Introduction
What ERLONAT 150MG is used for?
It is used,
- To treat lung cancer at an advanced stage
- To treat cancer of the pancreas at a metastatic stage in combination with gemcitabine
Warning & Precautions
Talk to Doctor
Talk to your doctor before you take this medicine, if you:
- Are allergic to ERLONAT 150MG, or any of the ingredients of this medicine
- Have a severe liver disease or severe kidney disease
- Have a glucuronidation disorder like Gilbert’s syndrome
- Use contact lenses and/or have a history of eye problems such as severe dry eyes
Smoking:
- You are advised to stop smoking if you are treated with ERLONAT 150MG as smoking could decrease the amount of your medicine in the blood
Pregnancy & Breast Feeding
- Avoid pregnancy while being treated with ERLONAT 150MG. Use adequate contraception during treatment, and for at least 2 weeks after taking the last tablet
- Do not breast-feed if you are being treated with ERLONAT 150MG
- If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine
Children & Adolescents
- ERLONAT 150MG has not been studied in patients under the age of 18 years
- Treatment with this medicine is not recommended for children and adolescents
Driving & Using Machines
- It has not been studied for its possible effects on the ability to drive and use machines but it is very unlikely that your treatment will affect this ability
Interactions
Tell your doctor if you are taking,
- Antifungals like ketoconazole
- Protease inhibitors
- Certain antibiotics such as erythromycin, clarithromycin
- Phenytoin, carbamazepine
- Barbiturates
- Rifampicin
- Omeprazole, ranitidine
- Anticoagulants (a medicine which helps to prevent thrombosis or blood clotting e.g. warfarin)
- Statins (medicines to lower your blood cholesterol)
- Anti-diarrheal (for example loperamide)
How to Use
- Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you
- The tablet should be taken at least one hour before or two hours after the ingestion of food
- Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Erlonat 150 Tablet is to be taken empty stomach.
- Do not take it with medication lowering the stomach acid (such as antacids, H2 blockers including ranitidine), as it may affect the working of medicine.
- The usual dose is one tablet of ERLONAT 150MG 150 mg each day if you have non-small cell lung cancer
- The usual dose is one tablet of ERLONAT 150MG 100 mg each day if you have metastatic pancreatic cancer
If you take more ERLONAT 150MG
- If you take more ERLONAT 150MG, contact your doctor immediately
If you forget to take ERLONAT 150MG
- If you miss one or more doses of ERLONAT 150MG, contact your doctor as soon as possible. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose
If you stop taking ERLONAT 150MG
- It is important to keep taking ERLONAT 150MG every day, as long as your doctor prescribes it for you
Side Effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them
Serious
- Persistent and severe diarrhoea may lead to low blood potassium and impairment of your kidney function
- Sudden difficulty in breathing
- Severe pain in your abdomen
Common
- Bleeding from the nose, stomach or the intestines
- Inflammatory reactions around the fingernail
- Infection of hair follicles
- Acne
- Cracked skin (skin fissures)
- Reduced kidney function
- Eye irritation due to conjunctivitis/keratoconjunctivitis and keratitis
- Nausea and vomiting
- Rash
- Loss of appetite, decreased weight
- Depression
- Headache, altered skin sensation or numbness in the extremities
- Difficulty in breathing, cough
- Mouth irritation
- Stomach pain, indigestion and flatulence
- Abnormal blood tests for the liver function
- Itching, dry skin and loss of hair
- Tiredness, fever, rigors
Uncommon
- Eyelash or eyebrow changes
- Excess body and facial hair of a male distribution pattern
- Brittle and loose nails
- Form of lung irritation called interstitial lung disease
Rare
- Flushed or painful palms or soles (Palmar plantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome)
- Severe blistering or peeling of skin (suggestive of Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
- Inflammation of the colored part of the eye
- Cases of perforation or ulceration of the cornea
More Information
Storage
Keep this medicine out of reach of children
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date
Store at room temperature (15-25°C)
FAQs
Q. How should Erlonat be taken?
Erlonat is a pill to be taken by mouth, once a day without food as prescribed by your doctor. It is important that you take Erlonat empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 house after meals. It is advisable to take it the same time each day so that you remember when to take it.
Q. Is Erlonat a chemotherapy drug?
Erlonat is not a conventional chemotherapy medicine. Erlonat belongs to a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of an abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. This in turn helps to slow or stop the spread of cancer cells.
Q. How long can I take Erlonat?
You need to take Erlonat every day, as long as your doctor prescribes it for you. The duration of treatment may vary from person to person.
Q. Does smoking interfere with Erlonat?
Yes, smoking can interfere with the working of Erlonat. It can decrease the effectiveness of the medicine to a great extent. Hence, it is advised to stop smoking before you start Erlonat. Your doctor will need to adjust the dose of Erlonat, if you keep on smoking or there is a change in the pattern of smoking.
Q. What should I do if I get a rash while taking Erlonat?
Rash is a common side effect of Erlonat but you should not stop taking Erlonat because of this. Consult your doctor who will suggest a treatment for it. Also, avoid sun-exposure, use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing.
Q. When can I plan pregnancy, if I am taking Erlonat?
Avoid pregnancy while being treated with Erlonat. If you are a woman of child-bearing age use effective contraception during treatment. Avoid pregnancy for at least 1 month after taking the last tablet.
Q. Does Erlonat affect eyes?
Erlonat commonly causes conjunctivitis and dry eyes. If you develop acute or worsening redness and pain in the eye, increased eye-watering, blurred vision and/or sensitivity to light, immediately inform the doctor as you may need urgent treatment.
Q. When should I call my doctor during treatment with Erlonat?
Inform the doctor if you experience sudden difficulty in breathing associated with cough or fever, severe or ongoing diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Also, consult your doctor if you experience acute or worsening redness and pain in the eye, increased eye-watering, blurred vision and/or sensitivity to light. Let your doctor know in case you are taking a statin (medicine to control cholesterol) along with this medicine and experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, or cramps.
Disclaimer:The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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