Erlotinib
About Erlotinib
Erlotinib is a prescription medication used to treat specific types of non-small cell lung cancer that has spread to nearby tissues or other parts of the body. It is also used in combination with other therapies to treat advanced pancreatic cancer. This medicine plays an important role in slowing the growth and spread of cancer cells.
This medication is typically taken once daily, and consistency is key to keeping a stable level of the medicine in your body. You must take this tablet on an empty stomach, either at least one hour before or two hours after eating, as food can significantly change how the medicine is absorbed. Adopting healthy habits, such as protecting your skin from the sun and staying well-hydrated, can help support your body during this treatment.
While taking this medicine, you may experience common side effects like skin rashes or diarrhoea, which are usually manageable. However, it is vital to contact your doctor immediately if you experience severe symptoms, such as sudden breathing difficulties, severe stomach pain, or yellowing of your eyes and skin.
Before starting this treatment, talk to your doctor if you have a history of liver disease, kidney problems, lung inflammation, or eye disorders. Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or have had a severe allergic reaction to any of its ingredients.
This medicine can interact with several substances; for instance, smoking tobacco speeds up how fast your body removes the drug, making it less effective, while certain acid-reducing medications can stop your body from absorbing it properly. It is highly recommended that pregnant, breastfeeding, or elderly individuals consult their healthcare provider before beginning treatment to ensure it is safe for their specific circumstances.
Uses of Erlotinib
Medicinal Benefits
Erlotinib provides several benefits by targeting specific cancer cells and slowing the progression of the disease:
- Targets Cancer Cells: It specifically blocks EGFR signals that promote the growth and multiplication of certain cancer cells, helping slow tumour growth.
- Helps Control Disease Progression: By delaying the growth and spread of cancer, it helps manage advanced cancers more effectively.
- May Help Relieve Cancer-Related Symptoms: Slowing tumour growth may reduce pressure on nearby organs, which can help ease symptoms such as coughing, chest discomfort, or breathing difficulties.
- Supports Daily Functioning: By helping control the disease, Erlotinib may enable some patients to maintain their physical activity and quality of life for longer during treatment.
Directions for Use
- Take Erlotinib on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating a meal or as advised by your doctor.
- It is advised to take Erlotinib once daily; however, follow your doctor's recommendation regarding the dosage and duration.
- Swallow it as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, chew or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Erlotinib
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Skin rash, dry skin, or itching
- Diarrhoea or loose stools
- Loss of appetite, nausea, or mild stomach upset
- Unusual tiredness or lack of energy
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Sudden shortness of breath, severe cough, or fever
- Severe or ongoing diarrhoea, vomiting, and inability to keep fluids down
- Signs of liver damage, such as yellowing of your eyes or skin, dark urine, or severe right-sided stomach pain
- Eye irritation, severe dryness, pain, or changes in your vision
- Severe skin peeling, blistering, or painful sores on your skin or inside your mouth
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Inspect your tablets: Always examine your tablets before taking them. Do not take any tablet that is broken, chipped, or shows signs of discolouration.
- Use acid-reducing medicines with caution: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can significantly reduce the absorption of Erlotinib and are generally avoided unless your doctor advises otherwise. If you need an antacid or an H2 blocker, your doctor will tell you how to space the doses appropriately to minimise interactions.
- Use reliable birth control: This medication can cause serious harm to a developing baby. Women of reproductive potential should use highly effective contraception during treatment and for at least 1 month after the final dose. Men with partners who can become pregnant should also discuss appropriate contraception with their doctor during treatment.
- Do not self-treat severe rashes: If you develop a painful or blistering rash, contact your doctor immediately. Do not apply over-the-counter acne creams, as these can severely irritate your skin further.
- Monitor your breathing: Because lung inflammation is a rare but serious risk, report any new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, or fever to your healthcare team immediately.
Drug Interactions
The following medicines may interact with Erlotinib and affect its safety or effectiveness:
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): PPIs can markedly reduce the absorption of Erlotinib and are generally avoided unless your doctor determines they are necessary.
- H2 blockers and antacids: These medicines can also reduce Erlotinib absorption. If they are needed, your doctor will advise you on the correct timing of doses to minimise the interaction.
- Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (such as ketoconazole or clarithromycin): These medications can raise the levels of Erlotinib in your blood, increasing the risk of serious side effects.
- Strong CYP3A4 inducers (such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, or rifampin): These medicines can lower the levels of Erlotinib in your system, making your cancer treatment less effective.
- Blood thinners (such as warfarin): Taking these with Erlotinib can increase your risk of bleeding or bruising.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeYou are recommended to avoid alcohol consumption with Erlotinib as it may increase the risk of side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, or difficulty in concentrating.
Pregnancy
unsafeErlotinib is restricted to use in pregnancy. A woman needs to have a negative pregnancy test before starting treatment with this medicine. It is better to use effective birth control methods to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine or at least 6 months after taking the last dose of Erlotinib.
Breast Feeding
unsafeErlotinib should not be taken by breastfeeding mothers as it passes into breast milk and may cause a possible risk to the infant.
Driving
cautionIt is not known if Erlotinib affects your driving ability or not. Drive only if you are physically stable and mentally focussed. If you experience drowsiness after taking this medication, you should not drive or operate any machinery or vehicles.
Liver
cautionErlotinib should be taken with caution in patients dealing with liver disease. The doctor may adjust the dose according to the medical condition of the patient.
Kidney
cautionErlotinib is safe to take by patients dealing with kidney disease as prescribed by their doctor. The doctor may adjust the dose according to the medical condition of the patient.
Children
unsafeErlotinib is not recommended for children below 18 years as the safety and effectiveness were not established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Avoid smoking: Tobacco smoke significantly lowers the level of Erlotinib in your blood, making the treatment much less effective. If you smoke, speak to your doctor about resources to help you quit.
