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Safety Advices
বাংলা
English
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Tarceva. Please consult your doctor.
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Tarceva is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However, the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor.
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Tarceva is probably unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby.
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
It is not known whether Tarceva alters the ability to drive. Do not drive if you experience any symptoms that affect your ability to concentrate and react.
SAFE IF PRESCRIBED
Tarceva is safe to use in patients with kidney disease. No dose adjustment of Tarceva is recommended.
Use of this medicine is not advised in patients with severe kidney disease.
CAUTION
Tarceva should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Tarceva may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
Limited information is available on the use of Tarceva in these patients. No dose adjustment is recommended in patients with mild to moderate liver disease.
Medicine Overview of Tarceva 25mg Tablet
Introduction
Tarceva is used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. Tarceva should be taken on an empty stomach or should be taken one hour before or 2 hour after meal. You should continue to take it as long as your doctor advises it. The duration of treatment varies according to your needs and response to treatment. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the...
... Show moreUses of Tarceva
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
Side effects of Tarceva
Common
- Abdominal pain
- Bone pain
- Breathlessness
- Constipation
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Infection
- Muscle pain
- Nausea
- Rash
- Stomatitis (Inflammation of the mouth)
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
How to use Tarceva
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Tarceva is to be taken empty stomach.
How Tarceva works
Tarceva is an anti-cancer medication. Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) are expressed on the lung cancer cell surfaces that modulate their growth. This medicine works by binding the chemical messenger, EGFR, hence, inhibits the cancer signaling pathways mediated by EGFR. This is how it restricts further growth of the cancer cells.
What if you forget to take Tarceva?
If you miss a dose of Tarceva, skip it and continue with your normal schedule. Do not double the dose.
Quick Tips
- Tarceva helps treat non-small cell lung cancer that is locally advanced, or has spread to other areas of the body.
- It should be taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after the meal.
- Diarrhea may occur as a side effect. Drink plenty of fluids and inform your doctor if it doesn't stop or if you find blood in your stools.
- Use a reliable contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy while you are taking this medicine and for a month after you stop taking it.
- It makes your skin sensitive towards sunlight. Apply sunscreen or wear protective clothing while going out.
- It is advisable to avoid smoking while taking this medicine, as it makes the drug ineffective and requires dose adjustment.
- Do not take it with medication lowering the stomach acid (such as antacids, H2 blockers including ranitidine), as it may affect the working of medicine.
- Inform your doctor if you develop ulceration in your mouth, changes in your vision or if you experience a worsening cough, shortness of breath, or breathing difficulties while taking this medicine.
- Your doctor may want you to have regular blood tests to monitor your liver function while you are having treatment with this medicine.
- Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant, planning to conceive or breastfeeding.
Brief Description
Indication
Small cell lung cancer, Pancreatic cancer
Administration
Should be taken on an empty stomach. Take on an empty stomach at least 1 hr before or 2 hr after meals.
Adult Dose
Oral
Locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung carcinoma
Adult: 150 mg once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Reduce dose in decrements of 50 mg when necessary.
Locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic pancreatic cancer
Adult: As 1st-line treatment with gemcitabine: 100 mg once daily, reduce dose in decrements of 50 mg when necessary.
Child Dose
Safety and efficacy not established
Contraindication
Hypersensitivity.
Mode of Action
Erlotinib is an epidermal growth factor receptor/human epidermal growth factor receptor type 1 (EGFR/HER1) tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It reversibly inhibits the kinase activity of EGFR, preventing autophosphorylation of tyrosine residues associated w/ the receptor, thereby inhibiting further downstream signaling and resulting in cell death.
Precaution
Pregnancy and lactation. Interrupt Erlotinib therapy if patient develops unexplained pulmonary symptoms e.g. dyspnoea, cough, fever; discontinue therapy if interstitial lung disease is diagnosed. Monitor liver functions periodically; extreme caution is needed if total bilirubin is 3x >ULN; close monitoring is required in patients with hepatic impairment. Interrupt/discontinue therapy if severe changes in liver functions (doubling of total bilirubin and/or tripling of transaminases) occur. Interrupt therapy in the event of dehydration especially in patients with predisposing factors to renal failure. Monitor renal function and serum electrolytes in patients at risk of dehydration. Interrupt or discontinue therapy if patient develops severe...
... Show moreSide Effect
>10%
Rash (75-76%),Anorexia (52-69%),Diarrhea (54-55%),Fatigue (52-79%),Nausea (33-40%),Infection (39%),Vomiting (23-25%),Dyspnea (24%),Stomatitis (17-19%),Cough (16%),Pruritus (13%),Conjunctivitis (12%),Dry skin (12%),Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (12%),Abdominal pain (11%)
1-10%
Elevated LFT's (grade 2),Acne,Paronychia,Weight loss,Pneumonitis pulmonary infiltrate,Pulmonary fibrosis
<1%
Interstitial lung disease-like events
Pregnancy Category Note
Pregnancy Based on animal data and its mechanism of action, erlotinib can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for 1 month after the last dose Lactation No data exist on the presence of erlotinib in human milk, or the effects of erlotinib on the breastfed infant or on milk production Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants, including interstitial lung disease, hepatotoxicity, bullous and exfoliative skin disorders, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, with thrombocytopenia, ocular disorders, and diarrhea Advise a lactating woman not...
... Show moreInteraction
Increased serum levels w/ potent CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g. ketoconazole, clarithromycin, atazanavir). CYP3A4 inducers (e.g. rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital) may reduce exposure of erlotinib. Increased serum levels w/ potent inhibitors of CYP1A2 (e.g. ciprofloxacin) or capecitabine. Use w/ P-glycoprotein inhibitors (e.g. ciclosporin, verapamil) may cause altered distribution or elimination of erlotinib. Drugs that increase the pH of the GI tract (e.g. antacids, H2-receptor antagonists, or PPIs) may reduce the solubility of erlotinib thus lowering its bioavailability. Concomitant use w/ warfarin or other coumarin derivates may increase INR and bleeding events.