gefitinib
Other Name: Iressa®
- For treating certain types of lung cancer and head and neck cancer.
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you have/had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have / had lung, liver, kidney, eye problems, wear contact lenses, or have any allergies.
- This drug contains a small amount of lactose. If you cannot tolerate lactose, talk to your doctor.
- People with cancer have a higher risk of getting other cancers or developing blood clots. Some cancer medications may increase these risks, especially if used for a long period of time. Discuss any concerns about this medication with your health care team.
- The use of this medication in men or women may cause harm to the unborn baby if pregnancy occurs. Let your health care team know if you or your partner is pregnant, becomes pregnant during treatment, or if you are breastfeeding
- If there is ANY chance that you or your partner may become pregnant, you and your partner together must: ►Use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time while taking this drug: Keep using birth control until 6 months after the last dose (general recommendation). Discuss with your healthcare team.
- Tell your doctor right away if you or your partner becomes pregnant.
- Do not breastfeed while taking this drug.
- Effects on Fertility: Probable
- Gefitinib is usually taken once a day, at about the same time each day.
- Take it exactly as directed by your doctor.
- Swallow whole with a glass of water, with or without food.
- If you miss a dose, take it only if there are at least 12 hours before the next dose is due. Otherwise, skip this and take the next dose as scheduled. Do not double the dose to make up for the forgotten one.
- Do not crush or chew the tablets.
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Do not eat or drink grapefruit, starfruit, Seville oranges or their juices (or products that contain these) while on this treatment. They may increase side effects.
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This medication can interact with other medications and can result in the treatment not working as well or cause severe side effects.
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Make sure your health care team knows about all your medications (prescription, over-the-counter, herbals and supplements). Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
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For mild aches and pain or fever:
- If you feel unwell, take your temperature before taking any medications for pain or fever. They may hide a fever.
- You may take acetaminophen (Tylenol®) tablets. Ask your health care team about the right dose for you.
- Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA), including low dose aspirin for heart conditions, may increase your chance of bleeding. Talk to your health care team before you start or stop these medications.
- Talk to your health care team or go to the closest emergency room right away if you have a fever. See the Fever pamphlet for more information.
- If you feel unwell, take your temperature before taking any medications for pain or fever. They may hide a fever.
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Drinking alcohol and smoking during your treatment may increase some side effects and make your medication less effective. Speak to your health care team about smoking and drinking alcohol while on treatment.
- Store in the original packaging at room temperature, away from heat, light or moisture. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
- Do not throw out any unused drugs at home. Bring them to your pharmacy for safe disposal.
Common side effects usually occur in more than 1 out of every 10 patients. Other side effects are less common, but may be severe. You may not have all of the side effects below. You may have side effects that are not listed.
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Rash; dry, itchy skin (may be severe in some cases)
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Diarrhea (may be severe in some cases)
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Poor Appetite; don't feel like eating; weight loss
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Nausea and vomiting (generally mild)
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Trouble falling asleep
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Tiredness
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Nail changes
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Mouth sores
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Contact your health care team as soon as possible | ||||
Abnormal liver lab tests (may rarely be severe)
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
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Eye problems
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Contact your health care team as soon as possible | ||||||
Unusual bleeding (coughing up blood, severe nosebleeds)
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Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Kidney problems
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Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Lung problems |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Blockage of an artery (blood vessel) in your heart, brain, chest, belly, or limbs; this may result in stroke (sudden loss of vision, speech, or the use of your limb(s)) or heart attack (chest pain, shortness of breath), or pain in chest, belly or limb | Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Rupture in stomach or intestine wall |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Allergic reaction (severe rash, itchiness, swollen face, lip or tongue, chest or throat tightness; may occur during or shortly after the drug is given) |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Inflammation of blood vessels in the skin (red or purple patches on the skin, rash/patches that do not turn white when pressed) |
Contact your health care team as soon as possible | ||||||
Pancreas problems |
Get emergency medical help right away |
For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.