authorised erlotinib (Oral route) er-LOE-ti-nib Overview Side Effects Dosage Professional Interactions More Pregnancy Warnings User Reviews Support Group Q & A Commonly used brand name(s) In the U.S. Tarceva Available Dosage Forms: Tablet Therapeutic Class: Antineoplastic Agent Pharmacologic Class: Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Slideshow The Ferocity of Chemotherapy - Does The End Justify The Means? Uses For erlotinib Erlotinib is used for the treatment of metastatic (cancer that has already spread) non-small cell lung cancer in patients who have certain types of abnormal epidermal growth factor (EGFR) gene mutations. Your doctor will perform a test before you take erlotinib. erlotinib is also used together with another medicine called gemcitabine (eg, Gemzar ) to treat cancer of the pancreas. Erlotinib belongs to the group of medicines called antineoplastics (cancer medicines). It works by interfering with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. erlotinib is available only with your doctor's prescription. Before Using erlotinib In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For erlotinib, the following should be considered: Allergies Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to erlotinib or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Pediatric Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of erlotinib in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established. Geriatric Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of erlotinib in the elderly. Breast Feeding There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding. Interactions with Medicines Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking erlotinib, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive. Using erlotinib with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. Acenocoumarol Boceprevir Carbamazepine Cimetidine Ciprofloxacin Clarithromycin Cobicistat Conivaptan Dexlansoprazole Enzalutamide Esomeprazole Famotidine Fosphenytoin Idelalisib Indinavir Itraconazole Ketoconazole Lansoprazole Lopinavir Lumacaftor Mitotane Nefazodone Nelfinavir Nizatidine Omeprazole Pantoprazole Phenobarbital Phenprocoumon Phenytoin Posaconazole Rabeprazole Ranitidine Rifabutin Rifampin Rifapentine Ritonavir Saquinavir St John's Wort Telaprevir Telithromycin Voriconazole Warfarin Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive. Using erlotinib with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use erlotinib, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco. Grapefruit Juice Tobacco Other Medical Problems The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of erlotinib. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially: Bleeding problems (eg, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia) or Dehydration or Eye or vision problems (eg, corneal perforation or ulcer) or Heart attack, history of or Intestinal or stomach problems (eg, diverticular disease, peptic ulcer), or history of or Kidney disease or Lung or breathing problems (eg, interstitial lung disease), history of or Stroke, history of Use with caution. May make these conditions worse. Liver disease Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal from the body. Proper Use of erlotinib Medicines used to treat cancer are very strong and can have many side effects. Before using erlotinib, make sure you understand all the risks and benefits. It is important for you to work closely with your doctor during your treatment. Take erlotinib on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after food. If you take a stomach medicine for heartburn or ulcers (such as cimetidine, famotidine, ranitidine, Pepcid , Tagamet , Zantac ), take the heartburn medicine at least 10 hours before or 2 hours after you take erlotinib. If you take antacids (such as Gaviscon , Maalox , Mylanta , Rolaids ), take the antacid several hours before or after you take erlotinib. Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using erlotinib. If there is a change in your tobacco smoking status, call your doctor. This could result in a change in dose. Dosing The dose of erlotinib will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of erlotinib. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. For oral dosage form (tablets): For lung cancer: Adults 150 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. Children Use and dose must be determined by your doctor. For pancreas cancer: Adults 100 milligrams (mg) once a day, taken with gemcitabine. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. Children Use and dose must be determined by your doctor. Missed Dose If you miss a dose of erlotinib, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. Storage Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Precautions While Using erlotinib It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure erlotinib is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects. Using erlotinib while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. You should continue to use birth control during treatment and for 1 month after your last dose. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away. It is important that you talk to your doctor right away if you have severe or continuing diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, or vomiting. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained shortness of breath, cough, and fever that comes on suddenly. These could be symptoms of a serious lung condition. Check with your doctor right away if you have bloody or black, tarry stools, severe stomach pain, or vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds. These could be symptoms of a serious stomach or bowel problem. Tell your doctor right away if you have dark urine or pale stools, yellow skin or eyes, nausea or vomiting, or upper stomach pain. These could be symptoms of a liver problem. Kidney problems may occur while you are using erlotinib. Tell your doctor right away if you have decreased urine output, dizziness, headache, irritability, rapid weight gain, seizures, swelling of the face, ankles, or hands, or unusual tiredness or weakness. Serious skin reactions can occur with erlotinib. Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, red skin lesions, severe acne or skin rash, sores or ulcers on the skin, or fever or chills while you are using erlotinib. You may use alcohol-free emollient creams, sunscreen, or sun blocking lotions to prevent dry skin and other serious skin reactions. Check with your doctor right away if blurred vision or any vision change, eye pain, or eye irritation occurs during or after treatment. Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor). Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (eg, St. John's wort) or vitamin supplements. erlotinib Side Effects Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur: More common Burning, tingling, numbness or pain in the hands, arms, feet, or legs cough or hoarseness diarrhea (severe) difficult or labored breathing fever or chills lower back or side pain painful or difficult urination rash (severe) sensation of pins and needles stabbing chest pain tightness in the chest Rare Bloody or black, tarry stools blurred vision chest pain or discomfort constipation convulsions (seizures) eye irritation or redness inability to speak pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck severe stomach pain slurred speech sudden, severe chest pain sudden, severe headache sudden, severe weakness in the arm or leg on one side of the body sweating vision changes vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds Incidence not known Agitation blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin bloody nose burning feeling in the chest or stomach burning upper abdominal or stomach pain confusion dark-colored urine darkening of the skin decreased urine output general feeling of tiredness or weakness headache increased thirst irregular heartbeat lethargy light-colored stools loss of appetite mood changes muscle pain or stiffness muscle twitching nausea or vomiting rapid weight gain red skin lesions, often with a purple center sore throat sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips stomach pain, continuing stupor swelling of the face, ankles, or hands tenderness in the stomach area trouble breathing unusual tiredness or weakness yellow eyes or skin Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them: More common Acid or sour stomach belching blemishes on the skin bloated or full feeling bone pain burning, dry, or itching eyes diarrhea (mild) difficulty with moving dizziness dry eyes dry skin excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines excessive tearing fear feeling sad or empty feeling unusually cold hair loss headache heartburn indigestion irritability itching skin joint pain loss of interest or pleasure nervousness passing gas pimples rash, mild redness, pain, or swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid shivering stomach discomfort, upset, or pain swelling swelling or inflammation of the mouth swollen joints thinning of the hair tiredness trouble or inability to sleep trouble with concentrating weight loss Less common Loosening of the fingernails redness or soreness around the fingernails Incidence not known Brittle and loose nails discharge, excessive tearing increased hair growth, especially on the face Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. Side Effects (complete list) The information contained in the Truven Health Micromedex products as delivered by Drugs.com is intended as an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment. It is not a substitute for a medical exam, nor does it replace the need for services provided by medical professionals. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before taking any prescription or over the counter drugs (including any herbal medicines or supplements) or following any treatment or regimen. Only your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you. The use of the Truven Health products is at your sole risk. 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Next Side Effects Print this page Add to My Med List More about erlotinib Side Effects During Pregnancy Dosage Information Drug Interactions Support Group En Español 39 Reviews Add your own review/rating Drug class: EGFR inhibitors Consumer resources Erlotinib Other brands: Tarceva Professional resources Erlotinib (AHFS Monograph) Erlotinib (Wolters Kluwer) Related treatment guides Pancreatic Cancer Renal Cell Carcinoma Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer} Drug Status Rx Availability Prescription only D Pregnancy Category Positive evidence of risk N/A CSA Schedule Not a controlled drug Approval History Drug history at FDA Drug Class EGFR inhibitors Related Drugs Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Avastin , methotrexate , Taxol , Opdivo , cisplatin , Taxotere , Tarceva , Keytruda , paclitaxel , nivolumab , gemcitabine , Gemzar , More... Pancreatic Cancer fluorouracil , Tarceva , gemcitabine , Gemzar , Abraxane , Afinitor , Sutent , mitomycin , everolimus , sunitinib , streptozocin , paclitaxel protein-bound , More... Erlotinib Rating 39 User Reviews 8.8 /10 39 User Reviews 8.8 Rate it! Related Questions & Answers Does anybody know how efficient is generic Erlotinib vs Tarceva? Tarceva and Iscador? Erlotinib - How can anyone afford Tarceva? My co-pay would be $2500.00. How? Hi... my father has completed 60 tablets of erlotinib... past few days he has been feeling severely? Read more questions} } advantage of
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