Cetuximab - Cetuximab drug information

Indroduction and Uses of Cetuximab

Cetuximab is a type of monoclonal antibody being studied in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced substances that can locate and bind to cancer cells.

Cetuximab (Erbitux) is used in molecular targeted therapy to block the cancer cell's communication system. It is used to treat colorectal cancer along with the chemotherapy drug irinotecan in people who are no longer responding to irinotecan, or by itself in people who cannot take irinotecan. Cetuximab is also being studied in other cancers, including cancers of the head and neck, pancreas, lung, and ovary.

Cetuximab is used to treat patients with advanced colorectal cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Cetuximab is a new type of cancer drug used to treat cancer of the colon or rectum that has spread to other parts of the body.  Cetuximab is given with irinotecan, another anti-cancer medicine, or alone in patients who cannot tolerate irinotecan.

Possible Side effects of Cetuximab

The side effects of cetuximab are generally mild and some of these can be reduced with medicines. As it is a new drug it is too early to know about all the possible side effects. Cetuximab does not increase the side effects of irinotecan.

• Low blood pressure
• Difficulty in breathing
• Skin rashes
• Feeling low and weak
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Back pain
• Infection
• Infusion reaction
• Chills, fever

Dosage and dosing of Cetuximab

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 Cetuximab

• Rash on the face, neck, and trunk is very common, beginning during the first two weeks of treatment and going away completely when treatment is stopped. The rash may become severe in a few cases, and this should be reported right away. You should wear sunscreen and hats and limit your sun exposure while receiving this drug, as sunlight may make the rash worse.
• While you are being treated with cetuximab and after you stop treatment, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations) without your doctor's okay. Try to avoid contact with people who have recently taken the oral polio vaccine. Check with your doctor about this.
• Severe infusion reactions occurred with the administration of Cetuximab in approximately 3% of patients, rarely with fatal outcome (<1 in 1000). Approximately 90% of severe infusion reactions were associated with the first infusion of ERBITUX.

Storage conditions of Cetuximab

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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