AFINITOR 10MG TABLET

Introduction:

Afinitor 10mg Tablet is a targeted therapy containing active constituent everolimus. It is used to treat hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer in post-menopausal women. It is also used to treat neuroendocrine tumours, brain tumours, and advanced kidney cancer. Cancer is a disorder in which cells multiply in an uncontrolled and abnormal manner. Talk to your doctor if you have had recent major surgery, unhealed wound following surgery, diabetes, liver disorders, high cholesterol, infection, hepatitis B, or if you need to receive a vaccine before taking this medicine.

Afinitor 10mg Tablet is not recommended for adolescents and children under the age of 18. Avoid taking grapefruit juice or grapefruit while taking this medicine. You need to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking recently before taking this medicine. Use effective birth control during the treatment with this medicine. 

If you are a man wanting to father a child, you should discuss the treatment with your physician, as taking Afinitor 10mg Tablet may reduce sperm production in men. Talk to your doctor if you have any intolerance to sugars. Taking this medicine may weaken your immune system and increases the risk of getting infections.

Uses of Afinitor 10mg Tablet:

Afinitor 10mg Tablet is used to treat

• Hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer in post-menopausal women, where other treatments are not effective. It is given along with exemestane.
• Neuroendocrine tumours (originate from stomach, lung, bowels, or pancreas), where surgery cannot be performed
• Advanced kidney cancer, where other treatments are not effective
• Brain tumor called subependymal giant cell astrocytoma in adults and children aged 3 years and older (where surgery cannot be done)

How Afinitor 10mg Tablet works:

Afinitor 10mg Tablet is an mTOR (a type of protein in the body) inhibitor. It decreases the blood supply to the tumour and slows down the growth of cancer cells.

Interactions with other drugs:

Inform your doctor about any medications you are taking or have taken before the treatment.

More information:

• Keep Afinitor 10mg Tablet out of sight and reach of children.
• Store below 25°C.

References:

1. Goodman & Gilman’s, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, Targeted therapy: tyrosine kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies and cytokines, 12th edition, 2011, 1743.
2. KD Tripathi, Essentials of Medical Pharmacology, Immunosuppressant drugs, 7th edition, 2013, 878 - 882.
3. Accord Healthcare Limited, Electronic medicines compendium (emc), [ Revised on Oct 2020] [ Accessed on 30th June 2021], https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.11084.pdf
4. Jan Hasskarl; Everolimus; Recent Results in Cancer Research; Published on 2018; Accessed on 12/11/2021; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30069763/
5. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, US Food and Drug Administration, [ Revised on July 2012] [ Accessed on 23rd March 2022], https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2012/022334s016lbl.pdf

How to use Afinitor 10mg Tablet:

Always take Afinitor 10mg Tablet exactly as your doctor has told you. Do not crush or chew the tablets. In order to keep constant levels in your body, you should always take Afinitor 10mg Tablet in the same way, either always with food or always on an empty stomach. Avoid taking grapefruit juice or grapefruit while taking this medicine.

Safety advice:

Pregnancy:

Afinitor 10mg Tablet can harm your unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant before taking Afinitor 10mg Tablet. It will be given to you if clearly needed.

Breastfeeding:

You should not breastfeed while taking this medicine. Inform your doctor if you are breastfeeding before taking Afinitor 10mg Tablet.

Liver:

You need to tell your doctor if you have any liver disorders before taking Afinitor 10mg Tablet. Your doctor may modify the dose according to your liver condition.

Kidney:

You need to tell your doctor if you have any kidney disorders before taking Afinitor 10mg Tablet. Your doctor will examine your kidney function before treatment.

Driving:

Afinitor 10mg Tablet can make you feel unusually tired. Avoid driving if you are unwell.

Others:

• Limit your exposure to sunlight and UV light. Wear protective clothing and apply sunscreen frequently.
• Tell your doctor if you have any intolerance to sugars, have had a recent major surgery or unhealed wound following surgery.

Side effects are unwanted symptoms caused by medicines. Even though all medicines cause side effects, not everyone gets them.

Serious:

• Difficulty breathing, or swallowing
• Swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat
• Severe itching, red rash, raised bumps

Common:

• Infection (chills, increased temperature)
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Excessive thirst
• High urine output or severely decreased urine output
• Tiredness
• Bleeding
• Increased appetite with weight loss