Ado-trastuzumab emtansine

Generic name: Ado-trastuzumab Emtansine
Brand names: Kadcyla
Dosage form: intravenous powder for injection (100 mg; 160 mg)
Drug class: HER2 inhibitors

Usage of Ado-trastuzumab emtansine

Ado-trastuzumab emtansine is used to treat a HER2-positive breast cancer. ado-trastuzumab emtansine is used both for early breast cancer and for breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic).

Ado-trastuzumab emtansine is usually given after other treatments have failed.

Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab) should not be used in place of Herceptin (trastuzumab).

Ado-trastuzumab emtansine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Ado-trastuzumab emtansine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Some side effects may occur during the injection. Tell your caregiver right away if you feel cold, light-headed, feverish or sweaty, or have chest tightness, rapid heartbeats, or trouble breathing.

Ado-trastuzumab emtansine may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

easy bruising, unusual bleeding, purple or red spots under your skin;

coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;

bloody or tarry stools;

chest pain, wheezing, dry cough;

unusual tiredness, feeling light-headed;

pale skin, cold hands and feet;

numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands or feet;

sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), severe headache, slurred speech, balance problems;

heart problems--swelling in your lower legs, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath, cough, fast or pounding heartbeat, dizziness, feeling like you might pass out;

liver problems--loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

signs of tumor cell breakdown--confusion, weakness, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, fast or slow heart rate, decreased urination, tingling in your hands and feet or around your mouth.

Your cancer treatments may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects.

Common side effects of ado-trastuzumab emtansine may include:

easy bruising or bleeding (especially nosebleeds);

nausea, constipation;

joint or muscle pain;

headache; or

feeling tired.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Ado-trastuzumab emtansine

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

heart problems;

liver disease (especially hepatitis B or C);

bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia; or

asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea, or other breathing disorder.

You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment.

Ado-trastuzumab emtansine can harm an unborn baby if the mother or the father is using this medicine.

If you are a woman, do not use ado-trastuzumab emtansine if you are pregnant. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 7 months after your last dose.

If you are a man, use effective birth control if your sex partner is able to get pregnant. Keep using birth control for at least 4 months after your last dose.

Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using ado-trastuzumab emtansine.

Do not breastfeed while using this medicine, and for at least 7 months after your last dose.

Relate drugs

How to use Ado-trastuzumab emtansine

Usual Adult Dose for Breast Cancer:

3.6 mg/kg IV every 3 weeks (21-day cycle) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicityMaximum dose: 3.6 mg/kg IV every 3 weeksComments:-Administer the first infusion over 90 minutes. Subsequent infusions may be administered over 30 minutes as tolerated.-Observe patients during and for at least 90 minutes following the initial dose for fever, chills, or other infusion-related reactions.-Patients should have a HER2 positive tumor status confirmed prior to starting therapy.-Do not substitute trastuzumab emtansine for or with trastuzumab.-If a planned dose is delayed or missed, it should be administered as soon as possible; do not wait until the next planned cycle.Use: As a single agent, for HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer in patients who previously received trastuzumab and a taxane, separately or in combination; patients should have either:-Received prior therapy for metastatic diseaseOR-Developed disease recurrence during or within 6 months of completing adjuvant therapy

Warnings

Do not use if you are pregnant. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

ado-trastuzumab emtansine can cause serious side effects on your liver or heart. Call your doctor at once if you have upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, yellowing of your skin or eyes, shortness of breath, cough, swelling, rapid weight gain, fast or pounding heartbeats, dizziness, or if you feel like you might pass out.

What other drugs will affect Ado-trastuzumab emtansine

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Other drugs may affect ado-trastuzumab emtansine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Popular FAQ

For HER2+ early-stage breast cancer, Kadcyla is given as an intravenous (IV) injection every 3 weeks for a total of 14 cycles. For HER2+ metastatic breast cancer that has spread, Kadcyla is given once every 3 weeks on an ongoing basis. In both cases, you may need to stop treatment if the cancer returns or the side effects are intolerable. Continue reading

Kadcyla is made up of two cancer-fighting medicines: a HER2-targeted drug treatment and a chemotherapy drug. It is used for the treatment of patients with HER2+ breast cancer. When you receive Kadcyla, you are getting both medications at the same time. Continue reading

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com'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. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com 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.