Trastuzumab, Injection

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is given by IV to treat certain types of breast or stomach cancer.
• This medicine may cause a severe or life-threatening infusion reaction, or serious heart or lung problems.
• You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antineoplastic (anticancer)

Generic and brand names: trastuzumab, injection; Herceptin

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein) to treat certain types of HER-2 positive breast or stomach cancer when other anticancer medicines are not effective.

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine, food, preservative, or dye
• Heart disease
• Lung problems

Tell your provider if you have recently had chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Also tell your provider if you have any kind of infection.

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. Use an effective birth control method while you are taking this medicine and for 7 months after stopping it. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed a baby during treatment with this medicine and for 7 months after your last dose because it may harm the baby.

How do I use it?

Your healthcare provider will give you these infusions in your provider's office or at a clinic. You will be monitored closely while you are receiving the medicine. Your healthcare provider will tell you how often you will receive these infusions. Keep all appointments for these infusions.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may cause a severe or life-threatening infusion reaction and lung problems. Usually the infusion reaction happens within 24 hours of receiving treatment, but it may happen days after treatment. Get emergency medical care or call 911 for help if you develop hives; itching; rash; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat; or severe dizziness or fainting.

This medicine may cause serious heart problems. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you wake up at night with shortness of breath, or have new or worsening shortness of breath or trouble breathing, chest pain or irregular heartbeat, cough, swelling of the feet, ankles, or legs, face, or any unexplained swelling. You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. Also, do not have any vaccines without getting your healthcare provider's approval first.

Adults over the age of 65 may be at increased risk for side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Waking up at night with shortness of breath or trouble breathing; new or worsening shortness of breath; swelling of the feet, ankles, or legs, or any unexplained swelling; unexplained fever or sore throat; severe tiredness or weakness; cough; fast or irregular heartbeat; chest pain; unusual bruising or bleeding; rapid weight gain; severe dizziness or fainting.

Other: Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, mouth sores, loss of appetite, tiredness, trouble sleeping, runny nose, muscle pain, headache, change in sense of taste.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Cancer medicines such as cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), daunorubicin (Cerubidine), doxorubicin (Doxil), epirubicin (Ellence), idarubicin (Idamycin), mitoxantrone (Novantrone), and paclitaxel (Abraxane, Taxol)
• Vaccines

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.