INTRODUCTION
ERLEVA 150MG contains Erlotinib which belongs to the group of medicines called Cytostatic agents. It is used to treat advanced non-small cell lung cancer in adult patients. It can also be used to treat advanced, unresectable metastatic pancreatic cancer in adult patients in combination with gemcitabine. It can be prescribed to you either as an initial therapy or as an alternative therapy if your disease remains largely unchanged after initial chemotherapy, provided your cancer cells have specific EGFR mutations.
Erlotinib works by inhibiting the activity of a protein called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is known to be responsible for the growth and spread of cancer cells. Avoid smoking while taking this medicine, because smoking could decrease the amount of the medicine in your blood. Always take this medicine at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. Avoid concomitant treatment of this medicine with statins because it may increase the risk of muscle pain, tenderness or cramps. Before taking this medicine, inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
The most common side effect of taking this medicine are skin rash, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, depression, headache, weight loss and hair loss. Contact your doctor immediately if any of the above symptom worsens. ERLEVA 150MG is not recommended for use in patients with severe liver or kidney disease and in children or adolescents under 18 years of age. Consult your doctor before taking.
USES OF ERLEVA 150MG
Treats advanced non-small cell lung cancer in adults
Treats advanced, unresectable metastatic pancreatic cancer in adult patients in combination with gemcitabine
HOW ERLEVA 150MG WORKS
Following oral administration, erlotinib binds to the intracellular portion (tyrosine kinase) of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and inhibits its activity. EGFR is expressed on the surface of both normal as well as cancer cells. Inhibition of EGFR and it’s signaling significantly decreases tumor proliferation and survival, resulting in cell death.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE
Take ERLEVA 150MG as directed by your physician. It must be taken at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. Do not take this medicine with meals. Swallow the medicine as whole with a sip of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Your doctor will decide the correct dose for you depending upon your condition. Continue to take this medicine, as long as your doctor tells you to do so, to obtain better results.
SIDE EFFECTS OF ERLEVA 150MG
SERIOUS
Persistent diarrhea and vomiting
Eye irritation due to keratitis or conjunctivitis
Interstitial lung disease (a form of lung irritation)
Sudden difficulty in breathing with cough or fever
Severe abdominal pain
Liver failure
COMMON
Skin rash in sun exposed areas
Loss of appetite, nausea, stomach pain, indigestion and flatulence
Weight loss
Depression
Headache
Numbness in extremities
Infection, difficulty in breathing, cough
Mouth irritation
Acne, itching, dry or cracked skin
Tiredness, fever, rigors
Bleeding from the nose
GI bleeding
Inflammatory reactions around fingernail
Infection of hair follicles or hair loss
RARE
Flushed or painful palms or soles
HOW TO MANAGE SIDE EFFECTS
Nausea:
Try to rest and relax. Stick to simple meals. Do not eat rich or spicy food.
Flatulence:
Eat smaller and frequent meals. Eat and drink slowly, and exercise regularly. If the symptoms get worse, contact your doctor immediately.
Diarrhea:
Drink lots of fluids, such as water or juice, to avoid dehydration. Do not take any medicines without speaking to a doctor.
Stomach pain:
Try to rest and relax. You can eat and drink slowly or have smaller and frequent meals. Keeping a heat pad on your stomach may also help. If still pain persists, speak to your doctor.
Skin rash:
Avoid hot showers because hot water can irritate the skin. Do not rub or scratch the affected area. Use sunscreen and protective clothing when outdoors. Regularly use moisturizers to soothe and hydrate the affected area. If it does not get better, speak to a doctor.
WARNING & PRECAUTIONS
PREGNANCY
ERLEVA 150MG is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
BREASTFEEDING
ERLEVA 150MG is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
DRIVING AND USING MACHINES
Do not drive or operate any machines if your ability is affected by this medicine.
ALCOHOL
Avoid consumption of alcohol while taking this medicine.
KIDNEY
ERLEVA 150MG is not recommended for use in patients with severe kidney disease. Consult your doctor for advice.
LIVER
ERLEVA 150MG is not recommended for use in patients with severe liver disease. Consult your doctor for advice.
