TAGRISSO 80MG TABLET

Introduction:

Tagrisso 80mg tablet consists of Osimertinib as the active constituent. This medicine belongs to the protein kinase inhibitor class that is involved in treating cancer, and it is predominantly used in treating non-small cell lung cancer in adults. However, before consuming the cancer treatment with this medicine, a genetic test called EGFR will be performed because it works the best for those cancers that report EGFR positive. 

If this medicine has been prescribed to you after removing the tumor, it implies that your cancer cells contained EGFR mutations; otherwise, it can also be given primarily to treat your cancer with mutations in your EGFR genes. It would be best to inform your doctor about your medical history before starting with Tagrisso 80mg Tablet. If you have a history of heart disorders or any lung inflammation, report to your doctor because close monitoring is required for these medical conditions. If you are currently taking medicines for tuberculosis, HIV infection, seizures, heart diseases, high blood pressure or blood clots, inform your physician as those medications can cause interactions with Tagrisso 80mg Tablet.

Uses of Tagrisso 80mg Tablet:

Tagrisso 80mg Tablet Tablet has been approved for treating the following conditions:

• Non-small cell lung cancer.
• First-line treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, to treat tumors with EGFR mutations and T790M mutations that cannot be removed by surgery.
• Adjunct therapy to prevent recurrence of lung cancer post-surgical removal of the tumor.

How Tagrisso 80mg Tablet works?

Osimertinib is a protein kinase inhibitor. It is a targeted therapy used in lung cancer treatment that produces its action by actively inhibiting the Epidermal growth factor receptor and retards the growth of cancer cells. This medicine also slows down the cancer progression and aims to reduce the tumor size. In addition, it prevents the recurrence of tumor post-surgical removal.

Therapeutic Effect Of Tagrisso 80mg Tablet In Lung Cancer:

Tagrisso 80mg Tablet is used exclusively in non-small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer is a type of lung cancer where the cancer is developed from the cells lining the lung airways. This type of lung cancer evolves from the cellular level and leads to the rapid multiplication of cancerous cells in the lungs. 

Since non-small cell lung cancer is strongly associated with EGFR mutations, the Tagrisso 80mg Tablet works effectively by irreversibly binding to the EGFR as it is explicitly designed to target the particular gene mutations. Besides this, it can be used in the treatment of lung cancer with T970M mutation for those who have developed resistance to the previously treated EGFR targeted therapies

How to store Tagrisso 80mg Tablet?

• Tagrisso 80mg Tablet to be stored in a place away from the sight and reach of children.
• Keep this medicine in a safe place, preferably at room temperature, not beyond 25 °C.

Interactions:

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

References:

1. Edward Chu, Cancer Chemotherapy, Lange’s Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, 14th Edition, 2018, 948-976.
2. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, European medicine compendium(emc), [Revised on January 2021], [Accessed on 27 June 2022], https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.7615.pdf
3. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Product Monograph, [Revised on January 2022], [Accessed on 27/06/2022], https://www.astrazeneca.ca/content/dam/az-ca/downloads/productinformation/tagrisso-consumer-information-leaflet-en.pdf
4. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, U.S Food and drug administration, [Revised on January 2022], [Accessed on 27 June 2022], https://den8dhaj6zs0e.cloudfront.net/50fd68b9-106b-4550-b5d0-12b045f8b184/52503580-1192-44f7-a05e-5743159ed19b/52503580-1192-44f7-a05e-5743159ed19b_viewable_rendition__v.pdf

How to consume Tagrisso 80mg Tablet?

• Take Osimertinib exactly as your doctor prescribes, and it is intended for oral use only.
• It is not advised to crush or chew the tablet. Swallow this tablet as a whole with a glass of water.
• This medicine can be consumed with or without food.
• Try to take this medicine at a fixed time each day.
• If you have difficulty swallowing this tablet, it can be broken down into tiny pieces and mixed with a glass of water, do not use other liquids. Consume this mixture directly, followed by a glass of plain water.

Safety Advice:

Pregnancy: 

It is not safe to consume Tagrisso 80mg Tablet while you are pregnant. Consult your doctor if you plan to become pregnant as it may harm the unborn baby and discuss the effective contraceptive methods.

Breastfeeding: 

Taking Tagrisso 80mg Tablet is unsafe if breastfeeding your baby as this medicine tends to pass into the breast milk and affect the baby. Your doctor may suggest you breastfeed only after two weeks from the last dose.

Liver:

It is safe to consume Tagrisso 80mg Tablet in patients with liver diseases as this medicine does not require any dosage adjustment. However, it is better to consult your doctor and have periodic monitoring of liver enzymes and parameters.

Kidney:

It is safe to consume Tagrisso 80mg Tablet in patients with kidney diseases as this medicine does not require any dosage adjustment. However, it is better to consult your doctor before taking this medicine.

Alcohol:

Please consult your physician and inform them about your pattern of drinking alcohol as only a limited study is available on the safety of using Tagrisso 80mg Tablet and alcohol.

Driving:

It is ideally safe to consume Tagrisso 80mg Tablet if you are planning to drive or operate machines because it does not affect your driving potential.

Others: 

• Discuss the contraceptive methods with your doctor. If you are male then you may have to continue contraceptives for 4months after the last dose. For females, your physician may advise contraceptives for 2 months after the final dose.
• This tablet is not advised for patients below the age of 18 years.
• Inform your physician if you have had any visual difficulties before taking this medicine, such as wearing a contact lens or having a history of eye disorders.
• If you develop wheezing or sudden shortness of breath, report to your doctor and seek medical care immediately. If you feel fainting, lightheadedness, sudden palpitations, swelling in the legs, chest pain, or coughing with blood, it is advised to visit the hospital for clinical support.
• The animal study reports that Tagrisso 80mg Tablet can cause fertility issues and affect the reproductive potential of both men and women.

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

The below-mentioned side effects can occur commonly while taking Tagrisso 80mg Tablet.

Common:

• Breathing difficulty (serious)
• Fever accompanied by cough
• Lung problems (serious)
• Heart-related disorders (serious)
• Decrease in white blood cell and platelet counts
• Mouth ulcers due to inflammation of the stomach lining
• Skin rashes, dry skin, and other skin problems such as burning sensation with cracking of the skin in palms and feet
• Inflammation and redness around the fingernails
• Skin bruises and blister formation (serious)
• Bleeding of the nose
• Thinning of hair
• Fatigue
• Reduced appetite
• Inflammation of eyes with secretions and eye pain (serious)