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Drug · FAERS side-effect profile with label screen

Sorafenib side effects: what 20,648 FDA adverse event reports show

Sorafenib · 1,087 reaction terms · 86,231 drug–reaction co-reports · data 2026-09-14
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Drug class

Kinase Inhibitor

FDA label (Established Pharmacologic Class) · compare the class

Who reports

20,648 reports · 89% serious · 5,087 with death outcome · 29% female

openFDA FAERS counts, all years, deduplication not applied

Used for

Sorafenib tablets are a kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of • Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma ( 1.1 ) • Advanced renal cell carcinoma ( 1.2 ) • Locally recurrent or metastatic, progressive, differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) refra.

FDA label, Indications and Usage

What it is

Sorafenib, a kinase inhibitor, is the tosylate salt of sorafenib. Sorafenib tosylate has the chemical name 4-(4-{3-[4-Chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ureido}phenoxy)- N 2 -methylpyridine-2 carboxamide mono(4-methylbenzenesulfonate).

FDA label, Description section

Boxed warning

None in the current label

How to read this page. FAERS is a spontaneous-reporting system: counts are not incidence rates and a signal is not proof of causation. Each reaction below is run through an automated screen — is the term in the FDA label (known), in the indications (the disease being treated), an administrative/coding term, or none of these (unlabeled)? That screen is mechanical text matching, not a causality assessment. The 30 hand-written Bradford Hill assessments are on the causality assessment page. Not medical advice.

Causality screen of the 40 strongest signals

Labeled adverse reaction 1Labeled (related wording) 15Likely indication confounding 3Lab value / disease marker 3Not in label — unassessed 18
What the badges mean

Strongest disproportionality signals

Flagged terms (PRR ≥ 2, χ² ≥ 4, n ≥ 10), ranked by PRR; infinite PRRs (no comparator reports) excluded. The EBGM column is a second, shrinkage-based estimate (MGPS) with its 5th percentile EB05 and the BCPNN IC025; a pair flagged by PRR alone is marked PRR-only and should be read as fragile. The strata column recomputes the PRR on serious reports only (and, for the 300 most-reported drugs, adjusted for age band), and flags pairs whose reports are unusually skewed by sex or come mostly from consumers. Each row also shows the PRR against the other drugs of the same FDA class, which removes most confounding by the condition being treated, and a calibrated p-value: on validation, known non-causes average an ROR of about 2, so significance is judged against that empirical null (✓ = p < 0.05 after calibration). 1,047 further terms are in the interactive explorer. Reaction links open the term's cross-drug page.

