Alimta Mesothelioma Pemetrexed Treatment

Indroduction and Uses of Alimta

Alimta is a new cancer drug used to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma. Alimta is given with cisplatin, another anti-cancer medicine. ALIMTA, when given with cisplatin, is the first and only chemotherapy drug to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) when surgery is not an option. Alimta is manufactured by eli lilly.

Alimta works by blocking 3 enzymes the lung cancer cells need to survive, manufacturer Eli Lilly and Company said in a statement. However, the drug also affects the nutrient folate, so patients must take a folic acid and vitamin B12 supplement while they are in treatment.

It is a white to almost-white solid with a molecular formula of C20H19N5Na2O6•7H2O and a molecular weight of 597.49. Each 500-mg vial of ALIMTA contains pemetrexed disodium equivalent to 500 mg pemetrexed and 500 mg of mannitol. Hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide may have been added to adjust pH.

Possible Side effects of Alimta

The most common side effects of Alimta are:

• stomach upset, including nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea
• a drop in white blood cells, increasing the risk of infection
• a drop in red blood cells (anemia), causing tiredness or shortness of breath
• a drop in platelets that results in bruising or bleeding
• tiredness
• mouth, throat, or lip sores
• loss of appetite
• rash

ALIMTA side effects generally are manageable. The side effects of treatment with ALIMTA were reduced by giving patients folic acid, vitamin B 12 , and a few steroid tablets during treatment. However, there may be a few side effects that, if experienced and if severe, may make it necessary to reduce your chemotherapy dose, interrupt therapy, or stop therapy.

Dosage and dosing of Alimta

The doses of these medicines will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of these medicines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

Warning and Precautions of Alimta

• Your dose may have to be changed, or ALIMTA may not be right for you if you have kidney problems. If you do have kidney problems, be sure to mention this to your doctor.
• Women should avoid becoming pregnant while being treated with Alimta because Alimta may cause harm to an unborn baby.
• Avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for at least 5 days before Alimta treatment, during the day of treatment, and for two days after treatment.  If you are not sure if a drug you take is a NSAID, ask your doctor or pharmacist.  There are many NSAID medicines that are prescription and over-the-counter.
• You also will be given an oral steroid medication called dexamethasone, or a similar drug, to minimize the risk of a skin rash or certain other side effects that can occur with the use of this treatment. Be sure to take this drug twice daily on the day before, the day of, and the day after treatment unless your doctor gives you different instructions.

Storage conditions of Alimta

Keep nitulamide in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from light and excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Cancer Tip Are clinical trials right for you? There is no correct answer to that question. Clinical trials may be right for some people, and not for others. You may want to weigh the pros and cons of clinical trials in making a decision of which treatment to undergo.

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