Erlotinib

Brand Name(s): Tarceva®

WHY is this medicine prescribed?

Erlotinib is used to treat certain types of non-small cell lung cancer that has spread to nearby tissues or to other parts of the body in patients who have already been treated with at least one other chemotherapy medication and have not gotten better. Erlotinib is also used in combination with another medication (gemcitabine [Gemzar]) to treat pancreatic cancer that has spread to nearby tissues or to other parts of the body and cannot be treated with surgery. Erlotinib is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of an abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. This helps slow or stop the spread of cancer cells.

HOW should this medicine be used?

Erlotinib comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken on an empty stomach once a day, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating a meal or snack. Take erlotinib at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take erlotinib exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Your doctor may decrease your dose of erlotinib during your treatment. This depends on how well the medication works for you and the side effects you experience. Talk to your doctor about how you are feeling during your treatment. Continue to take erlotinib even if you feel well. Do not stop taking erlotinib without talking to your doctor.

Are there OTHER USES for this medicine?

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

What SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS should I follow?

Before taking erlotinib,

  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to erlotinib, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in erlotinib tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take while taking erlotinib. Your doctor may change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
  • if you are taking antacids, take them several hours before or several hours after you take erlotinib.
  • the following nonprescription or herbal products may interact with erlotinib: St. John's wort; proton pump inhibitors such as esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), and rabeprazole (AcipHex); H2 blockers such as cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), nizatidine (Axid), and ranitidine (Zantac). Be sure to let your doctor and pharmacist know that you are taking these medications before you start taking erlotinib. Do not start any of these medications while taking erlotinib without discussing with your healthcare provider. ;.
  • tell your doctor if you are being treated or have recently been treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy (treatment for cancer that uses waves of high energy particles to kill cancer cells). Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had lung disease or infection, stomach ulcers, diverticular disease (condition in which abnormal pouches form in the large intestine and may become inflamed), or liver or kidney disease.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant while you are taking erlotinib and for at least 1 month after your final dose. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods that you can use. If you become pregnant, call your doctor immediately. Erlotinib may harm the fetus.
  • tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed during your treatment with erlotinib and for up to 2 weeks after your final dose.
  • if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking erlotinib.
  • tell your doctor if you use tobacco products. Cigarette smoking may decrease the effectiveness of this medication.
  • plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear a hat, other protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Choose a sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 and contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Exposure to sunlight increases the risk that you will develop a rash during your treatment with erlotinib.
  • you should know that erlotinib may cause rashes and other skin problems. To protect your skin, use a mild alcohol-free moisturizer, wash your skin with mild soap, and remove cosmetics with a mild cleanser.

What SPECIAL DIETARY instructions should I follow?

Avoid eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medicine.

To prevent diarrhea that may be caused by erlotinib, drink small sips of a liquid such as a sugar-free sports drink often throughout the day, eat mild foods such as crackers and toast, and avoid spicy foods.

What should I do IF I FORGET to take a dose?

Take the next dose at your regular time the next day. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

What SIDE EFFECTS can this medicine cause?

Erlotinib may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

  • diarrhea
  • loss of appetite
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • heartburn
  • gas
  • constipation
  • mouth sores
  • weight loss
  • extreme tiredness
  • headache
  • bone or muscle pain
  • depression
  • anxiety
  • numbness, burning, or tingling of the hands or feet
  • swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
  • darkening of skin
  • hair loss
  • changes in the appearance of the hair and nails

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:

  • rash (may look like acne and may affect the skin on the face, upper chest, or back)
  • blistering, peeling, dry, or cracked skin
  • itching, tenderness, or burning of the skin
  • shortness of breath
  • cough
  • fever or chills
  • growth of eyelashes on the inside of the eyelid
  • severe stomach pain
  • dry, red, painful, teary, or irritated eyes
  • blurred vision
  • eye sensitivity to light
  • chest pain or pressure
  • pain in the arms, neck, or upper back
  • rapid, irregular, or pounding heartbeat
  • slow or difficult speech
  • dizziness or faintness
  • weakness or numbness of an arm or leg
  • unusual bruising or bleeding
  • black and tarry or bloody stools
  • vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds
  • sunken eyes
  • dry mouth
  • decreased urination
  • dark urine
  • pale or yellow skin
  • redness, warmth, pain, tenderness, or swelling in one leg

Erlotinib may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

What should I know about STORAGE and DISPOSAL of this medication?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (https://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. https://www.upandaway.org

What should I do in case of OVERDOSE?

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include:

  • diarrhea
  • rash

What OTHER INFORMATION should I know?

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body's response to erlotinib.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

This report on medications is for your information only, and is not considered individual patient advice. Because of the changing nature of drug information, please consult your physician or pharmacist about specific clinical use.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. represents that the information provided hereunder was formulated with a reasonable standard of care, and in conformity with professional standards in the field. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to such information and specifically disclaims all such warranties. Users are advised that decisions regarding drug therapy are complex medical decisions requiring the independent, informed decision of an appropriate health care professional, and the information is provided for informational purposes only. The entire monograph for a drug should be reviewed for a thorough understanding of the drug's actions, uses and side effects. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. does not endorse or recommend the use of any drug. The information is not a substitute for medical care.

AHFS® Patient Medication Information™. © Copyright, 2024. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists®, 4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.

Selected Revisions: March 15, 2017.

AHFS® Patient Medication Information™. © Copyright, 2024