Erlotinib

Erlotinib storage conditions
Store the medicine away from light and moisture and at a temperature below 30 degrees Celsius.

This drug should be transported, stored, and destroyed according to the instructions of cytotoxic drugs.
Keep the medicine out of reach of children.

Therapeutic Fields​

Dosage Form

Erlotinib is available as coated tablets for oral use.

Mechanism of action

Erlotinib prevents the activity of the protein that plays a role in the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.

Uses of Erlotinib

Erlotinib is used in the following cases:

Treatment of metastatic lung cancer of NSCLC (Non-small cell lung cancer) type as the first line of treatment, maintenance treatment or the next line of treatment in case of failure of previous chemotherapy regimens in the patient.
The first line of treatment for patients with local and advanced unresectable or metastatic pancreatic cancer (in a combined regimen with gemcitabine)

Method of Use

In NSCLC patients, the dose is 150 mg daily
In patients with pancreatic cancer, 100 mg daily along with gemcitabine.
Erlotinib should be taken on an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after a meal. In the case of patients with swallowing problems, tablets can be dissolved in 100 cc of water and administered through mouth or feeding tubes (made of silicone). In such a situation, it is recommended to use gloves and masks in order to avoid direct contact with the drug powder and possible toxicity during the preparation of the drug solution. The prepared solution should be consumed immediately.