Erleva 150mg Tablet
Product Info
| Prescription required | Yes |
| Marketer | Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd |
| Active Ingredient | Erlotinib (150mg) |
| Storage | Store below 30°C |
| Chemical Class | Quinazoline Derivative |
| Habit Forming | No |
| Therapeutic Class | ANTI NEOPLASTICS |
| Action Class | Tyrosine kinase inhibitors |
| User Rating | 4.5 |
| User Reviews | 690 |
FAQ
When can I plan pregnancy, if I am taking Erleva 150mg?
Avoid pregnancy while being treated with Erleva 150mg. If you are a woman of child-bearing age use effective contraception during treatment. Avoid pregnancy for at least 1 month after taking the last tablet.
Is Erleva 150mg a chemotherapy drug?
Erleva 150mg is not a conventional chemotherapy medicine. Erleva 150mg belongs to a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of an abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. This in turn helps to slow or stop the spread of cancer cells.
How should Erleva 150mg be taken?
Erleva 150mg is a pill to be taken by mouth, once a day without food as prescribed by your doctor. It is important that you take Erleva 150mg empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 house after meals. It is advisable to take it the same time each day so that you remember when to take it.
Does smoking interfere with Erleva 150mg?
Yes, smoking can interfere with the working of Erleva 150mg. It can decrease the effectiveness of the medicine to a great extent. Hence, it is advised to stop smoking before you start Erleva 150mg. Your doctor will need to adjust the dose of Erleva 150mg, if you keep on smoking or there is a change in the pattern of smoking.
Does Erleva 150mg affect eyes?
Erleva 150mg commonly causes conjunctivitis and dry eyes. If you develop acute or worsening redness and pain in the eye, increased eye-watering, blurred vision and/or sensitivity to light, immediately inform the doctor as you may need urgent treatment.
When should I call my doctor during treatment with Erleva 150mg?
Inform the doctor if you experience sudden difficulty in breathing associated with cough or fever, severe or ongoing diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Also, consult your doctor if you experience acute or worsening redness and pain in the eye, increased eye-watering, blurred vision and/or sensitivity to light. Let your doctor know in case you are taking a statin (medicine to control cholesterol) along with this medicine and experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, or cramps.
What should I do if I get a rash while taking Erleva 150mg?
Rash is a common side effect of Erleva 150mg but you should not stop taking Erleva 150mg because of this. Consult your doctor who will suggest a treatment for it. Also, avoid sun-exposure, use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing.
How long can I take Erleva 150mg?
You need to take Erleva 150mg every day, as long as your doctor prescribes it for you. The duration of treatment may vary from person to person.
What if you forget to take Erleva Tablet?
If you miss a dose of Erleva 150mg, skip it and continue with your normal schedule. Do not double the dose.
Erleva 150mg Tablet Reviews
Erleva 150mg is used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.
Erleva 150mg should be taken on an empty stomach or should be taken one hour before or 2 hour after meal. You should continue to take it as long as your doctor advises it. The duration of treatment varies according to your needs and response to treatment. 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 nausea, vomiting, fatigue, rash, and weight loss. It may cause severe diarrhea, drink plenty of fluids or consult with your doctor if it bothers you. It makes you sensitive towards sunlight, hence wear protective clothing or use sunscreen while going out. In case you develop ulceration in mouth, changes in your vision, or breathing difficulties than it is better to inform the doctor. Your doctor may advise for regular monitoring of liver function while you are taking this medicine.
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. It is advised to quit smoking while taking this medicine as it can affect the working of the medicine. If you have to take an antacid or any other medicine, take it at a gap of at least 2 hours after taking the cancer medicine.
How Erleva 150mg Tablet Works
Erleva 150mg is an anti-cancer medication. Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) are expressed on the lung cancer cell surfaces that modulate their growth. This medicine works by binding the chemical messenger, EGFR, hence, inhibits the cancer signaling pathways mediated by EGFR. This is how it restricts further growth of the cancer cells.
How to Use Erleva 150mg Tablet
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Erleva 150mg is to be taken empty stomach.
Benefits of Erleva 150mg Tablet
- In Non-small cell lung cancer: Non-small cell lung cancer is one of the major kinds of lung cancer and it affects both smokers as well as non-smokers. Erleva 150mg helps treat non-small cell lung cancer and may be given alone or in combination with other medicines. It is a potent and very toxic medicine and you should discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. You should avoid drinking alcohol while having this treatment and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
- In Pancreatic cancer: Pancreas are very essential for digestion of whatever you eat and also for metabolism of blood sugar levels as they produce the body’s natural insulin. This medicine will help to control pancreatic cancer, and will relieve the symptoms such as, lack of appetite or unexplained weight loss. Erleva 150mg helps to stop the action of those chemicals that aid in pancreatic cancer growth and spread. It will help you live a longer and healthier life.
Uses of Erleva 150mg Tablet
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
Erleva 150mg Tablet Side Effects
Safety Tips
Liver
CAUTION
Erleva 150mg should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Erleva 150mg may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
Pregnancy
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Erleva 150mg 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.
Alcohol
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Erleva 150mg. Please consult your doctor.
Kidney
SAFE IF PRESCRIBED
Erleva 150mg is safe to use in patients with kidney disease. No dose adjustment of Erleva 150mg is recommended.Use of this medicine is not advised in patients with severe kidney disease.
Driving
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
It is not known whether Erleva 150mg alters the ability to drive. Do not drive if you experience any symptoms that affect your ability to concentrate and react.
Breast feeding
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Erleva 150mg is probably unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby.
Quick Tips
- Erleva 150mg helps treat non-small cell lung cancer that is locally advanced, or has spread to other areas of the body.
- Your doctor may want you to have regular blood tests to monitor your liver function while you are having treatment with this medicine.
- Use a reliable contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy while you are taking this medicine and for a month after you stop taking it.
- It should be taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after the meal.
- Inform your doctor if you develop ulceration in your mouth, changes in your vision or if you experience a worsening cough, shortness of breath, or breathing difficulties while taking this medicine.
- Do not take it with medication lowering the stomach acid (such as antacids, H2 blockers including ranitidine), as it may affect the working of medicine.
- Diarrhea may occur as a side effect. Drink plenty of fluids and inform your doctor if it doesn't stop or if you find blood in your stools.
- It is advisable to avoid smoking while taking this medicine, as it makes the drug ineffective and requires dose adjustment.
- Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant, planning to conceive or breastfeeding.
- It makes your skin sensitive towards sunlight. Apply sunscreen or wear protective clothing while going out.
References
- Chabner BA, Barnes J, Neal J, et al. Targeted Therapies: Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors, Monoclonal Antibodies, and Cytokines. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. pp. 1735-36.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006. Erlotinib. [Updated 2018 Dec 3].
- Erlotinib. Seymour, Indiana: Schwarz Pharma Manufacturing; 2014 [revised May 2010].
- 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. pp. 954-55.
- Erlotinib [Prescribing Information]. Seymour, IN: Schwarz Pharma Manufacturing; 2010.
- Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
- 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. 489-90.