Specification | |
US Brand Name | Taceva |
Strength | 100mg |
Generic Name | Erlotinib |
Manufacturer | Natco Pharma, India |
Pharmaceutical Form | Tablet/s |
Erlonat is a medicine
that is used to treat non small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and other
kinds of cancer.
How
it works?
This anti-cancer drug
works by blocking the action of abnormal protein to slow down the growth of
cancer cells in the body and this helps slow down or stop the cancer cells from
spreading in other parts of the body.
Important
information about Medicine
Erlotinib is an epidermal
growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor and is used to combination with
gemcitabine to treat cancer. This medicine is prescribed for the patients
receiving 2nd or 3rd line of treatment after at
least one round of chemotherapy.
Dosage
information
The dosage would depend
on the condition of the patient and the type of cancer being treated. Patients
need to take this medicine 2 to 3 hours before or after the meals.
Strengths
available
Erlonat tablets are
available in two strengths, 100mg and 150mg.
What
if you miss a dose?
Patients undergoing
cancer treatment need to ensure that the dose is not missed. In case, one
misses the dose the doctor needs to be informed immediately.
What
if you overdose?
Do not change the dose of
this or any other anti cancer drug as this might prove harmful. Take the dosage
as directed by the doctor and in case you overdose visit the nearest medical
emergency center for help.
Things
to be taken care of
Make sure that you inform
your oncologist about all the prescription and non prescriptions medicines that
you take before taking Erlonat. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or
breast feeding as this medicine falls under pregnancy category D and can harm
the baby. If trying to conceive, discuss this with your doctor and do not take
Erlonat unless instructed.
Side
Effects
Some common side effects
that could bother you with the intake of Erlonat tablets are:
§ Shortness Of Breath Or
Cough
§ Nausea
§ Diarrhea
§ Vomiting
§ Extreme Fatigue
§ Eye Irritation
§ Swelling Or Ulcers
§ Painful Redness In Mouth
§ Dehydration
§ Decrease Amount Of Urine
§ Dry Mouth
Inform your doctor about
any of these symptoms and make sure that you seek complete medical assistance
as ignoring these could aggravate the condition.
Interaction
with other drugs
Erlonat tablets might
interact with several prescribed, non prescribed and herbal drugs, thus do not
take any of these when taking this anti cancer drug. Do not task aspirin or any
other medicine that contains it as this might lead to serious interactions. Do
not get any vaccine while on this medicine without seeking your doctor’s
approval. Discuss the method of contraception to be used while taking this
medicine as there are many that should not be taken while on this drug.