Trastuzumab (Systemic)

Brand Names : Herceptin

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For trastuzumab, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to trastuzumab or to mouse proteins. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Trastuzumab has not been studied in pregnant women. However, this medicine was found to cross the placenta in monkeys but did not cause harmful effects in the fetus.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether trastuzumab passes into the breast milk. However, breast-feeding is not recommended while you are receiving this medicine and for a while after you stop receiving it.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of trastuzumab in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - There is no specific information comparing the use of trastuzumab in the elderly with use in other age groups. However, certain heart problems may be more likely to occur in the elderly, who may be more sensitive to the effects of trastuzumab.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of trastuzumab. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Heart disease - Risk of heart problems caused by trastuzumab may be increased

• Lung disease - Risk of lung problems caused by trastuzumab may be increased