Pemetrexed Hexal
Pemetrexed Hexal is a cancer medicine used to treat specific types of lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Form
infuusiokonsentraatti, liuosta varten
Strength
25 mg/ml
Active Ingredient
Pemetrexed disodium hemipentahydrate
Manufacturer
Hexal A/S
How to Use
Dosage
The typical dose is 500 mg per square meter of body surface area, calculated based on your height and weight.
Method
The medicine is given as an intravenous infusion over about 10 minutes, usually once every three weeks. If given with cisplatin, cisplatin is infused after Pemetrexed Hexal.
Important
Your doctor will determine the maximum daily dose based on your body surface area and health.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Infection
- •Sore throat
- •Low neutrophil counts (a type of white blood cell)
- •Low white blood cell counts
- •Low hemoglobin (anemia)
- •Pain, redness, swelling, or sores in the mouth
- •Loss of appetite
- •Vomiting
- •Diarrhea
- •Nausea
- •Rash
- •Skin peeling
- •Abnormal blood values showing impaired kidney function
- •Fatigue (tiredness)
- •Blood infection
- •Fever with low neutrophil counts (a type of white blood cell)
- •Low platelet count
- •Allergic reaction
- •Dehydration
- •Taste changes
- •Motor nerve damage, causing muscle weakness and wasting, mainly in arms and legs
- •Sensory nerve damage, causing impaired sensation, burning pain, and unsteady gait
- •Dizziness
- •Conjunctivitis (inflammation or swelling of the membrane covering the inside of the eyelids and the white part of the eye)
- •Dry eyes
- •Watery eyes
- •Dry conjunctiva and dry cornea
- •Eyelid swelling
- •Eye problems such as dryness, tearing, irritation, and/or pain
- •Heart failure
- •Heart rhythm disturbances
- •Indigestion
- •Constipation
- •Abdominal pain
- •Elevated liver enzyme levels in blood
- •Increased skin pigmentation
- •Itchy skin
- •Body rash with ring-shaped lesions
- •Hair loss
- •Hives
- •Kidney failure
- •Impaired kidney function
- •Fever
- •Pain
- •Excess body fluids, causing swelling
- •Chest pain
- •Inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the digestive tract
RARE
- •Decrease in red and white blood cells and platelets
- •Stroke
- •Type of stroke where a brain artery is blocked
- •Bleeding inside the skull
- •Angina pectoris (chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart)
- •Heart attack
- •Narrowing or blockage of coronary arteries
- •Accelerated heart rhythm
- •Insufficient blood flow to limbs
- •Pulmonary embolism (blood clots in lung arteries)
- •Breathing difficulties due to lung lining inflammation and scarring
- •Bright red bleeding from the anus
- •Gastrointestinal bleeding
- •Bowel rupture
- •Esophageal lining inflammation
- •Colitis (inflammation of colon lining) possibly with bleeding from intestines or rectum (only with cisplatin)
- •Radiation-induced inflammation, swelling, redness, and erosion of the esophageal lining
- •Radiation-induced lung inflammation
- •Destruction of red blood cells
- •Anaphylactic shock (severe allergic reaction)
- •Hepatitis (liver inflammation)
- •Skin redness
- •Rash in previously irradiated areas
- •Skin and soft tissue infections
- •Stevens-Johnson syndrome (severe, life-threatening skin and mucous membrane reaction)
- •Toxic epidermal necrolysis (severe, life-threatening skin reaction)
- •Autoimmune disorder with rash and blisters on legs, arms, and abdomen
- •Skin inflammation with fluid-filled blisters
- •Skin fragility, blisters, erosions, and scarring
- •Redness, pain, and swelling mainly in lower limbs
- •Inflammation of skin and subcutaneous fat (pseudocellulitis)
- •Skin inflammation (dermatitis)
- •Inflamed, itchy, red, cracked, and coarse skin
- •Intensely itchy bumps
- •A form of diabetes caused by kidney pathology
- •Kidney disorder involving necrosis of renal tubules
- •Increased urine output
- •Thirst and increased water intake
- •Hypernatremia; excess sodium in blood
Important Warnings
- Do not use if you are allergic to Pemetrexed or any other ingredient in this medicine.
- Do not breastfeed while taking this medicine. You must stop breastfeeding during Pemetrexed Hexal treatment.
- Do not use if you have recently received or are about to receive a yellow fever vaccine.
- Talk to your doctor if you have or have had kidney problems, as Pemetrexed Hexal may not be suitable for you.
- Tell your doctor if you have had or will have radiation therapy, as this medicine can cause radiation reactions.
Show 5 more warnings
- Tell your doctor if you have or have had heart disease.
- If you have fluid around your lungs, your doctor may decide to remove it before treatment.
- This medicine is not for children or adolescents under 18 years of age.
- Do not use if you are pregnant. Women must use effective contraception during treatment and for 6 months after the last dose. Men should use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose.
- This medicine may cause tiredness. Be careful when driving or operating machinery.