TARCEVA

Tarceva Information

Tarceva is a common antineoplastic remedy that may be employed in the therapy of lung cancer and / or pancreatic cancer (if it is combined to a therapy with Gemzar). It is one of the most effective chemotherapy drugs, which affects the normal growth pattern of the cancerous cells (slowing their spread and / or growth in the patient’s organism).

Tarceva Indications

Patients who have been diagnosed with the presence of lung cancer or pancreatic cancer may widely benefit from a therapy with this chemotherapy drug (Tarceva). However, some physicians may choose to employ this antineoplastic remedy in the treatment of other clinical disorders (other types of cancer for example).

Tarceva Warnings

If a patient develops any of the severe side effects of this antineoplastic remedy (Tarceva), he or she should immediately end their intake of this medicine. The most common adverse reactions that may prevent an individual from further using this medication include: eye irritation and / or pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, lung disorders, symptoms of an allergic reaction, and so on.

The presence of some clinical illnesses may prevent an individual from being allowed to start the intake of this medical remedy (Tarceva). For example, patients who are suffering from any type of breathing problems and / or lung disturbances (except lung cancer) or from liver and / or kidney function disturbances should employ other therapy options for their condition. If physicians consider that their intake of Tarceva is vital for their well being, patients may start using low doses of this medical product, provided that they remain under the constant supervision of a well trained specialist.

Tarceva Intake Guidelines

When your PD prescribes you a therapy with Tarceva, he or she will also give you a set of medical directions regarding your future intake of this antineoplastic remedy. Most patients are recommended to use their doses of this medicine (Erlotinib) 2 hours after or 1 hour before a main meal. In order to ease the intake of this medical product, a patient may accompany their doses of this drug with 8 ounces of water.

During your therapy with Tarceva, you will have to undergo regular clinical evaluations, in order to enable your PD constantly monitor the results of your therapy trial. This will also enable your personal health care provider make the necessary adjustments to your current therapy routine (in order to enhance the beneficial effects of your therapy). The common treatment span of your condition is known to depend on the severity of the patient’s condition, on the patient’s general health condition, and so on.

Tarceva Dosage

The appropriate dose of Erlotinib (Tarceva) is known to vary from one clinical case to another. The medicine’s label should contain several pieces of information regarding this matter. However, the only individual who is entitled to prescribe you an adequate dosing schedule that should suit your clinical condition best is your PD. You must not disobey any of his or her instructions. Most adult patients who are suffering from lung cancer are initially prescribed 150 mg of the oral form of Tarceva (which should be taken in on a daily basis). If the adult patient has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he or she will probably be prescribed 100 mg of Erlotinib per day. The adequate dosage for younger patients (children) must be determined by a well trained pediatrician.

Tarceva Overdose

Clinical cases that involve individuals who have accidentally overdosed with Tarceva should be given great attention. Such patients should receive immediate medical care from a set of well trained specialists. The first step in the therapy of such cases is the ease of the patient’s symptoms (the most common clinical manifestations that may be triggered by the intake of abnormally high doses of Tarceva include diarrhea, rash and more severe forms of the medicine’s side effects).

Tarceva Missed Dose

Any disruptions of the patient’s therapy schedule (this mainly refers to the presence of missed doses of Tarceva) are known to diminish the effectiveness of the individual’s treatment trial. In such cases, immediate replacement of the missed dose should be employed. However, in case the patient’s therapy schedule announces that another dose of this clinical remedy should be employed very soon, the dose of Tarceva that was not taken at its due time should be skipped.

Tarceva Side Effects

A prolonged therapy with this cancer medical product (Tarceva) or the improper use of your doses of this antineoplastic remedy, are known to sometimes trigger a set of unpleasant clinical manifestations. Among the most common adverse reactions that may be accused by patients who are following a long-term treatment trial with this medicine are: symptoms of an allergic reaction (which may become life-threatening due to their high severity), lung problems, persistent or severe nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, vomiting, and so on. The use of this drug may also trigger a set of less severe clinical manifestations: weakness, skin itching, dryness or rash, acne, and so on.

Tarceva Drug Reactions

Before your physician prescribes you to start using Tarceva on a regular basis (according to your future therapy schedule), he or she will want to know if you are currently using any other medical products. This is very important, as studies have shown that certain ingredients that may be found in other medications may interfere with the effectiveness of your therapy with this antineoplastic remedy.

The most common medicines that are known to affect the beneficial results that your therapy with Tarceva should have granted you include: Ketek, Rimactane, Rifadin, Priftin, Crixivan, Viracept, Tegretol, Dilantin, Phenytek, Nizoral, Sporanox, Vfend, Luminal, Mycobutin, St. John's Wort, and so on. The consumption of grapefruit based aliments (juices or the fruit itself) may also interfere with the results of your therapy with this medical product (Tarceva).