ALLERGY
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to erlotinib or any other ingredients in this medicine.
OTHERS
Before taking this medicine, inform your doctor if you:
Are using contact lenses
Have eye problems (such as dry eyes or inflammation of cornea)
Have glucuronidation disorder like Gilbert’s syndrome
Had peptic ulcer or diverticular disease in the past
INTERACTIONS
Talk to your doctor, if you are taking,
Medicines used to treat bacterial infections (e.g. erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin)
Medicines used to treat epilepsy (e.g. phenytoin, carbamazepine)
Medicines used to treat fits or induce sleep (e.g. phenobarbital, pentobarbital)
Medicines used to reduce stomach acid (e.g. omeprazole or ranitidine)
Medicines used to prevent blood clot (e.g. warfarin)
Protease inhibitors (used to treat HIV infection) such as atazanavir, saquinavir, darunavir
Proteasome inhibitors (used to treat multiple myeloma) such as bortezomib or carfilzomib
Statins (used to reduce high blood cholesterol) such as atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin
Antifungals (used to treat fungal infection) e.g. ketoconazole
Rifampicin (used to treat tuberculosis)
St. John’s Wort (a herbal medicine used to treat depression)
SYNOPSIS
Drug : Erlotinib
Pharmacological Category : Cytostatic agent, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor
Therapeutic Indication : Advanced non-small cell lung cancer, Pancreatic cancer
Dosage Forms : Tablet
MORE INFORMATION
Store below 20-25°C and keep out of reach of children.
FAQs ABOUT ERLEVA 150MG
How to take ERLEVA 150MG?
Always take this medicine at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. Swallow the medicine as whole with a sip of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Your doctor will decide the correct dose for you depending upon your condition.
Can I smoke while taking ERLEVA 150MG?
No. Avoid smoking while taking this medicine, because smoking could decrease the amount of the medicine in your blood.
Can we take statins while taking ERLEVA 150MG?
No. Avoid concomitant treatment of this medicine with statins because it may increase the risk of muscle pain, tenderness or cramps.
REFERENCES
1. KD. Tripathi. Anticancer Drugs. Essentials of medical pharmacology. Seventh edition. 2013. Page – 870.
2. Bruce A. Chabner, Jeffery Barnes, Joel Neal, Erin Olson, Hamza Mujagic, Lecia Sequist, Wynham Wilson, Dan L. Longo, Constantine Mitsiades and Paul Richardson. Targeted therapies: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors, Monoclonal antibodies and Cytokines. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological basics of Therapeutics. 12th Edition. New York McGraw Hill Medical 2011. Page – 1735-1736.
3. Gerald G. Briggs and Roger K. Freeman. E. A reference guide to fetal and neonatal risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. Tenth Edition. 2015. Page – 1405-1407.
4. Hoffmann-La Roche. A Study of Tarceva (Erlotinib) in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Naive to Chemotherapy. NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine ClinicalTrials.gov. [Revised on December 2014] [Accessed 28th November 2020] https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02013206
5. Hoffmann-La Roche. A Study of Tarceva (Erlotinib) Monotherapy in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine ClinicalTrials.gov. [Revised on July 2014] [Accessed 28th November 2020] https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01996332
6. Hoffmann-La Roche. A Study of Tarceva (Erlotinib) as First Line Therapy in Participants with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Harbouring Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Mutations. NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine ClinicalTrials.gov. [Revised on September 2018] [Accessed 28th November 2020] https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01310036
7. Yongsheng Wang, Gerald Schmid-Bindert and Caicun Zhou. Erlotinib in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer: an update for clinicians. NCBI; PMC US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health. January 2012. [Accessed 28th November 2020] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3244201/
8. Roche Pharma AG. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC); [Revised on November 2018] [Accessed 28th November 2020] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.8845.pdf
9. Schwarz Pharma Manufacturing. U.S. Food & Drug Administration; [Revised on April 2010] [Accessed 28th November 2020] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/021743s14s16lbl.pdf
USEFUL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
Carcino Embryonic Antigen
PRODUCT DETAILS
Net Qty
1 N
Item Weight
40 g
Ingredient
ERLOTINIB 150MG
Hsn Code
30049049
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