in
    LESS than 12 hours
    DO NOT TAKE
    the missed dose.
    Take your next
    dose at the
    normal time.

    Do NOT substitute COMETRIQ capsules with cabozantinib tablets.

    Call your healthcare provider if you have questions about a missed dose.

    Please click here to see Important Safety Information for COMETRIQ and click here to see the full Prescribing Information.

  • What should I do if I take more than my prescribed dose of COMETRIQ?

    Call your healthcare provider right away if you have taken too much COMETRIQ.

    Please click here to see Important Safety Information for COMETRIQ and click here to see the full Prescribing Information.

Managing side effects

  • What should I do if I begin to have side effects?

    Talk to your healthcare provider if you experience any side effects during treatment. Your healthcare provider may be able to help.

    Read more about the most common side effects of COMETRIQ. You can also click here for additional Important Safety Information for COMETRIQ and click here to see the full Prescribing Information.

    You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Dose reductions and interruptions

  • Will my healthcare provider reduce or stop my dose because of side effects?

    Talk to your healthcare provider if you are experiencing side effects. Your healthcare provider may reduce or stop your dose to help manage them.

    Please click here to see Important Safety Information for COMETRIQ and click here to see the full Prescribing Information.

Getting support

  • What if I need help paying for COMETRIQ?

    Exelixis Access Services® (EASE) is your resource for questions and needs related to financial assistance for COMETRIQ*

    You can contact EASE by calling 1-844-900-EASE (1-844-900-3273).

    *Restrictions and eligibility rules apply.

    Please click here to see Important Safety Information for COMETRIQ and click here to see the full Prescribing Information.

COMETRIQ® (Ko-me-trik) cabozantinib capsules

INDICATION AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What are the possible side effects of COMETRIQ?

COMETRIQ may cause serious side effects, including:

  • A tear in your stomach or intestinal wall (perforation), or an abnormal connection between 2 parts of your body (fistula) that may lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get tenderness or pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that is severe or that does not go away.
  • Bleeding (hemorrhage). COMETRIQ can cause severe bleeding that may lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any signs of bleeding during treatment with COMETRIQ, including:
    • coughing up blood or blood clots
    • vomiting blood or if your vomit looks like coffee grounds
    • red or black (looks like tar) stools
    • menstrual bleeding that is heavier than normal
    • any unusual or heavy bleeding
  • Blood clots, stroke, heart attack, and chest pain. Get emergency help right away if you get:
    • swelling or pain in your arms or legs
    • shortness of breath
    • light-headed or faint
    • sweating more than usual
    • numbness or weakness of your face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of your body
    • sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
    • sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
    • sudden trouble walking
    • dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
    • a sudden severe headache
  • Wound healing problems. Wound healing problems have happened in some people who take COMETRIQ. Tell your healthcare provider if you plan to have any surgery before or during treatment with COMETRIQ.
    • You should stop taking COMETRIQ at least 3 weeks before planned surgery.
    • Your healthcare provider should tell you when you may start taking COMETRIQ again after surgery.
  • High blood pressure (hypertension). Hypertension is common with COMETRIQ and can be severe. Your healthcare provider will check your blood pressure before you start and regularly during treatment with COMETRIQ. If needed, your healthcare provider may prescribe medicine to treat your high blood pressure. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop severe headaches, nose bleeds, tiredness or confusion, vision changes, chest pain, trouble breathing, irregular heartbeat, or blood in your urine.
  • Severe jaw bone problems (osteonecrosis). Your healthcare provider should examine your mouth before you start and during treatment with COMETRIQ. Tell your dentist that you are taking COMETRIQ. It is important for you to practice good mouth care during treatment with COMETRIQ. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any symptoms of jaw problems including: jaw pain, toothache, or sores on your gums.
  • Diarrhea. Diarrhea is common with COMETRIQ and can be severe. If needed, your healthcare provider may prescribe medicine to treat your diarrhea. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have frequent loose, watery bowel movements.
  • A skin problem called hand-foot skin reaction. Hand-foot skin reactions are common with COMETRIQ and can be severe. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have rashes, redness, pain, swelling, or blisters on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet.
  • Protein in your urine and possible kidney problems. Symptoms may include swelling in your hands, arms, legs, or feet.
  • Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS). A condition that affects circulation in the brain called RPLS can happen during treatment with COMETRIQ. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have headaches, seizures, confusion, changes in vision, or problems thinking.
  • Decreased calcium level in your blood (hypocalcemia). COMETRIQ can cause you to have a decreased amount of calcium in your blood. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check you for this problem and give you calcium if needed. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms:
    • muscle stiffness or muscle spasms
    • numbness or tingling in your fingers, toes, or around your mouth
    • seizures
    • sudden weight gain
    • swelling of your arms, hands, legs, and ankles

Your healthcare provider may change your dose, temporarily stop, or permanently stop treatment with COMETRIQ if you have certain side effects.

The most common side effects of COMETRIQ include:

  • diarrhea
  • redness, swelling or pain in your mouth or throat, or mouth sores. Tell your healthcare provider if these symptoms prevent you from eating or drinking
  • weight loss
  • decreased appetite
  • nausea
  • tiredness
  • hair color turning lighter
  • change in taste
  • pain in your abdomen
  • constipation

The most common abnormal blood test results with COMETRIQ include:

  • increased liver function blood tests
  • decreased white blood cell counts
  • increased levels of enzyme called alkaline phosphatase in the blood (test for liver or bone problems)
  • decreased calcium and phosphate blood levels
  • decreased platelet counts
  • increased bilirubin blood levels

COMETRIQ may cause fertility problems in females and males, which may affect your ability to have children. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about fertility.

These are not all the possible side effects of COMETRIQ.

Before you take COMETRIQ, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have a recent history of coughing up blood or bleeding, or any unusual bleeding
  • have an open or healing wound
  • have high blood pressure
  • have a low calcium level in your blood (hypocalcemia)
  • plan to have any surgery, a dental procedure, or have had a recent surgery. You should stop taking COMETRIQ at least 3 weeks before planned surgery. See “What are the possible side effects of COMETRIQ?”
  • have liver problems
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. COMETRIQ can harm your unborn baby.
    • If you are able to become pregnant, your healthcare provider will check your pregnancy status before you start treatment with COMETRIQ.
    • Females who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment and for 4 months after the final dose of COMETRIQ.
    • Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that may be right for you.
    • If you become pregnant or think you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider right away.
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if COMETRIQ passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 4 months after the final dose of COMETRIQ.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. COMETRIQ and certain other medicines may affect each other, causing side effects.

What should I avoid while taking COMETRIQ?

Do not drink grapefruit juice, eat grapefruit or take supplements that contain grapefruit or St. John’s wort during treatment with COMETRIQ.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is COMETRIQ?

COMETRIQ is a prescription medicine used to treat people with medullary thyroid cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

It is not known if COMETRIQ is safe and effective in children.

Please see the Patient Information in the accompanying full Prescribing Information.

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