Trastuzumab (Systemic)
Brand Names : Herceptin
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For trastuzumab, the
following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to trastuzumab or to mouse proteins. Also tell your health
care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods,
preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy - Trastuzumab has not been studied in pregnant women.
However, this medicine was found to cross the placenta in monkeys but did
not cause harmful effects in the fetus.
Breast-feeding - It is not known whether trastuzumab passes into
the breast milk. However, breast-feeding is not recommended while you are
receiving this medicine and for a while after you stop receiving it.
Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult
patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of trastuzumab
in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults - There is no specific information comparing the use
of trastuzumab in the elderly with use in other age groups. However, certain
heart problems may be more likely to occur in the elderly, who may be more
sensitive to the effects of trastuzumab.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care
professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter
[OTC]) medicine.
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of trastuzumab. Make sure you tell your doctor
if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Heart disease - Risk of heart problems caused by trastuzumab
may be increased
-
Lung disease - Risk of lung problems caused by trastuzumab may
be increased
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