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Afinitor

Pronunciation: A-fin-it-or
Generical Name: Everolimus
Brand Names: Afinitor, Afinitor Disperz
Drug Classes: MTOR inhibitors, selective immunosuppressants

What is Afinitor?

It is a cancer treatment that blocks the growth of cancerous cells and reduces their spread throughout the body.

Invitor can be used for treating specific kinds of cancer, such as kidney cancer, breast cancer, and brain tumors. It can also be used to treat specific types of tumours that are progressive or advanced in the stomach, intestinal tracts, or pancreas.

It is also utilised to treat specific kinds of seizures or non-cancerous (benign) tumours of the kidney or brain in people who suffer from the genetic disorder known as the tuberous sclerosis complex.

This guide to medication provides details regarding the Afinitor brand of everolimus. Zortress is a second type of everolimus, which is used to stop organ rejection following the procedure of a kidney transplant.

Warnings

In some cases, Afinitor may cause severe and often deadly adverse consequences. Contact your doctor immediately in case you experience symptoms of infection like fever or chills, a skin rash, joints, tiredness or chest pain, wheezing, or shortness of breath, or kidney problems such as swelling with little or no urination. liver issues—loss of appetite and dark urine, a yellowing of your eyes or skin, or upper stomach pain.

If you've had hepatitis B before, Afinitor can cause this condition to return or become worse.

It is possible to experience the reaction in the event that you take an "ACE inhibitor" heart or blood pressure medication when using Afinitor. Discuss with your physician your current medications and all the ones you begin or stop taking.

Before you take this medicine, consult your physician if you suffer from breathing disorders like asthma, COPD, liver disease (or the history of hepatitis B), an active disease, diabetes, high blood sugar levels, or a high level of cholesterol.

Do not take everolimus while you are expecting. It may harm your unborn baby. Utilise effective birth control while you're taking this medication in the first 8 weeks following the treatment has ended.

Before You Take This Drug

It is recommended not to take Afinitor if you are allergic to the everolimus compound, sirolimus (Rapamune), or temsirolimus (Torisel).

To ensure that Afinitor is suitable for you, inform your doctor if you've previously had:

  • An ongoing or chronic infection;

  • Liver disease, particularly hepatitis B

  • Kidney disease;

  • High blood sugar or diabetes;

  • Excessive cholesterol;

  • If you are scheduled to receive any vaccinations, for example,

  • High blood pressure

The drug can harm an unborn child and cause birth defects when the father or mother is taking the medication.

  • If you're pregnant, do not use Afinitor if it is believed that you're pregnant. You might need to undergo an ultrasound test that is negative prior to beginning this treatment. Make sure you are using effective birth control to avoid pregnancy while using this medication and for a minimum of 8 weeks after the last dose.

  • If you're male, use effective birth control if you are a partner with someone who can get pregnant. Use birth control for a minimum of four weeks after the last dose.

  • Inform your doctor immediately when you notice a pregnancy during the time that both the mother and father are taking Afinitor.

This medication can impact fertility (the ability to bear children) for both females and males. But it is crucial to use birth control in order to stop pregnancy, as it could harm a baby who is not yet born.

It is not recommended to feed your baby while taking this medication and for a minimum of 2 weeks after the dose you last took.

How To Take Afinitor?

Use Afinitor as directed by your physician. Follow the directions on the prescription label, and make sure you read the entire medication guide or instruction sheet. The doctor might modify your dose.

Consume Afinitor at the exact time every day. You can take the medicine with or without food; however, you must take it exactly the same way every time.

Do not use a traditional tablet in conjunction with tablets that disperse. Make sure to only take one form of this medication.

Take note of and follow the instructions for use that come along with your medication. Consult your physician or pharmacist if you don't understand the instructions.

In fact, it can increase the chances of getting a blood clot or an infection because it alters the way your immune system functions. You'll need regular medical tests.

If you've had any experience with hepatitis B or C, taking Afinitor could cause the virus to be active or to get worse. It's possible to have frequent tests to determine the function of your liver while using this drug and for several months after stopping.

The wounds from surgery or any other incisions might be more difficult to heal if you're taking Afinitor. It may be necessary to be off this drug for a week prior to and for 2 weeks following an operation. Follow the directions of your physician.

Keep at room temperature inside the container that was used for storage, far from heat, moisture, and light. Dispersible tablets that are not used should be kept inside the blister foil packs.

What Happens If I Miss a Dose?

Take the medication as quickly as you can. However, avoid your missed dose if you are more than six hours behind on the dose. Do not take two doses at once.

What Happens If I Overdose?

For medical emergencies, seek emergency medical attention or contact for help at the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222.

What Should be Avoided?

Do not get a "live" vaccine while using Afinitor or being in contact with someone who recently received a live vaccination. There is a possibility that the virus may be transmitted to you. The live vaccines are measles, rubella, and mumps (MMR), as well as polio, the typhoid virus, rotavirus, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), and zoster (shingles).

Grapefruit could interact with everolimus and lead to undesirable negative side effects. Beware of using grapefruit-related products.

Do not use mouthwashes or apply medications that contain alcohol, peroxide, iodine, thyme, or peroxide if you have mouth ulcers or sores.

Side Effects Of Afinitor

See a doctor immediately. If you are experiencing indications that indicate an allergy reaction, such as symptoms of hives and chest pains or breathing difficulty and swelling of your lips, face, and tongue, You are more likely to experience these symptoms if you use an "ACE inhibitor" heart or blood pressure medication.

See your doctor right away. If you are suffering from:

  • The appearance of blisters or ulcers inside your mouth, swollen or red gums, or trouble swallowing

  • Lung issues lung issues: an increase or worsening of chest pain, cough, wheezing, or feeling breathless;

  • Symptoms of infection: chills, fever, joint pain, tiredness, and a skin rash.

  • Kidney issues kidney issues very little or no urination, swelling in your ankles or feet;

  • Liver issues (e.g., nau

    sea

    and lack of appetite and gastric discomfort (upper right), dark urine stool that is coloured with clay, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin);

  • Lower blood-cell count low blood cell counts symptoms resembling flu skin sores, simple bleeding, u usually bruising pale skin and feet, cold hands, as well as feeling lightheaded.

  • any wound that does not heal,

  • A surgical incision is warm, red, and painful. It may be swollen, bleeding, painful, or that oozes pus.

The treatment for cancer may be delayed or completely stopped when you experience certain adverse consequences.

Common side effects associated with Afinitor include:

  • Infections, fever, cough fatigue, or feeling weak;

  • Mouth sores;

  • Vomiting, loss of appetite;

  • There is swelling in any part of your body.

  • Rash;

  • Menstrual cycles that are not being fulfilled;

    headache or

  • Blood sugar levels are high, resulting in greater thirst, a higher amount of urination, a dry mouth, and a fruity breath smell.

This is not a comprehensive list of possible side effects, and other side effects could occur. Contact your doctor to seek medical advice on the effects. You can report any symptoms to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Interaction with Other Drugs

Discuss with your doctor all the medications you take. Numerous drugs can affect Invitor, particularly:

  • An antimicrobial or antifungal medication;

  • Blood pressure or heart medication;

  • Treatment for the hepatitis C medicine to treat hepatitis C as well as HIV/AIDS;

  • Seizure medicine;

  • St. John's Wort;

  • Tubercu

    losis

    medicine or

    medications that can weaken immune systems, like steroids, cancer medicines, and medications to stop the rejection of organ transplants.

This list isn't complete, and a variety of other medications could interfere with everolimus. This includes prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vita

mins

, and herbal supplements. There are many possible interactions between drugs, which are listed here.