Erbitux

What is Erbitux?

Erbitux, a cancer drug, interferes with cancer cell growth and spread in the body.Erbitux can be used to treat cancers in the colon or rectum. It can also be used to treat cancers of the head and neck.Erbitux can be used with other cancer medications or radiation therapy.

Side effects of Erbitux

If you experience any of the following symptoms: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling on your face or in your throat, or severe skin reactions (fever or sore throat with burning eyes, skin pain or blisters, or a red or purple rash that is blistering or peeling),Some side effects can occur during or after the infusion. Inform your caregiver immediately in case you experience shortness of breath, nausea, weakness, dizziness, chest pain, or noisy breathing.

If you experience:

• Eye pain or redness; puffy eyelids; drainage or crusting on your eyelids; vision problems or increased sensitivity towards light
• A new or worsening chest pain, shortness of breath,
• A severe skin rash that looks like acne or another skin condition
• Redness or crusting on your hair follicles.
• Redness, warmth, or swelling under the skin;
• Slow heartbeats, weak pulse (fainting), slow breathing (breathing can stop)
• Blisters or ulcers on your lips, red or swollen gingiva, difficulty swallowing
• Low counts of white blood cells—fever, mouth ulcers, skin ulcers, sore throats, coughs, difficulty breathing,
• Signs and symptoms of electrolyte depletion include increased thirst or urination; constipation; muscle pain, weakness, leg cramps or numbness; and feeling jittery, tingling, or jittery.

Erbitux may cause side effects such as:

• Itching or rash
• Changes in the fingernails and toenails
• Dry, cracked, or swollen skin;
• Headache;
• Diarrhea;

There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.

Warnings

Erbitux can be used with other cancer medications or radiation treatments.Tell your doctor before receiving Erbitux if you suffer from heart rhythm disorders, congestive cardiac failure, breathing difficulties, coronary artery diseases, or low potassium or magnesium levels in your blood.Erbitux can cause side effects when injected directly into your vein. Inform your caregiver immediately in case you feel dizzy, itchy, feverish, or short of breath during the infusion.Cetuximab can cause life-threatening effects in some patients. After each Erbitux dosage, your caregivers will closely monitor you.Avoid sun exposure or tanning bed use for at least two months after you finish your treatment. Erbitux may make you more susceptible to sunburn. When you're outdoors, wear protective clothing and apply sunscreen (SPF 30) or higher.Erbitux may have long-lasting effects on your body. After stopping this medication, you may require frequent medical testing for a few weeks.

Before you take this drug

Erbitux should not be used if you have an allergy to cetuximab or mouse protein.

Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure that Erbitux will be safe for you:

• Heart rhythm problems
• Lung disease or a breathing disorder;
• Congestive heart failure;
• Coronary artery disease
• An electrolyte imbalance can occur when there is a low level of magnesium or potassium in the blood.

If you have ever been bitten by or allergic to red meat, tell your doctor. You may have a greater chance of experiencing certain reactions after or during the injection.Cetuximab can harm an unborn child. Prevent pregnancy by using effective birth control while taking Erbitux and for 2 months following your last dose.As soon as you become pregnant, notify your physician immediately.Do not breastfeed during treatment with Erbitux or for 2 months following your last dose.

Similar/related drugs

methotrexate, Keytruda, Avastin, fluorouracil, Capecitabine, Pembrolizumab, and Xeloda

How to take Erbitux?

Erbitux can be infused into a vein. This injection will be given by a healthcare provider.Erbitux is administered slowly and can take 2 hours. Other medications may be prescribed to prevent severe side effects or an allergic reaction.Erbitux can be used in conjunction with other cancer medications or radiation treatments. After your Erbitux infusion, you may be given another cancer medication.Cetuximab can cause life-threatening effects in some patients. Your caregivers will monitor you closely after each Erbitux injection to ensure you don't have any serious side effects.Erbitux should be given until the body stops responding to it. Do not forget to follow your doctor's instructions.It may be necessary to have frequent medical tests in order to ensure that this medication does not have any harmful side effects. The results may delay your cancer treatment.Erbitux may have a long-lasting effect on your body. You may require medical testing for up to 8 weeks following your last dose.

