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Alvoceva is an immunosuppressive, anti-cancer drug with the main ingredient erlotinib. Alvoceva is indicated in cases of non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer. Information about the uses, doses and side effects of Alvoceva will be in the following article.
1. What is Alvoceva?
Alvoceva is prepared in the form of film-coated tablets, box of 3 blisters x 10 tablets, with the main ingredients including:
Active ingredient: Erlotinib (in the form of Erlotinib hydrochloride) content of 100 mg. Excipients: Cellulose, microcrystalline (E460), Lactose monohydrate, Sodium lauryl sulfate, Magnesium stearate, Sodium starch glycolate Type A. Erlotinib is a kinase inhibitor, specifically tyrosine kinase of epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR-) tyrosine kinases). These are receptors present on the surface of both healthy and cancerous cells. This inhibition causes cell death or inhibition, so it has anti-cancer potential.
In randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in nearly 730 patients with non-small cell lung cancer, results: compared with placebo, patients receiving erlotinib (Tarceva) 150 mg daily days with significantly improved outcomes. Median survival was 6.7 months compared with 4.7 months in the placebo group. The percentage of patients alive at 12 months from the time of study in 2 groups was 31.2% and 21.5%, respectively. A survival benefit with Tarceva was observed in most patient subgroups.
2. What are the effects of Alvoceva?
Alvoceva is indicated for the treatment of:
Non-small cell lung cancer:
First-line treatment of advanced stage cancer with EGFR mutations. Second-line treatment of stage 2 cancer where the tumor is localized or has metastasized and has been resistant to at least 1 chemotherapy regimen. Pancreatic cancer :
Cancer in situ Advanced stage Cancer that cannot be operated on Cancer has metastases Contraindication of Alvoceva drug in case the person has a history of allergy to erlotinib or any of the ingredients contained in this medicine. Alvoceva drug.
3. Dosage and usage of Alvoceva:
3.1. Dosage of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer:
The usual dose is 150mg/day Taken 1 hour before meals or 2 hours after meals Recommendation: do not take Alvoceva with grapefruit juice Pancreatic cancer
Usual dose: 100 mg/ Day Take Alvoceva 1 hour before meals or 2 hours after meals 3.2. How to take Alvoceva is used orally. Patients should take the whole tablet, do not chew, crush or break it because it will reduce the absorption of the drug. Patients should take the drug on an empty stomach to help increase the absorption rate of Alvoceva.
The patient takes the drug until the symptoms improve or is forced to stop the drug when the toxicity is too much to be tolerated. If the dose is to be reduced or discontinued, the dose must be reduced in increments of 50 mg.
4. Notes when using Alvoceva
4.1. Side effects encountered when using Alvoceva Treatment with Alvoceva can cause the following side effects:
Very common: fatigue, itching, rash, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, stomatitis, shortness of breath, eye conjunctivitis, bacterial infection. Common: ALT elevation, pneumonia, weight loss, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, cerebrovascular accident, arrhythmia, syncope, edema, depression, fever, headache, stomatitis, pancreatitis, paralytic ileus, renal failure, dyspnea, interstitial lung injury. When detecting side effects during the use of Alvoceva, the patient or family member must go to a medical facility or notify the medical staff for instructions for immediate treatment.
4.2. Notes on the use of Alvoceva in subjects Use caution when using Alvoceva in people with liver failure. Since Erlotinib is metabolised mainly in the liver and biliary excretion aids in drug elimination. If adverse reactions are severe, consider dose reduction or discontinuation. Particular attention should be paid to patients with severe hepatic impairment because the safety of the drug has not been established. Caution should be exercised in patients with renal impairment because the efficacy of the drug in comparison to its safety in these subjects has not been studied. People who have had or are suffering from lung disease or lung disease due to previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Patients who are taking immunosuppressive corticosteroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), have peptic ulcers, or are undergoing chemotherapy with Taxane. The patient is in a state of dehydration. The safety of Alvoceva in children 18 years of age and younger has not been studied. Alvoceva may affect people who have to do tasks that require concentration, such as driving or operating machinery. Pregnancy: Alvoceva is toxic to the fetus. The drug should only be used in women if it is certain that there is no pregnancy or if used in pregnant women with warnings about the risk of miscarriage. Lactation: It is not known whether erlotinib is excreted in human milk, therefore, mothers taking Alvoceva should discontinue breast-feeding.
5. Alvoceva drug interactions:
Interactions with other drugs
Antifungal and antiviral drugs such as Indinavir, Itraconazole, Ketoconazole, Atazanavir, Nefazodon, Nelfinavir: because these are inhibitors of cytochrome P450 CYP3A4 isoenzymes, they should increase the plasma concentration of Erlotinib, avoid use in combination with these drugs with Alvoceva. The antibiotic Clarythromycin: increases the concentration of erlotinib in the blood. If the combination must be used, consider reducing the dose of Alvoceva. Grapefruit or grapefruit juice also increases the side effects of Alvoceva by increasing the plasma concentration of erlotinib. Drugs that induce CYP3A4 such as Carbamazepine, Phenobarbital, Phenytoin Rifampicin, Rifabutin increase the rate of metabolism of Erlotinib, thus reducing the drug concentration in the blood. If co-administration of erlotinib with these agents is required, an increase in the dose of Alvoceva should be considered. Smoking reduces the effectiveness of treatment because it reduces the concentration of erlotinib in the blood. Patients using Alvoceva must quit smoking during treatment. Cardiac glycosides, vitamin K antagonists or vaccines will be reduced in concentration and effectiveness if used with erlotinib. Above is the basic information and important notes when using Alvoceva. Alvoceva is a prescription medication and should only be used as directed by your doctor. Patients during treatment should be closely monitored, if there are any questions or other symptoms, they should immediately notify the treating doctor to consider the use of the drug.
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