Gemcitabine: A Step-By-Step Guide Gemcitabine is a cytotoxics group of drugs. It mainly kills the dividing cells, including cancerous cells. It may be given alone or together with other anticancer drugs, depending on the type of cancer. The gemcitabine uses are given as follows: 1. For NSCLC, alone or in combination with cisplatin 2. For pancreatic cancer 3. For breast cancer, in combination with paclitaxel 4. For ovarian cancer, in combination with carboplatin 5. For bladder cancer, in combination with cisplatin. Dosing Recommendations: Gemcitabine is for intravenous use only. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: 1000 mg/m2 over the half-hour on Days 1'st, 8'th, and 15'th of every 28-day cycle or 1250 mg/m2 over half-hour on the Days 1's & 8'th of each 21-day cycle. Pancreatic Cancer: 1000 mg/m2 over half-hour once in a week for the first 7 weeks, then one week rest, and then once weekly for 3 weeks of every 28-day cycle. Breast Cancer: 1250 mg/m2 over 30 minutes on Days 1'st & 8'th of each 21-day cycle. Ovarian Cancer: 1000 mg/m2 over 30 minutes on Days 1'st & 8'th of each 21-day cycle. How Gemcitabine Should be Given:
It is given by intravenous (IV, into a vein) infusion, over a period of 30 minutes. The dosage as well as schedule depends upon a person's size and type of cancer. It may be given alone or with other medicines or therapies, such as radiation. When you have Gemcitabine: You might have this drug once a week for 2 or 3 weeks. And then have a week or 2 with no treatment in order to allow the body to recover well. The number of cycles and how long the cycle is depends on your cancer type. Adverse Reactions: Most commonly reported gemcitabine side effects include: • Poor appetite • Headache • Insomnia • Sleepiness • Cough • Runny nose • Constipation • Diarrhoea
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Itching Sweating Muscle pain Back pain Fever Weakness Chills Infections Pain, swelling, redness or sores in the mouth Febrile neutropenia
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Patients on gemzar should be monitored closely by an experienced doctor. Toxicity may increase with infusion times >60 minutes or dosing more frequently than once weekly with gemcitabine injection. While on gemcitabine dosage, it is advisable to monitor for myelosuppression. If severe pulmonary toxicity occurs, immediately discontinue this drug. Patients should be monitored for renal function before starting the therapy and periodically thereafter. It is instructed that gemcitabine 1 gm should be used with caution in patients with the renal impairment. Discontinue this medication, if the event of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or severe renal toxicity occurs. Patients should be monitored for the hepatic function before taking gemcitabine 200 mg. Gemcitabine can cause fetal harm. It is instructable to inform females of child bearing age on gemcitabine 200 mg of the potential risk to the fetus. Gemzar may be responsible for causing severe as well as life threatening toxicity.
How Does Gemcitabine Work:
This medicine kills cancer cells undergoing DNA synthesis. It mainly inhibits the ribonucleotide reductase, an enzyme crucial to DNA synthesis. Because cells haven't potential in order to copy their DNA, they cannot divide, and thus die. Storage Guidelines for Gemcitabine: The unopened vials are absolutely stable until the expiration date printed on the package when stored at temperature 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) and that allows for the excursions between 15° and 30°C (59° and 86°F).
What is the Best Price of Gemcitabine? In India, the gemcitabine price is very reasonable. The drug is available at all the WHO-GDP & ISO certified pharmaceutical wholesaler companies. Prices may vary depending on the branded and non-branded drugs (generic).
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