Introduction
What TYKERB 250MG is used for?
- TYKERB 250MG is used for the treatment of advanced or metastatic breast cancer, and who have already had certain other breast cancer treatments
Warning & Precautions
Talk to Doctor
Talk to your doctor before you take this medicine, if you:
- Are allergic to Lapatinib or any other ingredients of this medicine
- Have heart problems
- Have liver problems
Pregnancy & Breast Feeding
- Tell your doctor right away if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant or are breastfeeding
Interactions
Tell your doctor if you are taking,
- Antibiotics and anti-fungals (medicines used to treat infections)
- Medicines used to treat HIV(AIDS)
- Medicines used to treat seizures
- Medicines used to treat certain heart disorders or high blood pressure
- Antidepressants
- Medicines used for stomach ulcers
- Capecitabine used for cancer
How to Use
- Take TYKERB 250MG exactly as your doctor has told you
- This medicine is taken in 21 day cycles
- The usual dose of this medicine is 1,250 mg taken by mouth, one-time a day on days 1 to 21
- It should be taken at least one hour before, or at least one hour after food, preferably at the same time every day.
- Your doctor may adjust your dose of TYKERB 250MG depending on how you tolerate the treatment
- Diarrhea may occur as a side effect. Drink plenty of fluids and inform your doctor if it doesn't stop or if you find blood in your stools.
- Use a reliable contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy while you are taking this medicine and for a month after you stop taking it.
- Monitor your blood pressure regularly while taking this medication. Inform your doctor if you notice symptoms of very high blood pressure such as severe headache, confusion, problems with your eyesight, nausea or vomiting.
- It may cause serious bleeding problem. Inform your doctor if you get headaches, stomach pain or if you notice blood in your urine or stools.
- Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant, planning to conceive or breastfeeding.
If you take more TYKERB 250MG
- If you take more TYKERB 250MG, check with your doctor immediately
If you forget to take TYKERB 250MG
- Take it as soon as you remember that day
- If you miss a day, do not double your dose the next day
- Just skip the missed dose and the take the next dose at the usual time
If you stop taking TYKERB 250MG
- Consult your doctor before you stop taking this medicine
Side Effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them
Serious
- Heart problems such as decreased pumping of blood from the heart, abnormal heart beat
- Severe diarrhea leading to dehydration
- Palpitations or shortness of breath
Common
- Red, painful hands and feet
- Nausea, rash, vomiting
- Tiredness
- Mouth sores
- Loss of appetite, indigestion
HOW TO COPE WITH SIDE EFFECTS?
The occurrence of side effects varies from person to person. The following are a few ways of dealing with some of the common side effects. However, consult your doctor if these persist.
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Coping with HeadacheMake sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Rest in a quiet, dimly lit room. Do not sleep more than you normally would. Do not strain your eyes (for example by looking at a screen). Do not drink alcohol. Headaches are usually temporary and usually go away with time. Ask your doctor to recommend a painkiller if they last longer than a week or get worse.
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Coping with Nausea and VomitingYou can help yourself by eating small, frequent meals rather than large ones and drinking plenty of fluids. Eat slowly. Avoid fatty, fried, spicy and very sweet foods. Eat cold or slightly warm food if the smell of cooked or cooking food makes you feel sick. Get plenty of fresh air. You could also try chewing ginger or drinking ginger tea. Eat bananas to replace potassium in your blood which can drop if you are sick (vomit). Use oral rehydration salts to replace vitamins and minerals lost through being sick. There are some medicines that can help you stop feeling sick. Speak to your doctor if your condition does not improve.
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Coping with RashThere are many treatments for a wide range of skin problems. Avoid hot showers or baths because hot water can irritate the skin. Make sure to pat your skin dry after a bath or shower. Do not rub or scratch the affected area. Leave the skin exposed to the air as much as possible. Do not use perfumed soaps or deodorants. Water containing chlorine can make most skin problems worse so avoid swimming. Avoid spicy foods, alcohol, tobacco smoke and caffeine as it may also make itching worse. Avoid excessive sun exposure, always use sunscreen and protective clothing when outdoors. Moisturizers can be used regularly to soothe and hydrate the affected area. If it does not get better within a week, speak to a pharmacist or doctor.
More Information
Storage
- Keep this medicine out of reach of children
- Store at room temperature (15-25°C)
- Do not use this medicine after the expiry date
FAQs
Q. Is Tykerb a chemotherapy medicine?
No, this is a targeted drug which belongs to a class of anti-cancer medicines. They are more specific than chemotherapy in their mechanisms of action. Tykerb belongs to tyrosine kinase inhibitors group of medicines. It works by blocking the action of the abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. This helps stop or slow the spread of cancer cells.
Q. Can Tykerb be given in combination with other anti-cancer drug?
Yes, Tykerb can be used with other anti-cancer drugs. Generally, it is used in combination with capecitabine to treat advanced breast cancer in patients who have already been treated with chemotherapy. Tykerb is also used with letrozole to treat breast cancer in post-menopausal women.
