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    • ERLOTINIB HCL (Generic for TARCEVA)

ERLOTINIB (er LOE ti nib) treats lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. It works by blocking a protein that causes cancer cells to grow and multiply. This helps to slow or stop the spread of cancer cells.


ERLOTINIB HCL (Generic for TARCEVA) Lifestyle Interactions

  • Erlotinib 150mg, Oral tablet

    • Interaction: Grapefruit juice
    • Severity: Major
    • Notes for Consumers: Do not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit while taking this medication. Grapefruit may alter the effects of your medication. Serious side effects may occur. Contact your care team right away if you experience new or worsening side effects.
    • Notes for Professionals: Advise patients to avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice during erlotinib treatment due to the risk for increased erlotinib exposure and adverse reactions. Erlotinib is a CYP3A substrate and grapefruit juice is a CYP3A inhibitor.
  • Erlotinib 150mg, Oral tablet

    • Interaction: Tobacco
    • Severity: Major
    • Notes for Consumers: Do not smoke or use tobacco products while taking this medication. When used together, your medication may not work as well for you.
    • Notes for Professionals: Advise patients to avoid smoking tobacco while taking erlotinib and communicate any changes in smoking status during erlotinib treatment. For patients that continue smoking or begin smoking while taking erlotinib, increase the dose of erlotinib by 50 mg increments at 2-week intervals to a maximum of 300 mg/day. Immediately reduce the dose of erlotinib to the recommended dose upon cessation of smoking. Erlotinib is partially metabolized by CYP1A2; smoking tobacco induces CYP1A2. In a single-dose pharmacokinetics trial in healthy volunteers, cigarette smoking decreased the overall exposure of erlotinib by 64% (95% CI: 46% to 76%) in current smokers compared with former/never smokers. In a separate study of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), steady-state trough concentrations of erlotinib were approximately 2-fold less in current smokers compared with former/never smokers.

DISCLAIMER: This drug information content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Patients should always consult their physician with any questions regarding a medical condition and to obtain medical advice and treatment. Drug information is sourced from GSDD (Gold Standard Drug Database ) provided by Elsevier.