Cabometyx (cabozantinib) is a brand-name oral tablet that’s prescribed for certain types of cancer in adults and some children. Cabometyx is typically taken once per day. The dosage can vary depending on certain factors.

Specifically, Cabometyx is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the following types of cancer in adults:

It’s also prescribed to treat differentiated thyroid cancer in adults and children ages 12 years and older. For this use, the cancer must be advanced or metastatic and ineligible for other treatments.

Cabometyx belongs to a drug class called tyrosine kinase inhibitors. It isn’t available in a generic version.

Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Cabometyx, including its strengths and how to take the medication. For a comprehensive look at Cabometyx, see this article.

Note: This article describes typical dosages for Cabometyx provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Cabometyx, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

Below is information about Cabometyx’s form, strengths, and dosages.

Cabometyx form

Cabometyx comes as an oral tablet.

Cabometyx strengths

Cabometyx comes in three strengths:

  • 20 milligrams (mg)
  • 40 mg
  • 60 mg

Typical dosages

Your doctor will prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly prescribed or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for advanced renal cell carcinoma

Doctors may prescribe Cabometyx to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). For this use, Cabometyx may be prescribed alone or with the immunotherapy drug Opdivo (nivolumab).

If your doctor prescribes Cabometyx alone for your RCC, your dosage will likely be 60 mg, taken once per day. This is the maximum dosage of Cabometyx that the drug’s manufacturer recommends.

In some cases, your doctor may prescribe Cabometyx with Opdivo. In this case, the recommended dosage of Cabometyx is 40 mg once per day.

For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor. To learn more about the dosage for Opdivo with or without Cabometyx, see this article.

Dosage for hepatocellular carcinoma

Cabometyx is also approved to help treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The recommended dosage for HCC is 60 mg once per day.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your dosage.

Dosage for differentiated thyroid cancer

Cabometyx may be prescribed to help treat certain forms of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) in adults.

For this use, the recommended dose of Cabometyx depends on your body surface area (BSA). Your doctor or pharmacist will calculate your BSA based on your height and weight. It’s typically measured in square meters (m2).

If your BSA is greater than or equal to 1.2 m2, your dosage of Cabometyx will likely be 60 mg, taken once per day.

If your BSA is less than 1.2 m2, your dose of Cabometyx will likely be 40 mg once per day.

Children’s dosage

Doctors may also prescribe Cabometyx to treat DTC in children ages 12 years and older. It’s not approved to treat any other form of cancer in children.

As with adults, your child’s dosage will be based on their BSA. Cabometyx dosages for children are typically the same as those for adults.

If your child’s BSA is greater than or equal to 1.2 m2, their dose will likely be 60 mg. They’ll usually take this dose once per day.

If your child’s BSA is less than 1.2 m2, their Cabometyx dose will likely be 40 mg once per day.

If you have questions or concerns about your child’s dosage, talk with their doctor.

Long-term treatment

Cabometyx is meant to be taken as a long-term treatment. You’ll usually take Cabometyx for as long as it continues to work for your condition. If you and your doctor determine that Cabometyx is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.

Before you start taking Cabometyx, your doctor will discuss your treatment plan with you.

The Cabometyx dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

  • your body weight
  • your height
  • your liver function
  • the condition you’re taking Cabometyx to treat
  • other medications you take, including those prescribed with Cabometyx

Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Cabometyx dosage.

Dosage adjustments

Your doctor may need to adjust your dosage if you take certain medications, such as a CYP3A4 inhibitor or inducer. CYP3A4 is a liver enzyme that helps your body break down medications. If you take one of these medications, it may affect how well your body can remove Cabometyx from your system.

For similar reasons, your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage of Cabometyx if you have liver damage. If your liver doesn’t work as well as expected, it could cause this drug to build up in your body.

Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take and any health conditions you may have. They’ll prescribe the safest treatment option for you.

Cabometyx comes as an oral tablet that you swallow whole. Do not divide, crush, chew, or place the tablet in water. Be sure to take your dose on an empty stomach. This means taking your dose at least 1 hour before a meal or at least 2 hours after.

It may be helpful to take Cabometyx around the same time of day. This helps maintain a steady level of the drug in your body so that it can work effectively.

If you have trouble swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication.

If you have questions about how to take Cabometyx, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERS

Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.

If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Cabometyx in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.

If you miss a dose of Cabometyx, take it as soon as you remember. However, if your next scheduled dose is within 12 hours, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed one.

If you’re not sure whether you should take a missed dose or skip it, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your bathroom mirror or bedside table. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.

It’s important that you do not take more Cabometyx than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

Symptoms of an overdose

Overdose symptoms of Cabometyx can include:

If you take more than the recommended amount of Cabometyx

Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Cabometyx. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

Below are some frequently asked questions about Cabometyx.

How long does it take for Cabometyx to start working?

Cabometyx starts to work after your first dose. Because of how the drug works, you likely won’t feel the drug working in your body. But your doctor will monitor you during treatment to check whether the drug is working to treat your condition.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what to expect with Cabometyx treatment.

Is there a typical dosage range for Cabometyx?

Yes, the typical recommended dosage range for Cabometyx is 20–60 mg. In most cases, you’ll take this dose once per day. However, if your doctor needs to reduce your dose more than once, you’ll likely start taking Cabometyx every other day.

Your dose will depend on many factors, including the condition that you’re taking Cabometyx to treat and any other medications that you’re taking. Your doctor may also adjust your dosage based on any side effects you experience during treatment.

For more information about Cabometyx dosages, see the “Cabometyx dosage” section above. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Cabometyx for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.

As with any drug, never change your dosage of Cabometyx without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Cabometyx that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Cabometyx. These additional articles might be helpful:

  • More about Cabometyx: For information about other aspects of Cabometyx, refer to this article.
  • Details about your condition: For details about the types of cancer Cabometyx is prescribed to treat, see our cancer hub.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.