This is an automatically translated article.
Gefitinib is an anti-cancer drug for non-small cell lung cancer when the disease is locally advanced or metastatic. Complying with indications and doses of Gefitinib will help patients improve treatment efficiency and ensure safety for health.
1. What is Gefitinib?
Gefitinib belongs to the group of anti-cancer drugs, protein kinase inhibitors, whose main ingredient is Gefitinib. Gefitinib has a selective inhibitory effect on tyrosine kinase - a protein to inhibit angiogenesis, while increasing tumor cell death activity, thereby helping to slow down and stop cancer cell growth.Gefitinib is made in the form of 250mg film-coated tablets and is indicated for use in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer when the disease is locally advanced or metastatic. The drug is for use in adults only and alone.
2. Gefitinib dosage and administration
2.1. Gefitinib medication Gefitinib is taken orally with a glass of water, can be taken during or after a meal. To avoid missed doses, take the medicine at the same time each day. Note, do not take antacids 2 hours before or 1 hour after taking Gefitinib.
If the patient has difficulty swallowing whole Gefitinib tablets, it can be dissolved in 1/2 glass of water by placing the whole tablet in water and stirring with a spoon for about 20 minutes to completely dissolve the medicine. Note that the medicine must not be crushed and must not be used with other types of water, except boiled and cooled water. Once the medicine has dissolved, drink it immediately.
For Gefitinib, the treatment and use of the drug should be prescribed and monitored by a doctor with expertise and experience in anti-cancer therapy.
2.2. Dosage of Gefitinib The recommended dose of Gefitinib is 250mg/time, equivalent to 1 tablet/time. Use until the disease has good progress or the patient shows signs of drug toxicity.
Gefitinib dosage in some other subjects is recommended as follows:
Elderly: No dosage adjustment is required. Patients with hepatic impairment: Administration of the drug in patients with moderate and severe hepatic impairment (due to cirrhosis) may result in increased drug concentrations, increasing the risk of adverse events. Therefore, patients should be closely monitored while taking the drug. Patients with renal impairment: No dose adjustment of Gefitinib is required in patients with renal impairment with creatinine clearance greater than 20 ml/min. Use with caution in patients with creatinine clearance less than 20ml/min. Patients with poor CYP2D6 metabolisers: Gefitinib is not recommended for dose adjustment, but patients should be closely monitored to prevent undesirable effects. Dosage adjustment in case of toxicity: Stop taking Gefitinib within 14 days when the patient shows signs of skin toxicity, diarrhea, then the drug can be restarted with a dose of 250mg. Consider another treatment if, after stopping treatment, the patient is poorly tolerated. Gefitinib overdose mainly causes skin rash and diarrhea. In the event of an overdose, the patient should be treated symptomatically.
3. Gefitinib side effects
Gefitinib may cause some unwanted side effects with the frequency of occurrence as follows:
Common: Stomatitis, anorexia, dehydration after diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, conjunctivitis, blepharitis , dry eyes, nosebleeds, hemorrhage. Interstitial pneumonia, cystitis, proteinuria, increased alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, rash, pustular rash, erythema, dry skin, pruritus. Rare: Gefitinib rarely causes gastrointestinal perforation, pancreatitis, hepatitis; hemorrhagic cystitis, erythema multiforme, Stevens Johnson syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Frequency not known: Eyelashes not growing normally, corneal erosion, keratitis . If you see any strange symptoms after taking Gefitinib, the patient should immediately report it to a doctor or go to a medical facility for examination and treatment.
4. Some notes when taking Gefitinib medicine
Do not use Gefitinib in people with hypersensitivity to the ingredients of the drug, women who are breastfeeding. Attempt to evaluate tumor tissue EGFR mutations for all patients prior to treatment of locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with gefitinib. Stop taking the drug and seek medical attention immediately when the patient has acute manifestations of interstitial pneumonia such as fever, cough, shortness of breath. It is necessary to periodically check liver function to detect abnormalities in time and use Gefitinib with more caution. If liver function is severely altered, medication should be considered. If the patient develops a serious eye disorder, such as keratitis, and these symptoms progress, gefitinib should be temporarily discontinued for 14 days and permanently discontinued if the corneal ulcer persists. . If the patient develops severe blistering, blistering and peeling, and severe diarrhea, gefitinib should be temporarily discontinued for 14 days and permanently discontinued in case of gastrointestinal perforation. Avoid co-administration of Gefitinib with inducers of CYP3A4 because it may increase metabolism, reduce the concentration of Gefitinib in plasma, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the drug. The administration of gefitinib should be closely monitored in subjects with poor CYP2D6 metabolisers because plasma concentrations may be increased. If Gefitinib is used concomitantly with the anticoagulant Warfarin, the patient should be regularly monitored for prothrombin time or INR. The effectiveness of Gefitinib may be reduced if patients are taking concomitant medications that increase gastric pH (such as H2 antagonists and proton pump inhibitors. Although data are limited, women are pregnant or have If you intend to become pregnant, you should not take Gefitinib. Lactating women who want to take the drug must stop breastfeeding. Be careful when participating in activities that require alertness and concentration such as driving or operating a car. operate machinery because gefitinib can be debilitating. Gefitinib contains sugar, so if you have sugar intolerance, you need to tell your doctor right away. Also, gefitinib can interact with some other drugs. Patients need to learn before using and provide a list of drugs, herbal products and functional foods to the doctor to avoid interactions
The use of Gefitinib is to selectively inhibit a protein - tyrosine kinase to stop tumor cells from growing.The drug is used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer when the disease progresses n develop locally or metastasize. To ensure safety for your health and maximize the effectiveness of your treatment, you need to take Reminyl 8mg exactly as directed by your doctor.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