Show:
ReactionReportsPRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/pEBGM EB05 · IC025Label screenSerious-only & strataTrial cross-check
Hepatocellular carcinoma1,899337.6
321.0–354.9ROR 371.7 · calibrated p 1e-12 ✓
252.1 EB05 242.7 · IC025 +7.8
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 1,071.6 (882.4–1,301.5)
Likely indication confounding
term in indications; also in warnings
serious PRR 163.1no trial data cached
Protein induced by vitamin k absence or antagonist ii increased17309.5
179.7–533.0ROR 309.7 · calibrated p 1e-10 ✓
187.2 EB05 123.8 · IC025 +4.1
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: only this drug
Lab value / disease markerserious n=17no trial data cached
Alpha 1 foetoprotein increased144257.0
214.1–308.5ROR 258.8 · calibrated p 5e-11 ✓
199.3 EB05 173.5 · IC025 +6.6
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: only this drug
Lab value / disease markerserious n=142no trial data cached
Liver carcinoma ruptured44214.9
155.2–297.5ROR 215.3 · calibrated p 6e-10 ✓
164.6 EB05 127.6 · IC025 +5.4
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: only this drug
Not in label — unassessedserious n=44 · 100% clinicianno trial data cached
Oral lichenoid reaction10122.1
63.3–235.4ROR 122.2 · calibrated p 4e-7 ✓
90.6 EB05 52.6 · IC025 +3.1
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: only this drug
Not in label — unassessedserious n=10no trial data cached
Palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome2,165103.6
99.3–108.1ROR 115.6 · calibrated p 4e-8 ✓
93.9 EB05 90.6 · IC025 +6.5
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 56.4 (53.3–59.7)
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 73.8no trial data cached
Tumour thrombosis21103.1
65.8–161.5ROR 103.2 · calibrated p 3e-7 ✓
86.4 EB05 59.6 · IC025 +4.2
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: only this drug
Not in label — unassessedserious n=21no trial data cached
Poikiloderma10102.2
53.3–195.8ROR 102.2 · calibrated p 1e-6 ✓
79.3 EB05 46.0 · IC025 +3.0
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: only this drug
Not in label — unassessedserious n=10no trial data cached
Pneumonia adenoviral1480.1
46.5–138.0ROR 80.1 · calibrated p 3e-6 ✓
67.7 EB05 42.8 · IC025 +3.5
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: only this drug
Not in label — unassessedserious n=14no trial data cached
Desmoid tumour1579.0
46.7–133.7ROR 79.1 · calibrated p 3e-6 ✓
67.3 EB05 43.3 · IC025 +3.6
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: only this drug
Not in label — unassessedserious n=15no trial data cached
Blood amylase increased11471.3
59.0–86.2ROR 71.7 · calibrated p 2e-6 ✓
65.9 EB05 56.4 · IC025 +5.4
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 1,147.3 (504.9–2,607.1)
Lab value / disease markerserious n=108 · 100% clinicianno trial data cached
Palmoplantar keratoderma4770.9
52.7–95.2ROR 71.0 · calibrated p 2e-6 ✓
64.6 EB05 50.5 · IC025 +4.8
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 149.4 (87.7–254.4)
Not in label — unassessedserious n=46no trial data cached
Adenoviral hepatitis1465.2
38.0–111.9ROR 65.2 · calibrated p 1e-5 ✓
56.8 EB05 35.9 · IC025 +3.4
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: only this drug
Not in label — unassessedserious n=14no trial data cached
Metastatic renal cell carcinoma10460.3
49.5–73.4ROR 60.6 · calibrated p 5e-6 ✓
56.4 EB05 47.8 · IC025 +5.2
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 11.0 (8.9–13.5)
Likely indication confounding
term in indications; also in warnings
serious n=99no trial data cached
Metastases to adrenals5159.6
45.0–79.1ROR 59.8 · calibrated p 6e-6 ✓
55.2 EB05 43.7 · IC025 +4.7
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 18.1 (13.3–24.8)
Not in label — unassessedserious n=51no trial data cached
Acute myeloid leukaemia recurrent11859.5
49.5–71.6ROR 59.9 · calibrated p 5e-6 ✓
55.8 EB05 47.8 · IC025 +5.2
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 139.7 (100.6–194.0)
Not in label — unassessedserious n=118no trial data cached
Renal cell carcinoma27359.5
52.7–67.1ROR 60.3 · calibrated p 4e-6 ✓
56.0 EB05 50.6 · IC025 +5.5
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 21.4 (18.7–24.6)
Likely indication confounding
term in indications; also in warnings
serious n=268no trial data cached
Food refusal4658.5
43.5–78.8ROR 58.6 · calibrated p 8e-6 ✓
54.2 EB05 42.3 · IC025 +4.6
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: only this drug
Not in label — unassessedserious n=46no trial data cached
Hyperkeratosis24647.2
41.6–53.6ROR 47.8 · calibrated p 2e-5 ✓
45.0 EB05 40.5 · IC025 +5.2
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 38.5 (32.8–45.1)
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious n=208no trial data cached
Therapeutic embolisation1447.2
27.6–80.6ROR 47.2 · calibrated p 6e-5 ✓
42.7 EB05 27.0 · IC025 +3.3
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: only this drug
Not in label — unassessedserious n=14no trial data cached
Scrotal ulcer1144.1
24.1–80.6ROR 44.1 · calibrated p 1e-4 ✓
39.6 EB05 23.6 · IC025 +2.9
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: only this drug
Not in label — unassessed–no trial data cached
Abdominal cavity drainage1639.8
24.2–65.7ROR 39.9 · calibrated p 1e-4 ✓
36.8 EB05 24.0 · IC025 +3.3
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: only this drug
Not in label — unassessedserious n=16no trial data cached
Keratoacanthoma2538.7
26.0–57.8ROR 38.8 · calibrated p 1e-4 ✓
36.4 EB05 25.9 · IC025 +3.8
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 14.4 (9.3–22.2)
Not in label — unassessedserious n=24no trial data cached
Metastases to pancreas1638.0
23.0–62.5ROR 38.0 · calibrated p 2e-4 ✓
35.2 EB05 23.0 · IC025 +3.3
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 12.2 (7.1–20.9)
Not in label — unassessedserious n=16no trial data cached
Metastases to lung39536.0
32.6–39.7ROR 36.6 · calibrated p 9e-5 ✓
34.7 EB05 31.9 · IC025 +4.9
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 10.8 (9.7–12.0)
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 22.6no trial data cached

Trial evidence (ClinicalTrials.gov)

Trial cross-check not yet run for this drug (ClinicalTrials.gov pull covers the 800 most-reported drugs first).

Most frequently reported reactions

By raw co-report count, regardless of disproportionality. Common terms here are often the illness itself or generic outcomes.

ReactionReportsPRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/pEBGM EB05 · IC025Label screenSerious-only & strataTrial cross-check
Diarrhoea (diarrhea)2,9584.7
4.5–4.8ROR 5.3 · calibrated p 0.204
4.7 EB05 4.5 · IC025 +2.2
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 5.9 (5.7–6.1)
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 4.7no trial data cached
Palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome2,165103.6
99.3–108.1ROR 115.6 · calibrated p 4e-8 ✓
93.9 EB05 90.6 · IC025 +6.5
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 56.4 (53.3–59.7)
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 73.8no trial data cached
Hepatocellular carcinoma1,899337.6
321.0–354.9ROR 371.7 · calibrated p 1e-12 ✓
252.1 EB05 242.7 · IC025 +7.8
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 1,071.6 (882.4–1,301.5)
Likely indication confounding
term in indications; also in warnings
serious PRR 163.1no trial data cached
Fatigue (tiredness)1,7962.4
2.2–2.5ROR 2.5 · calibrated p 0.822
2.3 EB05 2.3 · IC025 +1.2
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 2.7 (2.6–2.8)
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 2.6no trial data cached
Off label use (used outside approved label)1,7132.0
1.9–2.1ROR 2.1 · calibrated p 0.996
2.0 EB05 1.9 · IC025 +0.9
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 3.2 (3.0–3.3)
Reporting / coding artifactserious PRR 2.3no trial data cached
Rash1,4593.4
3.3–3.6ROR 3.6 · calibrated p 0.459
3.4 EB05 3.3 · IC025 +1.7
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 7.4 (7.0–7.8)
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 3.9no trial data cached
Death1,4571.7
1.6–1.8ROR 1.8 · calibrated p 0.814
1.7 EB05 1.6 · IC025 +0.7
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 1.9 (1.8–1.9)
Outcome field, not a reactionserious PRR 1.1no trial data cached
Decreased appetite (loss of appetite)1,4486.4
6.1–6.7ROR 6.8 · calibrated p 0.108
6.3 EB05 6.1 · IC025 +2.6
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 6.9 (6.6–7.3)
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 6.0no trial data cached
Nausea1,3651.8
1.7–1.9ROR 1.8 · calibrated p 0.837
1.8 EB05 1.7 · IC025 +0.7
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 3.5 (3.3–3.7)
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 2.0no trial data cached
Asthenia (weakness)1,1883.2
3.0–3.4ROR 3.4 · calibrated p 0.523
3.2 EB05 3.1 · IC025 +1.6
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 4.9 (4.7–5.2)
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 2.8no trial data cached
Hypertension (high blood pressure)1,1485.5
5.2–5.8ROR 5.8 · calibrated p 0.165
5.5 EB05 5.2 · IC025 +2.4
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 9.5 (8.9–10.1)
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 4.2no trial data cached
Pyrexia (fever)1,0663.1
3.0–3.3ROR 3.2 · calibrated p 0.551
3.1 EB05 3.0 · IC025 +1.5
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 6.3 (5.9–6.7)
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 2.5no trial data cached
Vomiting9822.1
2.0–2.3ROR 2.2 · calibrated p 0.959
2.1 EB05 2.0 · IC025 +1.0
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 4.8 (4.5–5.1)
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 1.9no trial data cached
Pain in extremity9673.3
3.1–3.5ROR 3.4 · calibrated p 0.498
3.3 EB05 3.2 · IC025 +1.6
3/3 methods agree
vs other Kinase Inhibitors: PRR 8.4 (7.9–9.0)
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 3.1no trial data cached

Unlabeled candidate signals

These flagged terms were not found in the FDA label text and do not match an artifact pattern. They are the pairs that would merit a structured assessment (temporality, dose-response, biological plausibility, consistency across databases, trial or cohort evidence). The screen has not done that; string-matching misses label wording, and a strong PRR can still be stimulated reporting, co-medication, or the disease itself.

✓ A hand-written Bradford Hill causality assessment exists for this drug: Sorafenib ↔ Hypertension.

Want to assess one of these properly? The runbook describes the Bradford Hill / trial-evidence workflow used on the assessment page, and handoff_top1000_signals.csv lists the strongest unassessed pairs across all drugs.

Common questions

What are the most reported side effects of Sorafenib?

In FDA FAERS, the most frequently co-reported reaction terms for Sorafenib are diarrhoea, palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome, hepatocellular carcinoma, fatigue, rash, decreased appetite. These are report counts, not rates: FAERS has no denominator, reporting is voluntary and uneven, and a term can be reported because of the illness being treated rather than the drug.

Does Sorafenib have an FDA boxed warning?

No. The FDA label retrieved for Sorafenib has no boxed warning; see the label's Warnings and Precautions for the recognised risks.

Do FAERS signals prove that Sorafenib causes these side effects?

No. A disproportionality signal (PRR, ROR) means a reaction is reported more often with this drug than with others in the database. That can reflect a real effect, but also the disease being treated, stimulated reporting after news or litigation, co-medications, or how reports are coded. Causality needs temporality, dose-response, biological plausibility, consistency across data sources and, ideally, trial or cohort evidence. This page screens each term against the FDA label and ClinicalTrials.gov results; it does not establish causation.

Sources & methods

Page generated 2026-10-14. Label and PubChem text are retrieved automatically and may lag the current label; always check the current prescribing information. OpenPV is a beta research tool of the Open Source Medicine Foundation.