Erlonat 150mg Tablet 30’S

INTRODUCTION

ERLONAT 150MG contains Erlotinib which belongs to the group of medicines called Cytostatic agents. It is used to treat advanced non-small cell lung cancer in adult patients. It can also be used to treat advanced, unresectable metastatic pancreatic cancer in adult patients in combination with gemcitabine. It can be prescribed to you either as an initial therapy or as an alternative therapy if your disease remains largely unchanged after initial chemotherapy, provided your cancer cells have specific EGFR mutations.

Erlotinib works by inhibiting the activity of a protein called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is known to be responsible for the growth and spread of cancer cells. Avoid smoking while taking this medicine, because smoking could decrease the amount of the medicine in your blood. Always take this medicine at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. Avoid concomitant treatment of this medicine with statins because it may increase the risk of muscle pain, tenderness or cramps. Before taking this medicine, inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

The most common side effect of taking this medicine are skin rash, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, depression, headache, weight loss and hair loss. Contact your doctor immediately if any of the above symptom worsens. ERLONAT 150MG is not recommended for use in patients with severe liver or kidney disease and in children or adolescents under 18 years of age. Consult your doctor before taking.

USES OF ERLONAT 150MG

• Treats advanced non-small cell lung cancer in adults
• Treats advanced, unresectable metastatic pancreatic cancer in adult patients in combination with gemcitabine

HOW ERLONAT 150MG WORKS

Following oral administration, erlotinib binds to the intracellular portion (tyrosine kinase) of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and inhibits its activity. EGFR is expressed on the surface of both normal as well as cancer cells. Inhibition of EGFR and it’s signaling significantly decreases tumor proliferation and survival, resulting in cell death.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Take ERLONAT 150MG as directed by your physician. It must be taken at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. Do not take this medicine with meals. Swallow the medicine as whole with a sip of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Your doctor will decide the correct dose for you depending upon your condition. Continue to take this medicine, as long as your doctor tells you to do so, to obtain better results.

SIDE EFFECTS OF ERLONAT 150MG

HOW TO MANAGE SIDE EFFECTS

Nausea:

Try to rest and relax. Stick to simple meals. Do not eat rich or spicy food.

Flatulence:

Eat smaller and frequent meals. Eat and drink slowly, and exercise regularly. If the symptoms get worse, contact your doctor immediately.

Diarrhea:

Drink lots of fluids, such as water or juice, to avoid dehydration. Do not take any medicines without speaking to a doctor.

Stomach pain:

Try to rest and relax. You can eat and drink slowly or have smaller and frequent meals. Keeping a heat pad on your stomach may also help. If still pain persists, speak to your doctor.

Skin rash:

Avoid hot showers because hot water can irritate the skin. Do not rub or scratch the affected area. Use sunscreen and protective clothing when outdoors. Regularly use moisturizers to soothe and hydrate the affected area. If it does not get better, speak to a doctor.

WARNING & PRECAUTIONS