What is Ado-trastuzumab Emtansine?
Ado trastuzumab emtansine is used to treat HER2-positive breast cancer. Ado-trastuzumab is used to treat early breast cancer as well as breast cancers that have been able to spread to other areas within your system (metastatic).Ado-trastuzumab is typically used when other treatments have not worked.
Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab) is not recommended to be used in lieu of Herceptin (trastuzumab).Ado-trastuzumab can be prescribed for reasons not mentioned in this guideline.
Side Effects Of Ado-trastuzumab Emtansine
See a doctor immediately. If you are experiencing warning signs of an allergic response, such as symptoms of hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your lips, face, and tongue,Certain side effects can occur during the course of an injection. Inform your doctor immediately. If you feel uncomfortable and lightheaded, feel feverish or sweaty, or experience chest tightness, fast heartbeats, or difficulty breathing,
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine may cause serious side effects. Consult your doctor immediately if you suffer from:
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Simple bleeding, unusual bruising, or the appearance of red or purple spots beneath your skin
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Vomiting blood or vomiting that is reminiscent of coffee grounds
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Bloody or tarry stool;
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Discomfort in the chest, wheezing, dry cough;
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A strange feeling of tiredness and lightheadedness;
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Pale skin with pale, icy feet and hands;
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Tingling, numbness, and burning sensations in your feet or hands;
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A sudden weakness or numbness (especially in one part of your body) and an extreme headache or slurred speech. balance issues
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Heart conditions: swelling in your lower limbs, rapid weight increase, feeling sluggish, coughing, fast or pounding heartbeats, and dizziness. You feel like you're going to faint.
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Issues with the liver: loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal discomfort (upper right side), and dark urine jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin).
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Tumor cell breakdown—confusion, weakness, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, fast or slow heart rate, decreased urination, tingling in your hands and feet or around your mouth are the signs of this.
The treatment for cancer may be delayed or discontinued permanently when you experience certain adverse effects.
Common adverse effects of ado trastuzumab emtansine can be:
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Bleeding or bruising (especially bleeding from the nose);
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Nausea, constipation;
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Joints or muscle discomfort;
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Headaches;
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Feeling exhausted.
This isn't a complete list of all the side effects. Other side effects could occur.
Seek advice from your doctor for medical advice regarding adverse reactions.
You can report any symptoms to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Warnings
Do not take it if you're expecting. Use effective birth control and inform your doctor if you are pregnant while you are receiving treatment.
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine may result in serious side effects for your heart or liver. Call your doctor immediately if you notice lower stomach discomfort, weight loss or dark urine, discoloration of your eyes or skin, shortness of breath and swelling, coughing in your body, rapid weight gain, quick or rapid heartbeats, nausea, or you feel as if you're about to pass out.
Before You Take This Drug
Talk to your physician If you've had any of the following:
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Heart issues;
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The liver condition (especially hepatitis B or C);
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Bleeding disorder or blood clotting like hemophilia
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Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary illness (COPD), sleep apnea, or any other breathing disorder.
It is possible that you will need to take a pregnancy test that is negative prior to beginning this treatment.
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine may harm the unborn baby when the father or mother uses this medicine.
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If you're female, do not use ado trastuzumab or emtansine if you're expecting. Make sure you use effective birth control methods to avoid the possibility of pregnancy while taking this medicine and for at least 7 months following the last dose.
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If you're male, use effective birth control when your partner is capable of becoming pregnant. Continue using birth control for a minimum of 4 months following your last dose.
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Contact your physician immediately. If you become pregnant during the time that one of the mothers or fathers is taking ado trastuzumab emtansine,
Don't breastfeed while taking this medication or for at least 7 months following the last dose.
Details On Dosage
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine can be given as an infusion into the vein. The healthcare professional will give the injection.Ado-trastuzumab is administered slowly. The infusion may take between 30 and 90 minutes to finish.Contact your physician if you feel any pain, burning, or swelling in the area of your IV needle after the ado-trastuzumab emtansine injection.
Ado-trastuzumab is typically given every 3 weeks. The doctor will decide on the time frame for treatment.It is possible that you will require frequent medical tests to make sure the medicine is not producing harmful negative effects. Your treatment for cancer could be delayed, depending on the results.Usual Adult Dose for Breast Cancer:
3.6 mg/kg IV once every three months (a 21-day period) until progression of the disease or toxic levels are unacceptable.
Maximum dose: 3.6 mg/kg IV every 3 weeks
Comments:
The first infusion should be administered for 90 minutes. Infusions following that can be administered in 30 minutes, if tolerated.
Watch patients throughout and for at least 90 minutes after the first dose on the lookout for fever, chills, or other related reactions to infusions.
Patients should have a positive tumor status that is confirmed prior to initiating therapy.
Do not substitute trastuzumab emtansine for or in conjunction with trastuzumab.
If a scheduled dose is missed or delayed, it must be administered as quickly as you can; don't delay until the next scheduled cycle.
Use as a single agent for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer in patients who have previously had trastuzumab or a taxane, either separately or in combination. Patients must have one of the following:
Prior therapy was received for metastatic disease.
Recurrence of the disease that has developed during or within 6 months after completing adjuvant therapy
What Happens If I Miss The Dose?
Contact your doctor for advice. If you do not make an appointment to receive your ado-trastuzumab injection of emtansine,
What Happens If I Overdose?
Because this medication is administered by a health specialist in a medical setting, the risk of overdose is less likely to occur.
What Should Be Avoided?
Avoid activities that increase the chances of sustaining injuries or bleeding. Make sure you take extra precautions to avoid bleeding when shaving or brushing your teeth.
Interaction With Other Drugs
There are times when it's not recommended to take certain medications together. Certain drugs may affect your blood levels and the other drugs that you take, which can create side effects or render the drugs less effective.
Other medications can affect ado-trastuzumab, the emtansine drug, including medications that are prescribed and available over the counter, vitamins, and herbal products. Discuss with your physician your current medications as well as any medicines you are about to start or stop taking.
