• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you have or had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have or had:

  • heart or lung problems,

  • breathing problems at rest or

  • any allergies.

• Tell your health care team if you have ever had a bad reaction with benzyl alcohol.
   

• Tell your health care team if you have already been treated with chemotherapy drugs (especially anthracyclines such as doxorubicin, epirubicin or related drugs such as mitoxantrone) or radiation therapy.

Remember to:

• Tell your health care team about all of the other medications you are taking.

• Keep taking other medications that have been prescribed for you, unless you have been told not to by your health care team.

• This drug is given through an IV (injected into a vein) . Talk to your health care team about your treatment schedule.

• This drug will be given over a longer period of time for the first cycle. If this goes well, it will be given over a shorter time for the rest of the cycles.
   

• If you missed your treatment appointment, talk to your health care team to find out what to do.
  
   

• Will this medication interact with other medications or natural health products?

  • Although this medication is unlikely to interact with other medications, vitamins, foods and natural health products, tell your health care team about all of your:

    • prescription and over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications and all other drugs, such as cannabis/marijuana (medical or recreational)

    • natural health products such as vitamins, herbal teas, homeopathic medicines, and other supplements

  • Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.

• What should I do if I feel unwell, have pain, a headache or a fever?

  • Always check your temperature to see if you have a fever before taking any medications for fever or pain (such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®)).

    • Fever can be a sign of infection that may need treatment right away.

    • If you take these medications before you check for fever, they may lower your temperature and you may not know you have an infection.
       

  How to check for fever:

  Keep a digital (electronic) thermometer at home and take your temperature if you feel hot or unwell (for example, chills, headache, mild pain).

  • You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
     
    • 38.3°C (100.9°F) or higher at any time
      
      OR
       
    • 38.0°C (100.4°F) or higher for at least one hour.

  
  If you do have a fever:

  • Try to contact your health care team. If you are not able to talk to them for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away.
  • Ask your health care team for the Fever pamphlet for more information. 
     

  If you do not have a fever but have mild symptoms such as headache or mild pain:

  • Ask your health care team about the right medication for you. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is a safe choice for most people.

  • Talk to your health care team before you start taking Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or ASA (Aspirin®), as they may increase your chance of bleeding or interact with your cancer treatment.

  • Talk to your health care team if you already take low dose aspirin for a medical condition (such as a heart problem). It may still be safe to take.
     

• What to DO while on this medication:

• DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures.

• DO tell your health care team about any serious infections that you have now or have had in the past.

• DO talk to your health care team about your risk of getting other cancers and heart problems after this treatment.

• DO consider asking someone to drive you to and from the hospital on your treatment days. You may feel drowsy or dizzy after your treatment.

• What NOT to DO while on this medication:

• DO NOT smoke or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.

The following table lists side effects that you may have when getting trastuzumab. Some of the side effects listed below may be caused by other drugs you have taken or are taking for your cancer. The table is set up to list the most common side effects first and the least common last. It is unlikely that you will have all of the side effects listed and you may have some that are not listed.

Read over the side effect table so that you know what to look for and when to get help. Keep this paper during your treatment so that you can refer to it if you need to.

Other rare, but serious side effects are possible.

If you experience ANY of the following, speak to your cancer health care provider or get emergency medical help right away:

• Irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting (passing out)

• New swelling in your legs, ankles and/or belly

• Symptoms of an allergic reaction (during or soon after the medication is given): flushing, itchiness, rash, swollen lips, face or tongue, wheezing, throat and/or chest tightness

• Difficulty breathing, painful cough, coughing up blood

• Pain, hardening, and swelling of a vein in your arms or legs

• Difficulty moving arms or legs

• Muscle weakness that gets worse

• Confusion, sudden vision changes, difficulty speaking

• Black stools, blood in your urine, bleeding that won’t stop, easy bruising

• New belly pain that may extend to your back

• Fever, chills, signs of infection

• Redness or rash in areas where you previously received radiation

• Lower back pain, pee less than usual, body swelling

Other Notes:

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September 2022 Updated "Other Name" section