Patient Education • Cervical Cancer
TIVDAK® (tisotumab vedotin-tftv)
Easy-to-read guide for patients receiving TIVDAK at our infusion center.
Most Important Safety Warning: TIVDAK can cause serious eye problems, including ulcers, vision changes, or permanent vision loss. Please follow the eye-care steps exactly and report any new eye symptoms right away.
What is TIVDAK?
TIVDAK treats adults with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer after chemotherapy. It is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC): a targeted antibody delivers a cell-killing medicine (MMAE) into cancer cells.
How given:
Intravenous (IV) infusion over ~30 minutes, every 3 weeks
Typical dose:
2 mg per kg (max 200 mg for ≥100 kg)
Eye Care Steps (Required)
Please complete each step for every dose:
- Eye exams: Before starting and before each dose (first 9 cycles), then as advised.
- Steroid eye drops: Use as prescribed—one drop in each eye before infusion and 3×/day for 72 hours after each infusion.
- Vasoconstrictor eye drops: Used immediately before infusion (clinic-directed).
- Cold eye pads: Worn during infusion to protect the eyes.
- Lubricating (artificial tears): Use regularly throughout treatment and for 30 days after your last dose.
- No contact lenses during treatment unless cleared by your eye-care provider.
Call right away for any new/worsening blurred vision, eye pain, redness, discharge, or gritty/foreign-body sensation.
Before You Start
Tell your care team if you have:
- Eye problems or wear contact lenses
- Numbness/tingling/weakness in hands or feet
- Bleeding or blood-clotting problems
- Liver or kidney problems
- Are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding
- All medicines you take (prescription, OTC, vitamins, herbal); especially drugs that strongly affect CYP3A4
Pregnancy & Birth Control: Can harm an unborn baby. Use effective contraception—women during treatment and for 2 months after; men with partners who can become pregnant during treatment and for 4 months after. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 3 weeks after the last dose.
Possible Side Effects
Common (may affect ≥1 in 4 people)
- Eye problems (conjunctivitis, dry eye), tearing
- Numbness/tingling (peripheral neuropathy)
- Tiredness, nausea, constipation
- Hair loss
- Nosebleeds; other bleeding
- Increased liver enzymes (AST/ALT)
Serious (call immediately or seek urgent care)
- Severe eye toxicity (ulcers, sudden vision changes, severe pain)
- Peripheral neuropathy (worsening numbness, burning, weakness)
- Bleeding (vomiting blood, black/tarry stools, blood in urine/sputum)
- Pneumonitis (new/worsening shortness of breath, cough, fever)
- Severe skin reactions (blistering/peeling rash, sores in mouth/eyes, fever)
- Infection/sepsis (fever, chills, confusion)
How We Monitor Your Safety
- Eye exams (as above)
- Blood counts (CBC)
- Liver and kidney tests
- Neurologic checks for numbness/tingling/weakness
- Assessment of breathing if cough or shortness of breath develops
- Skin checks for rashes or sores
Your dose may be delayed, reduced, or stopped depending on side effects.
Tips to Stay Safe
- Use all eye drops as instructed; never skip the post-infusion steroid-drop schedule.
- Report symptoms early—especially eye symptoms, numbness/tingling, bleeding, cough, or rash.
- Avoid contact lenses unless your eye-care provider says it’s safe.
- Use a soft toothbrush; minimize injury/bleeding risk; check before using NSAIDs.
- Keep an updated list of your medicines and bring it to every visit.
This handout summarizes key points for patients receiving TIVDAK. It does not replace the Medication Guide or advice from your care team. If instructions here differ from your care team's instructions, follow your care team’s guidance.