Before taking Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.
Before using Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease.
Use caution with sharp objects like safety razors or nail cutters and avoid activities such as contact sports to lower the chance of getting cut, bruised or injured.
This medicine may increase your risk of stomach bleeding. Limit alcoholic beverages.
Sunlight may worsen any skin reactions that may occur while you are taking Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths, and sunlamps. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.
Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may cause harm to an unborn baby or miscarriage. Women of childbearing age should use reliable form(s) of birth control during treatment and for at least 2 weeks following the end of treatment with Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg. Consult your doctor for more details.
It is not known whether Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg passes into breast milk. Because of the potential risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
Store at room temperature (77 degrees F or 25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
Take Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg by mouth on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal, usually once daily, or as directed by your doctor.
Use Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg regularly. Remember to take it at the same time every day. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy.
Do not increase your dose or take Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg more often without your doctor's approval. Your condition will not improve any faster and the risk of serious side effects may be increased.
Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while being treated with Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Grapefruit can increase the amount of certain medications in your bloodstream. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
Since Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg can be absorbed through the skin, women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not handle or break the tablets of Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, mouth sores, dry skin, or eye irritation may occur. Changes in diet such as eating several small meals or limiting activity may help lessen the chance of nausea. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg do not have serious side effects.
Diarrhea is a common side effect. Drink plenty of fluids as directed by your doctor to reduce your risk of losing too much body water. Your doctor may prescribe anti-diarrhea medication (e.g., loperamide) to control your symptoms. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop: severe or persistent diarrhea, signs of dehydration (e.g., dizziness, decreased amount of urine).
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: black stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, easy bleeding/bruising, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes or skin, dark urine, unusual fatigue, signs of infection (e.g., fever, chills, persistent sore throat).
Seek immediate medical attention if you develop any of these rare but very serious side effects: new or worsening shortness of breath or cough.
A very serious allergic reaction to Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg can commonly cause a mild rash that is usually not serious. However, you may not be able to tell it apart from a rare rash that could be a sign of a severe allergic reaction. Therefore, seek immediate medical attention if you develop any rash.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Click HERE to learn more about Tarceva side effects.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
If you miss a dose of Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
Before using Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: "blood thinners" (e.g., warfarin), drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg from your body (such as azole antifungals, including itraconazole; macrolide antibiotics, including erythromycin; cimetidine; rifamycins, including rifabutin; St. John's wort; certain anti-seizure medicines, including carbamazepine; HIV protease inhibitors, including ritonavir).
Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine labels carefully since many contain pain relievers/fever reducers (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-NSAIDs such as aspirin, celecoxib, ibuprofen, naproxen) which may increase your risk for stomach bleeding while you are taking Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of these products. Low-dose aspirin, as prescribed by your doctor for specific medical reasons such as heart attack or stroke prevention (usually these dosages are 81-325 milligrams per day), should be continued. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
Cigarette smoking decreases blood levels of Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg. If you currently smoke, stop smoking while taking Tarceva (erlotinib) 100mg. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details.
See also the How to Use section.
This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.