Tarceva

What is tarceva? Tarceva is the brand name of the drug Erlotinib hydrochloride, which is used to treat certain types of lung cancer after a trial of chemotherapy has been unsuccessful. Tarceva is actually a Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, meaning it works by blocking growth signals in cancer cells. Tarceva is prescribed by a doctor and usually directed to be taken at least one hour before (or two hours after) eating. In order for the medication to work it should be taken regularly and at the same time every day. Regular dosage is very important as any accidental misses require the patient to contact their doctor. Lastly, patients are strongly advised to wash their hands immediately after taking the drug.

Information About The Drug Tarceva

Tarceva should be prescribed and monitored by a doctor, since the drug could cause an allergic reaction, based on other medications the patient is taking or previously existing medical conditions. For example, pregnancy and breast feeding can be directly affected by Tarceva, as can certain drugs like Atazanavir, Carbamazepine and Warfarin. Furthermore, radiation therapy or chemotherapy in the past, as well as liver problems may also interact with the drug treatment. Tarceva is usually not recommended for children or elderly patients because of their increased sensitivity.

Are there any Tarceva side effects? The most common side effects, although not necessarily the norm, are diarrhea, dry skin, fatigue, mouth ulcers, loss of appetite and inflammation. More severe side effects, caused by strong allergic reactions to Tarceva may include skin rash, difficulty in breathing, tightness in the chest, facial swelling, black or tarry stools, eye irritation, vomiting, vision problems or yellowing of the eyes.

Healing Capability With Tarceva

Tarceva clinical trials are clinical medical research conducted to determine if new cancer treatments are safe. It is one of the last steps in a long process and is usually the result of years of private testing and study. In these clinic trials doctors evaluate the effectiveness of Tarceva with pancreatic cancer, Tarceva and bone cancer and when is Tarceva used in treating lung cancer. Because Tarceva is a Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, and prevents the growth of cancer cells, positive results have been studied in treating other types of cancer.

Doctors are always careful to stay up to date with the latest medical news about Tarceva, which is why it's important for patients to follow orders in prescription and dosage. Tarceva and wound healing, for example, could be an issue, as the drug is known to slow down or arrest growth of cells. Read more about the drug's potential dangers as well as comparisons between Avastin vs Tarceva at CancerGuide.org.

Why is Tarceva so expensive? The Tarceva price can be high not necessarily because it's expensive to make in production, but because there are so comparatively few patients who use it, that to have a large supply of it would cost the drug companies. For more on Tarceva visit Drugs.com.