Q. How should I take Tykerb?
You should take Tykerb exactly as advised by your doctor. Swallow Tykerb tablets whole with a glass of water, at the same time each day. It is important that you take Tykerb 1 hour before or 1 hour after meals and at the same time in relation to food each day (e.g., you could always take your tablet one hour before breakfast).
Q. Does Tykerb have any effect on liver?
Tykerb may cause liver damage which can be severe or life threatening. Liver damage can occur as soon as several days or as late as several months after the start of treatment with Tykerb. Inform your doctor if you have or had liver disease. If you experience any of the symptoms such as itching, change in color of the skin or eyes (yellowing), discoloration of urine, pain in the upper right part of the stomach, unusual bleeding or bruising, or pale or dark stools, call your doctor immediately.
Q. How should I manage diarrhea while taking Tykerb?
If you suffer from diarrhoea while taking Tykerb, you should drink plenty of fluids (8 to 10 glasses a day) such as water, sports drinks, or other clear liquids. You should eat low-fat, high protein foods instead of fatty or spicy foods. Eating cooked vegetables instead of raw vegetables and removing the skin from fruits before eating can also be helpful. Try to avoid milk and milk products (including ice cream) and herbal supplements (some may cause diarrhoea). Inform the doctor, if the condition persists, who may interrupt the treatment depending on severity of diarrhoea.
Q. How can I take care of my skin while on Tykerb?
Your doctor will check your skin before and during the treatment. If you have sensitive skin, use a soap-free cleanser and beauty products that are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic . It is also advised that you use a sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 30 or higher. Inform your doctor immediately if you get a rash.
Q. What tests will the doctor advise before starting Tykerb?
You may need extra tests to check that your heart and liver are working properly. Tykerb may change the way your heart beats and pumps blood through your body. Your doctor will monitor you carefully to see whether Tykerb has affected your heart. Along with that, your doctor will get your liver function investigated. Based on the results of these tests, the doctor will decide whether dose adjustment or discontinuation of treatment is required.
Q. How long after Tykerb can I plan pregnancy?
Use an effective method of contraception to avoid pregnancy while you are taking Tykerb and continue for at least 1 week after the last dose. Inform your doctor if you become pregnant, who will decide whether to stop or continue treatment.
No, this is a targeted drug which belongs to a class of anti-cancer medicines. They are more specific than chemotherapy in their mechanisms of action. Tykerb belongs to tyrosine kinase inhibitors group of medicines. It works by blocking the action of the abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. This helps stop or slow the spread of cancer cells.
Q. Can Tykerb be given in combination with other anti-cancer drug?
Yes, Tykerb can be used with other anti-cancer drugs. Generally, it is used in combination with capecitabine to treat advanced breast cancer in patients who have already been treated with chemotherapy. Tykerb is also used with letrozole to treat breast cancer in post-menopausal women.
Q. How should I take Tykerb?
You should take Tykerb exactly as advised by your doctor. Swallow Tykerb tablets whole with a glass of water, at the same time each day. It is important that you take Tykerb 1 hour before or 1 hour after meals and at the same time in relation to food each day (e.g., you could always take your tablet one hour before breakfast).
Q. Does Tykerb have any effect on liver?
Tykerb may cause liver damage which can be severe or life threatening. Liver damage can occur as soon as several days or as late as several months after the start of treatment with Tykerb. Inform your doctor if you have or had liver disease. If you experience any of the symptoms such as itching, change in color of the skin or eyes (yellowing), discoloration of urine, pain in the upper right part of the stomach, unusual bleeding or bruising, or pale or dark stools, call your doctor immediately.
Q. How should I manage diarrhea while taking Tykerb?
If you suffer from diarrhoea while taking Tykerb, you should drink plenty of fluids (8 to 10 glasses a day) such as water, sports drinks, or other clear liquids. You should eat low-fat, high protein foods instead of fatty or spicy foods. Eating cooked vegetables instead of raw vegetables and removing the skin from fruits before eating can also be helpful. Try to avoid milk and milk products (including ice cream) and herbal supplements (some may cause diarrhoea). Inform the doctor, if the condition persists, who may interrupt the treatment depending on severity of diarrhoea.
Q. How can I take care of my skin while on Tykerb?
Your doctor will check your skin before and during the treatment. If you have sensitive skin, use a soap-free cleanser and beauty products that are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic . It is also advised that you use a sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 30 or higher. Inform your doctor immediately if you get a rash.
Q. What tests will the doctor advise before starting Tykerb?
You may need extra tests to check that your heart and liver are working properly. Tykerb may change the way your heart beats and pumps blood through your body. Your doctor will monitor you carefully to see whether Tykerb has affected your heart. Along with that, your doctor will get your liver function investigated. Based on the results of these tests, the doctor will decide whether dose adjustment or discontinuation of treatment is required.
Q. How long after Tykerb can I plan pregnancy?
Use an effective method of contraception to avoid pregnancy while you are taking Tykerb and continue for at least 1 week after the last dose. Inform your doctor if you become pregnant, who will decide whether to stop or continue treatment.
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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