All about Pemetrexed

ALL ABOUT PEMETREXED What is Pemetrexed Injection?

Pemetrexed (Alimta) is a chemo or anticancer drug. Chemotherapy is treatment with one or more anticancer drugs that are intended to kill cancer cells.

Specifically, this medicine work by interfering with the activity of three enzymes that are required in order to help cancer grow.

What are the Indications of Pemetrexed: This chemotherapy medication is approved: • •

for the treatment of advanced nonsquamous NSCLC together with cisplatin. for the treatment of pleural mesothelioma together with cisplatin.

How is Pemetrexed given?

It is crucial to take folic acid by mouth and receive vitamin B12 injections during the pemetrexed dosage in order to lower the risk of harmful side effects.

Your doctor will recommend corticosteroid to take 2 times a day for 3 days, beginning the day prior to each treatment with this drug.

Pemetrexed should be given to you by intravenous (IV) infusion (injection) into your vein. The infusion should be given over 10 minutes. You will usually receive this medicine once every 21 days.

Dosage Recommendations: Pemetrexed in Combination use with Cisplatin for Adults: Pemetrexed's recommended dose is 500 mg/m2 as body surface area, which should be given as an intravenous infusion over 10 minutes on the first day of each 21-day cycle.

Cisplatin's recommended dose is 75 mg/m2 body surface area, should be infused over 2 hours approximately 30 minutes following completion of infusion on the first day of each 21-day cycle. Patients must receive adequate anti-emetic treatment as well as appropriate hydration prior to or after taking cisplatin.

Single Agent Pemetrexed for Adults: The recommended dose of pemetrexed is 500 mg/m2 body surface area given as an intravenous infusion over 10 minutes on the first day of each 21-day cycle.

Possible side effects: Like all other drugs, this may also cause some side effects, although not every patients gets them.

You must report your healthcare provider if you observe any of the following: Very common side effects with pemetrexed 500 mg may include: • • • • • • • • • • •

Infection Sore throat Loss of appetite Vomiting Diarrhoea Nausea Skin rash Flaking skin Fatigue (tiredness) Low white blood cells Low haemoglobin level

The common pemetrexed side effects include: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Blood infection Low platelet count Allergic reaction Loss of body fluids Taste change Dizziness Dry eye Watery eyes Swelling of the eyelids Cardiac Failure Irregular heart rhythm Indigestion Constipation Abdominal pain Increased skin pigmentation Itchy skin Hair loss Hives Kidney stop working Fever Pain Chest pain Reduced functionality of kidney

Warning & Precautions: 1. Males with female partners who may become pregnant should use effective birth control during alimta treatment.

2. Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with pemetrexed 100 mg and for 1 week after the final dose.

3. Inform your doctor about all of the medications you take, including herbal supplements, vitamins, prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

4. Tell your healthcare team if you have kidney problems and take ibuprofen containing drug.

5. Avoid taking ibuprofen for a couple of days prior to, the day of, and a couple of days after receiving treatment with pemetrexed 500 mg.

Who should not take Pemetrexed?

This medication may not be appropriate for some patients. If you are allergic to it, inform your healthcare professionals because you should not receive it. It is unknown if the pemetrexed 100 mg is safe as well as effective in children.

What should I do in Drug Overdose: If drug overdose occurs, general supportive measures must be instituted as deemed necessary by the treating healthcare team.

What should I do in case of Missed Dose: Do not take a couple of doses in order to make up for a missed dose. Take your dose very next day as usual time or you can contact to your healthcare provider in order to know more about missed dose.

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