Gefitinib

Generic name: Gefitinib
Brand names: Iressa
Dosage form: oral tablet (250 mg)
Drug class: EGFR inhibitors

Usage of Gefitinib

Gefitinib is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.

Gefitinib is used to treat non-small cell lung cancer.

Gefitinib is sometimes used to treat cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Gefitinib may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Gefitinib 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.

Gefitinib may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

severe or ongoing diarrhea;

sudden chest pain or discomfort, new or worsening cough with fever, trouble breathing;

blurred vision, watery eyes, eye pain or redness, eyes being more sensitive to light;

liver problems--nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

signs of stomach bleeding--severe stomach pain, bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds; or

severe skin reaction--fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Common side effects of gefitinib may include:

diarrhea;

acne;

dry skin; or

itching or skin rash.

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 Gefitinib

You should not use gefitinib if you are allergic to it.

To make sure gefitinib is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

liver disease;

kidney disease;

vision problems;

breathing problems, lung disease other than lung cancer; or

if you take a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven).

Do not use gefitinib if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using gefitinib and for at least 2 weeks after your treatment ends.

This medicine may affect fertility (the ability to have children) in women. Tell your doctor if you plan to become pregnant.

It is not known whether gefitinib passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not breast-feed while taking gefitinib.

Relate drugs

How to use Gefitinib

Usual Adult Dose for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer:

250 mg orally once a day until disease progression or unacceptable toxicityNOTE: For patients who have difficulty swallowing tablets immerse the tablet in 4 to 8 ounces of water (noncarbonated) and stir until dispersed (about 15 minutes). Drink the liquid or administer through a nasogastric tube. Rinse the container with 4 to 8 ounces of water and drink or administer through nasogastric tube.Comments:-Select patients for the first-line treatment of metastatic NSCLC with this drug based on the presence of EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R mUTAtions in their tumor or plasma specimens.Use: For first-line treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients whose tumors have epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions or exon 21 (L858R) substitution mutations as detected by an FDA-approved test.

Warnings

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

What other drugs will affect Gefitinib

Other drugs may interact with gefitinib, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

Disclaimer

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