Ertican 40mg Injection
Product Info
| Prescription required | Yes |
| Marketer | Cipla Ltd |
| Active Ingredient | Irinotecan (40mg) |
| Storage | Store below 30°C |
| Chemical Class | Camptothecin Derivative |
| Habit Forming | No |
| Therapeutic Class | ANTI NEOPLASTICS |
| Action Class | Topoisomerase Inhibitor |
| User Rating | 4.1 |
| User Reviews | 664 |
FAQ
What if you forget to take Ertican Injection?
If you miss a dose of Ertican 40mg, please consult your doctor.\n
Ertican 40mg Injection Reviews
Ertican 40mg is used in the treatment of cancer of colon and rectum. It shows its working by stopping or slowing down the growth of cancer cells.
Ertican 40mg is given as an IV infusion into vein by a qualified medical professional. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to.
The most common side effects of this medicine include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, weakness, and hair loss. This medicine may reduce the number of blood cells (decrease red blood and white blood cells) in your blood, thereby, increasing the susceptibility to infections. Inform your doctor if you notice fever, sore throat, and continuous episodes of diarrhea. Regular blood tests are required to check your blood cells along with heart, liver, and blood uric acid levels.
Before taking it, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, liver, or kidney problems or are taking any medicines to treat infections. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your healthcare team know all medications you are using. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The use of effective contraception by both males and females during treatment is important to avoid pregnancy.
Ertican 40mg is given as an IV infusion into vein by a qualified medical professional. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to.
The most common side effects of this medicine include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, weakness, and hair loss. This medicine may reduce the number of blood cells (decrease red blood and white blood cells) in your blood, thereby, increasing the susceptibility to infections. Inform your doctor if you notice fever, sore throat, and continuous episodes of diarrhea. Regular blood tests are required to check your blood cells along with heart, liver, and blood uric acid levels.
Before taking it, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, liver, or kidney problems or are taking any medicines to treat infections. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your healthcare team know all medications you are using. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The use of effective contraception by both males and females during treatment is important to avoid pregnancy.
How Ertican 40mg Injection Works
Ertican 40mg is an anti-cancer medication. It works by suppressing the activity of an enzyme (topoisomerase I) involved in DNA multiplication of the cancer cells. This slows the growth of cancer cells and eventually kills them.
How to Use Ertican 40mg Injection
Your doctor or nurse will give you this medicine. Kindly do not self administer.
Benefits of Ertican 40mg Injection
- In Cancer of colon and rectum: Cancer of the colon and rectum, also known as colorectal cancer (CRC) or bowel cancer, is the development of cancer from two parts of the large intestine, namely, the colon or rectum. In this type of cancer, the person may notice symptoms such as blood in the stool, a change in bowel movements, weight loss, and fatigue. Ertican 40mg treats and also lowers the risk of developing further cancerous growths (polyps) and bowel cancer. It kills or stops the growth of cancer cells and also prevents the multiplication of cancer cells. It is an effective, yet very toxic medicine and you should discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Avoid drinking alcohol or smoking while having this treatment and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Uses of Ertican 40mg Injection
- Cancer of colon and rectum
Ertican 40mg Injection Side Effects
Safety Tips
Pregnancy
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Ertican 40mg is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However, the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor.
Breast feeding
UNSAFE
Ertican 40mg is unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Data suggests that the drug may cause toxicity to the baby.
Liver
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
There is limited information available on the use of Ertican 40mg in patients with liver disease. Please consult your doctor.
Alcohol
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Ertican 40mg. Please consult your doctor.
Kidney
SAFE IF PRESCRIBED
Ertican 40mg is probably safe to use in patients with kidney disease. Limited data available suggests that dose adjustment of Ertican 40mg may not be needed in these patients. Please consult your doctor.Use of this medicine is not recommended for patients on dialysis.
Driving
UNSAFE
Ertican 40mg may decrease alertness, affect your vision or make you feel sleepy and dizzy. Do not drive if these symptoms occur.
Quick Tips
- Ertican 40mg is used in combination with other medicines for the treatment of metastatic cancer of the colon and rectum.
- Inform your doctor if you notice passage of blood in stools or experience dizziness or faintness, continuous episodes of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or fever.
- Your doctor may get regular blood tests done to monitor your blood cells, kidney and liver function during treatment with this medicine.
- It may cause dizziness and visual disturbances. Do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how it affects you.
- Inform your doctor immediately if you notice any signs of infection such as fever, sore throat or rash.
- It is given via a drip into a vein (intravenous infusion).
- Use a reliable contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy while you are taking this medicine.
References
- Irinotecan hydrochloride trihydrate. Sandwich, Kent: Pfizer Limited; 1995 [revised May 2018]. Accessed 26 Jan. 2019] (online) Available from:
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006. Irinotecan. [Updated 2018 Dec 3].
- Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
- Chu E, Sartorelli AC. Cancer Chemotherapy. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. p. 951.
- Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 736-37.