What Is Ado-trastuzumab emtansine?
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine is used to treat a certain type of breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine is usually given after other cancer medications have been tried without success.
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Do not use ado-trastuzumab emtansine if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine can harm your liver. Call your doctor at once if you have upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Before you receive each ado-trastuzumab emtansine injection, your heart function may need to be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG).
You should not use ado-trastuzumab emtansine if you are allergic to it, or if you are pregnant.
To make sure ado-trastuzumab emtansine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
- bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia; or
- asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea, or other breathing disorder.
You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment.
It is not known whether ado-trastuzumab emtansine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine Side Effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine can harm your liver. Call your doctor at once if you have signs of liver problems--upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Also call your doctor at once if you have:
- easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;
- bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
- sudden severe headache, confusion, severe drowsiness, sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body;
- problems with walking, breathing, speech, swallowing, or eye movement;
- sudden chest pain or discomfort, wheezing, dry cough, feeling short of breath;
- swelling, rapid weight gain, severe dizziness;
- numbness or tingling in your hands or feet;
- pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest; or
- low white blood cell counts--fever, swollen gums, painful mouth sores, pain when swallowing, skin sores, cold or flu symptoms, cough, trouble breathing.
- easy bruising or bleeding;
- nausea, constipation;
- joint or muscle pain;
- headache, tired feeling; or
- abnormal liver function tests.
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine Interactions
This medicine can pass into body fluids (including urine, feces, vomit, semen, vaginal fluid). For at least 48 hours after you receive a dose, avoid allowing your body fluids to come into contact with your hands or other surfaces. Patients and caregivers should wear rubber gloves while cleaning up body fluids, handling contaminated trash or laundry or changing diapers. Wash hands before and after removing gloves. Wash soiled clothing and linens separately from other laundry.
Body fluids should not be handled by a woman who is pregnant or who may become pregnant. Use condoms during sexual activity to avoid exposure to body fluids.
Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with ado-trastuzumab emtansine, especially:
- imatinib;
- isoniazid;
- nefazodone;
- an antibiotic--clarithromycin, telithromycin;
- a blood thinner--warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven;
- antifungal medication--itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole;
- heart medication--nicardipine, quinidine;
- hepatitis C medications--boceprevir, telaprevir;
- HIV/AIDS medication--atazanavir, delavirdine, fosamprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir; or
- medicine used to prevent blood clots--alteplase, clopidogrel, dipyridamole, ticlopidine, urokinase.
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine Dosage
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine is injected into a vein through an IV. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.
Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when ado-trastuzumab emtansine is injected.
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine is usually given once every 3 weeks until your body no longer responds to the medication. Your doctor will determine how long to treat you with ado-trastuzumab emtansine.
You may need frequent medical tests at your doctor's office to be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results of these tests.
Since this medication is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur.
Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your ado-trastuzumab emtansine injection.
