Erbitux

[Guest guest]

Phil only had two doses of Erbitux. He got the rash though a very mild form,

but the problem for him seemed to be his counts. Knowing now that his liver

was failing I hesitate to say that what we thought was Erbitux side effects

really were the chemo and not the liver failure.

Since they have tried a lot of chemo drugs I would want to know all the

risks and benefits for HIM. Erbitux is very strong and frankly unless they think

it will significantly improve things you may really want to consider if it

will be worth the side effects listed below.

Narice

Erbitux

cetuximab (seh TUX ih mab)

What is the most important information I should know about Erbitux?

• Erbitux should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified

healthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

• Serious side effects have been reported with the use of Erbitux including:

severe allergic reactions (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;

swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; hives; and low blood pressure); lung

problems (cough, difficulty breathing); skin problems (rash, dryness,

inflammation, infection); and others. Talk to your doctor about the possible

side effects

from treatment with Erbitux.

• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight or artificial UV light (e.g.,

sunlamps) during treatment with Erbitux. Exposure to sunlight may increase the

risk

or severity of skin related side effects from this treatment. If exposure to

the sun is unavoidable, a sunscreen should be used and protective clothing

such as a hat, long sleeves, and pants should be worn.

What is Erbitux?

• Erbitux is a cancer (antineoplastic) medication. Erbitux interferes with

the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.

• Erbitux is used in the treatment of cancers of the colon and rectum.

• Erbitux may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this

medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using Erbitux?

• Do not use Erbitux without first talking to your doctor if you have an

allergy to Erbitux or mouse protein. You may not be able to use Erbitux, or you

may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.

• Before using Erbitux, tell your doctor if you have any other allergies,

medical conditions, or if you take any other prescription or over-the-counter

medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

• Erbitux is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not

known whether Erbitux will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use Erbitux

without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become

pregnant

during treatment. Discuss with your doctor the appropriate use of birth

control during treatment with Erbitux if necessary.

• It is not known whether Erbitux passes into breast milk. Do not take

Erbitux without first talking to your doctor if you are breast feeding a baby.

How should I use Erbitux?

• Erbitux should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified

healthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

• Erbitux is administered as an intravenous (into the vein) infusion. Most

often, Erbitux is administered in a hospital or clinic setting. If you are

administering Erbitux at home, your healthcare provider will give you detailed

instructions regarding preparation, administration, and storage of the

medication.

• Your doctor will determine the correct amount and frequency of treatment

with Erbitux depending upon the type of cancer being treated and other

factors. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns regarding

the

treatment schedule.

• Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests

and other medical evaluations during treatment with Erbitux to monitor

progress and side effects.

• Your healthcare provider will store Erbitux as directed by the

manufacturer. If you are storing Erbitux at home, follow the directions

provided by your

healthcare provider.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of Erbitux.

What happens if I overdose?

• If an overdose of Erbitux is suspected, seek emergency medical attention

or contact your healthcare provider immediately.

• Symptoms of a Erbitux overdose are not known.

What should I avoid while using Erbitux?

• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight or artificial UV light (e.g.,

sunlamps) during treatment with Erbitux. Exposure to sunlight may increase the

risk

or severity of skin related side effects from this treatment. If exposure to

the sun is unavoidable, a sunscreen should be used and protective clothing

such as a hat, long sleeves, and pants should be worn.

What are the possible side effects of Erbitux?

• Serious side effects have been reported with the use of Erbitux including:

severe allergic reactions (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;

swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; hives; and low blood pressure); lung

problems (cough, difficulty breathing); skin problems (rash, dryness,

inflammation, infection); and others. Talk to your doctor about the possible

side effects

from treatment with Erbitux.

• If you experience any of the following serious side effects from Erbitux,

seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

·an allergic reaction (including difficulty breathing; closing of the

throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; hives; or low blood pressure);

·cough or difficulty breathing;

·skin rash, dryness, or inflammation;

·inflammation at the injection site;

·fever; or

·little or no urine production.

• Other, less serious side effects may also occur. Continue taking Erbitux

and talk to your doctor if you experience:

·nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, or abdominal pain;

·weakness;

·swelling;

·insomnia;

·headache;

·hair loss; or

·itching.

• Other side effects have also been reported. Discuss with your doctor any

side effect that occurs during treatment with Erbitux.

What other drugs will affect Erbitux?

• Other medications may interact with Erbitux. Talk to your doctor and

pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines,

including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products, during treatment with

Erbitux.

Where can I get more information?

• Your healthcare provider may have additional information about Erbitux

that you may read.

• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children,

never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the

indication prescribed.

• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by

Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no

guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time

sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare

practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not

warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless

specifically

indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs,

diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an

informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in

caring

for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a

supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and

judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug

or

drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or

drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient.

Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare

administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information

contained

herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions,

warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you

have

questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or

pharmacist.

Click here for more information on Erbitux from the manufacturer.

Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.01. Revision date:

3/11/04.

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