Trastuzumab Injection

Trastuzumab injection is used along with other medications or after other medications have been used to treat a certain type of breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Trastuzumab injection is also used to decrease the chance that a certain type of breast cancer will return in women who have been treated with other medications or are being treated with other medications. Trastuzumab is in a class of medications called monoclonal antibodies. It works by stopping the growth of cancer cells.

Trastuzumab injection comes as a liquid to be injected into a vein by a doctor or nurse in a hospital or medical facility. When trastuzumab injection is used to treat breast cancer that has spread, it is usually given once a week. When trastuzumab injection is used to prevent the return of breast cancer, it is sometimes given once every 3 weeks and is sometimes given once a week along with other chemotherapy medications, and then once every 3 weeks after treatment with the other medications is completed. The length of your treatment depends on how well your body responds to the medication and the side effects that you experience. If you are using trastuzumab to prevent the return of breast cancer, your treatment may last up to 52 weeks.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Trastuzumab injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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diarrhea</li>
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constipation</li>
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stomach pain</li>
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heartburn</li>
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loss of appetite</li>
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back, bone, joint, or muscle pain</li>
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difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep</li>
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excessive tiredness</li>
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pale skin</li>
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hot flushes</li>
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numbness, burning, or tingling in the arms, hands, feet, or legs</li>
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changes in the appearance of nails</li>
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acne</li>
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nosebleed</li>
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depression</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

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sore throat, fever, chills, and other signs of infection</li></ul>Trastuzumab injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before receiving trastuzumab injection, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to trastuzumab, medications made from Chinese hamster ovary cell protein, any other medications, or benzyl alcohol. Ask your pharmacist if you are not sure if a medication you are allergic to is made from Chinese hamster ovary cell protein or contains benzyl alcohol. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and paclitaxel (Abraxane, Taxol). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any of the conditions mentioned in the IMPORTANT WARNING section or any other medical condition. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are receiving trastuzumab injection.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.