What should your doctor know before you receive
Herceptin
He has to know if you have any of these conditions:
 breathing
problems, such as asthma or COPD
bleeding
problems
blood
disorders
chest
pain
heart
disease or heart failure
infection
(especially virus infections such as chickenpox or herpes)
prior
treatment with radiation therapy or cyclophosphamide doxorubicin,
epirubicin or mitoxantrone
lung
disease
an
unusual or allergic reaction to Herceptin, benzyl alcohol,
or other medications, foods, dyes or preservatives
pregnant
or trying to get pregnant
breast-feeding
How should you use Herceptin
Herceptin is for infusion into a vein. It is administered
in a hospital or clinic setting by a health care professional.
Continue a regular schedule of doses, usually given as a weekly
infusion.
What if you miss a dose:
It is important not to miss a dose. Notify your prescriber
or other health care professional if you are unable to keep
an appointment.
What drugs may interact with Herceptin
warfarin
other
chemotherapy agents, especially cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin,
may increase some of the side effects due to Herceptin
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about
all other medicines you are taking, including nonprescription
medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products.
Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if
you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol,
if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect
the way your medicine works. Check with your health care
professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
Possible side effects of Herceptin
The side effects you may experience with Herceptin therapy
depend upon the dose, other types of chemotherapy or radiation
therapy given, and the disease being treated. Not all of these
effects occur in all patients. Discuss any concerns or questions
with your prescriber or health care professional.
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber
or other health care professional as soon as possible:
Rare or uncommon:
difficulty
breathing or shortness of breath
feeling
lightheaded or dizziness upon standing
swelling
of ankles or legs
shortness
of breath
swelling
or tightening of the throat or tongue
wheezing
More common:
chills
fever
rash
or hives
nausea
and/or vomiting
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention
(report to your prescriber or other health care professional
if they continue or are bothersome):
loss
of appetite
diarrhea
sore
throat
headache
itching
muscle
aches
tingling
of fingers or toes
pain
dizziness
runny
nose
stomach
pain
nasal
congestion
unusual
tiredness or weakness
What should you watch for while taking Herceptin
Visit your prescriber or healthcare professional for checks
on your progress. You will need to have regular blood checks
if you receive Herceptin with chemotherapy. The side effects
of Herceptin can occur after you finish your infusion; report
any side effects promptly, especially any difficulties in
breathing, feeling lightheaded, hives, or other signs of an
allergic reaction.
If you receive Herceptin and chemotherapy together, you
may have an increased number of side effects due to the
chemotherapy. Report any side effects as above, but continue
your course of medicine even though you feel ill, unless
your prescriber or health care professional tells you to
stop.
Call your prescriber or health care professional for advice
if you get a fever, chills, sore throat, nasal congestion
or runny nose; do not treat yourself.
You may experience fever, chills and shakes during your
first infusion of Herceptin. These effects are usually mild
and can be treated with medicines. Report any reactions
that occur during the infusion to your health care professional.
These effects usually do not happen with later infusions.
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