- Avoid grapefruit products: Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can increase the amount of Erlotinib in your system, which raises your risk of experiencing severe side effects.
- Protect your skin from the sun: This medication makes your skin highly sensitive to sunlight. Wear protective clothing, hats, and apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher daily. Use gentle, alcohol-free moisturisers to manage dry skin.
- Manage diarrhoea with hydration: If you develop mild diarrhoea, drink plenty of clear fluids such as water, broth, or electrolyte solutions to prevent dehydration. Avoid spicy, greasy, or high-fibre foods that can worsen stomach irritation.
Special Advise
- Regular blood test is required to monitor liver function and blood cells in blood while taking Erlotinib.
- While taking Erlotinib, you might become more sensitive to sunlight, so it is important to protect your skin with a high sun protection factor (SPF) while going out as it can lead to a skin rash if you are not using a strong SPF.
- Always take it with food and a full glass of water to prevent nausea.
- Erlotinib can cause swelling and water retention, so if you have unexpected rapid weight gain, please consult your doctor.
- Do not have immunizations with live vaccines (for mumps, rubella, measles and BCG, yellow fever and shingles or pox chicken) while you’re having treatment and for up to 12 months afterward.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any infection signs, including a temperature above 37.5 C or below 36 C.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Lung cancer: It happens when cells in the lung begin to grow in an uncontrolled manner. The most common form of lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It happens when cells that form the lining of the lung start growing uncontrollably. Persons who smoke are at high risk of lung cancer. A common symptom of NSCLC is a cough that does not go quickly followed by shortness of breath. Cancerous cells of the lung spread off and travel through the bloodstream to distant regions of the body and grow.
Pancreatic cancer: It is a type of tumor in the pancreas that usually begins in the juice's cells. It is a gland behind your stomach that produces juices that help break down food and the hormones that help control blood sugar levels.
FAQs
Erlotinib is used to treat lung and pancreatic cancer.
Erlotinib contains Erlotinib, an anti-cancer medication that works by preventing the activity of a protein called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and hence induces cell death (apoptosis). As a result, the growth and spread of cancer cells in stopped or slowed down.
The most common sign of lung cancer is a cough that lasts long and gets worse with time. Sometimes, a patient may notice blood in the cough. Chest pain is also a sign of lung cancer followed by coughing.
Erlotinib is safe to be taken by a diabetic person. However, take Erlotinib only after asking with a doctor as they may adjust the dosing according to the patient's condition.
In elderly patients, the risk of side effects is more if you are taking Erlotinib. For the patients who are elderly, dose adjustment might be required or your doctor might prescribe any other medication safe for the elderly.
Erlotinib can make you more likely to get infections or may worsen any current infections. Avoid contact with people who have infections that may spread to others (such as chickenpox, measles, flu). Consult your doctor if you have been exposed to an infection or for more details.
No, It is advised to maintain a gap between both the medicines, as use of antacids along with Erlotinib may affect the way the Erlotinib works. Consult your doctor for further information.
Erlotinib should be used with caution in patients using anticoagulants. Erlotinib may increase your tendency to bleed. Talk to your doctor, he will need to regularly monitor you with some blood tests.
Erlotinib is not recommended for children under 18 years of age, as its safety and efficacy were not established.
No, you should not take Erlotinib if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant as it may cause harm to an unborn baby. Consult the doctor if you have any concerns.
No. Take Erlotinib on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after food. Taking it with food increases the amount of medicine absorbed into your bloodstream, which may increase the risk of side effects. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully regarding when to take each dose.
Erlotinib is a targeted therapy used to treat specific types of non-small cell lung cancer that spread to nearby tissues or any other parts of the body in patients who have previously undergone at least one chemotherapy treatment without improvement.
Yes, Smoking may interfere with Erlotinib. It lowers the levels of Erlotinib in the blood, potentially reducing its effectiveness in treating the cancer. Avoid smoking while on treatment with Erlotinib to treat your condition effectively.
Inform the doctor if you notice a rash while taking Erlotinib as it could be a symptom of an allergic reaction.
Erlotinib may harm the foetus. Therefore, it is not recommended to become pregnant during treatment with Erlotinib. Use effective birth control while taking Erlotinib and for at least one month after your final dose. Talk to the doctor if you plan to become pregnant; the doctor will provide guidance on the same.
Erlotinib may cause sparse eyelashes (thinning of eyelashes), blepharitis (inflammation of eyelids), and diffuse conjunctival congestion (redness of the eye). Consult the doctor if you notice any eye problems.
Call your doctor if you experience severe diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, worsening shortness of breath or cough, new or worsening rash, blistering or peeling of the skin, eye irritation or any changes in smoking habits during treatment with Erlotinib.
Moderate alcohol consumption is generally not known to interact directly with Erlotinib, but alcohol can irritate your stomach and liver, which are already affected by this medication. It is best to limit or avoid alcohol to protect your organs. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for personalised advice.
Severe lung inflammation is a rare but life-threatening side effect. If you experience sudden shortness of breath, a new or worsening cough, or a fever, seek immediate medical attention. Talk to your doctor if you have any breathing changes.
Medications that lower stomach acid, like proton pump inhibitors, can prevent Erlotinib from being absorbed properly, reducing its effectiveness. If you need antacids, take them at least 2 hours before or 10 hours after your Erlotinib dose. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new stomach medications.
Erlotinib is not a cure, but it is highly effective at slowing down the growth and spread of certain cancer cells, which helps manage the disease and control symptoms. Your doctor will monitor your progress to see how well the medicine is working. Talk to your doctor to understand your specific treatment goals.
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