Can’t I stop taking axitinib/axitinib?

Axitinib/Axitinib is a targeted therapy drug mainly used for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. When using axitinib, patients are often concerned about whether they can stop the drug at will, or under what circumstances they need to stop the drug.

In general, the use of axitinib is based on an individualized treatment plan. Doctors usually determine the duration of medication based on the patient's specific condition, response to treatment, and tolerance. In the early stages of treatment, patients may continue to take axitinib as recommended by their doctor in order to obtain the best therapeutic effect. The mechanism of action of this drug mainly prevents tumor growth by inhibiting angiogenesis. Therefore, continuous administration helps maintain the effective concentration of the drug in the body and ensures its anti-tumor effect.

However, axitinib is not a lifelong medication. In some cases, if a patient experiences significant adverse reactions during treatment or detects tumor progression, doctors may recommend that the patient discontinue medication or adjust the medication regimen. Adverse reactions may include hypertension, fatigue, oral ulcers, rash, etc., which may affect the patient's quality of life and medication tolerance.

In addition, some patients may experience tumor stabilization or partial remission after a certain cycle of treatment. In this case, the doctor may consider adjusting the treatment strategy or even conducting "discontinuation observation" to evaluate whether the tumor has further developed. During this process, doctors will closely monitor the patient's health and conduct regular imaging examinations to determine changes in the tumor. Through professional medical guidance, patients can better manage the treatment process, improve their quality of life, and obtain the best treatment results.

Reference materials:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7265645/