Erlotinib 100mg

Indications for use.

Locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer after the failure of one or more chemotherapies;
Locally advanced, inoperable or metastatic pancreatic cancer as a first-line therapy (in combination with gemcitabine).

Way of use Erlotinib 100mg.

The drug should be taken orally once a day (at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after the eating). For the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, you should take 100 – 150 mg of the drug a day (for a long time). In case of pancreatic cancer, you should take 100 mg of the drug a day in combination with gemcitabine (for a long time).

If you notice the symptoms of disease progression, the treatment should be stopped. Patients with liver dysfunction should take the drug with caution.
Safety and effectiveness of Erlotinib 100mg use in patients with liver/kidney dysfunction and underage people haven’t been investigated. If necessary, the dosage should be gradually corrected (each time by 50 mg).

There are about one million cases globally of pulmonary cancer every year, leading to one death every few seconds. According to the researchers, pulmonary cancer is responsible for about 1/3 of cancer deaths in the United States. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most widespread type of pulmonary cancer and represents for about 80% of all the cases.

Most cells (and even tumor cells) have epidermal growth factor receptors (EGF), which is a protein, responsible for the growth and replication of cells. Binding to the epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs), this protein activates tyrosine kinase within the cells. Tyrosine kinase launches the chemical processes that make the tumor cells grow and replicate. Erlotinib binds to the epidermal growth factor receptors, impeding the activation of tyrosine kinase. This mechanism for preventing tumor cells from growing and replicating differs greatly from the mechanisms of chemotherapy and hormonal treatment. The medication was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2004.

Erlotinib 100mg is a drug, intended for the treatment of cancer by impeding the activity of a epidermal growth factor receptor. This protein is responsible for the growth and replication of tumor cells.

This drug is intended for the patients with advanced NSCLC. You can also use this drug after a failure of chemotherapy.

Erlotinib can be used together with Gemcitabine for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer.
You should be especially careful during treatment with Erlotinib 100mg:

– if you’re using other drug that can change the amount of Erlotinib in the blood plasma (for instance, antifungals such as ketoconazole, PIs, clarithromycin and erythromycin, phenytoin, barbiturates, rifampicin, carbamazepine ranitidine, omeprazole, etc.) In certain circumstances, these drugs can decreased the effectiveness or increase the adverse effects of Erlotinib 100mg and your physician may correct your drug dose. Avoid using the above-mentioned drugs during the treatment with Erlotinib 100mg.
– if you’re using blood thinners (the drugs treating blood clots like warfarin), Erlotinib 100mg may strengthen your tendency to bleed; therefore, you’ll have to make regular blood tests.
– if you’re using statins (drugs to reduce your level of cholesterol), this drug may enhance the risk of statin-induced muscle disorders, which (in rare instances) can lead to rhabdomyolysis (severe breakdown of damaged skeletal muscle), and consequently, kidney failure.