Details on dosage

Adult dose for colorectal cancer:

As a single-agent or in combination with Irinotecan (irinotecan), FOLFIRI, or both
-Administer weekly or biweekly, as follows: complete the cetuximab treatment 1 hour before irinotecan (or FOLFIRI); continue until disease progression occurs or unacceptable side effects occur.
Weekly: Initial dose: 400 mg/m2 intravenously over 120 minutes. Maintenance dose: 250 mg/m2 intravenously over 60 minutes.
Biweekly: 500 mg/m2 intravenous over 120 minutes, every 2 weeks
When combined with Encorafenib
Initial Dose: 400 mg/m2 IV in 120 minutes
Maintenance Dose: 250 mg/m2 intravenously over 60 minutes, once a week, or until disease progression occurs.
Comments:
Patient selection for treatment requires testing for the presence of K-Ras or BRAF V600E mutations; information on FDA-approved tests is available at: http://www.fda.gov/CompanionDiagnostics.
This drug is not recommended for the treatment of colorectal carcinomas with Ras mutations or when the results of Ras mutation tests are unclear.
Premedicate with a H1 antagonist IV 30–60 minutes before the first dose. Or any subsequent doses, if necessary.
If you experience adverse reactions, it may be necessary to adjust the dosage (see section on dosage adjustment).
Uses: Colorectal Cancer:
The FDA-approved test can be used to determine if the patient has metastatic colorectal carcinoma (mCRC), which is K-Ras wild-type, and epidermal growth receptor (EGFR), as well as expressing EGFR.
Combination with FOLFIRI for first-line treatment
Combination with irinotecan for patients who have failed irinotecan-based chemotherapy
As a single agent in patients who failed oxaliplatin and irinotecan-based chemotherapy or who were not tolerable to irinotecan.
After prior treatment, encorafenib is used to treat mCRC patients who have a BRAF V600E mutant, as detected using an FDA-approved test.

Adult dose for head and neck cancer:

Completion of IV administration one hour before radiation therapy
Initial dose: 400 mg/m2 IV administered over 120 minutes 1 week before starting radiation therapy.
Maintenance Dose: 250 mg/m2 intravenously over 60 minutes, once a week during the radiation treatment (6 to 7 weeks).
As a single agent or in combination with platinum-based therapy and fluorouracil
-Administer as follows: weekly or biweekly; complete the cetuximab treatment 1 hour before platinum-based fluorouracil therapy; continue until disease progression occurs or unacceptable side effects occur.
WEEKLY: Initial dose: 400 mg/m2 IV over 120 minutes; maintenance dose: 250 mg/m2 IV over 60 minutes once a week.
Biweekly: 500 mg/m2 intravenous over 120 minutes, every 2 weeks
Comments:
Premedicate with a H1 antagonist IV 30–60 minutes before the first dose. Or any subsequent doses, if necessary.
If you experience adverse reactions, it may be necessary to adjust the dosage (see Dosage Adjustment Section).
Uses: Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCCHN) of the Head and Neck:
Combining radiation therapy with local or regionally advanced SCCHN as the first treatment
Combining fluorouracil with platinum-based chemotherapy for patients with metastatic or recurrent SCCHN
As a single agent for the treatment of patients with metastatic or recurrent SCCHN who have failed platinum-based therapy

What happens if I miss the dose?

If you are unable to keep your Erbitux appointment, call your doctor and ask for further instructions.

What happens if I overdose?

Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.

Avoid this

Cetuximab may cause you to sunburn more quickly. Do not expose yourself to sunlight or tanning booths while receiving Erbitux and for 2 months following the end of your treatment. When you're outdoors, wear protective clothing and apply sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher).

Interaction with other drug

Other drugs, such as prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products, may interact with Cetuximab. Inform your doctor of all the medicines you are taking and those that you stop or start using.