Serious side effects have been reported including:
- severe lung disease. Rarely, some patients have developed interstitial lung disease (ILD), or scarring of lung tissue. Some cases have been fatal. Tell your doctor if you develop symptoms such as cough, difficulty breathing, and fever.
- increased liver enzymes or liver damage. Your doctor may periodically monitor your liver function with simple blood tests. Liver disease may cause Iressa blood levels to increase as Iressa is cleared from the body by the liver.
Do not take Iressa if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:
- anticoagulants (‘blood thinners’) such as warfarin (Coumadin). Iressa may increase the blood-thinning effects ofwarfarin (Coumadin) and increase the risk of bleeding.
- rifampin or phenytoin (Dilantin). You may need a higher dose of Iressa to maintain the effectiveness of Iressa.
- antifungals such as itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), and voriconazole (Vfend). You may need a lower dose of Iressa to prevent side effects caused by increased levels of Iressa.
- ranitidine or cimetidine. These medicines increase gastric pH causing a reduced plasma concentration of Iressa. This may make Iressa less effective.
- vinorelbine. Iressa, when taken along with vinorelbine, may increase the possibility you will get a condition called neutropenia. This is an abnormally low count of neutrophils, white blood cells that help your immune system fight off infections.
Many other medications may interact with Iressa, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
The most common side effects of Iressa therapy include:
- diarrhea
- rash
- acne
- dry skin
- nausea
- vomiting
About 1% of people taking Iressa develop a potentially serious lung condition called interstitial lung disease that causes inflammation within the lung. Therefore, patients taking Iressa who develop new or worsening cough, fever, or difficulty in breathing should contact their doctor immediately.
Also eye pain, redness, and irritation have occurred in people taking Iressa.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. Talk to your doctor for more information.
Take Iressa exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions carefully. Your doctor will determine the best dose for you. If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take two doses at once.
The recommended daily dose of Iressa is one 250 mg tablet with or without food.
Tell your doctor if you are allergic to Iressa or any other medications.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:
- anticoagulants (‘blood thinners’) such as warfarin (Coumadin). Iressa may increase the blood-thinning effects of warfarin (Coumadin) and increase the risk of bleeding.
- rifampin or phenytoin (Dilantin). You may need a higher dose of Iressa to maintain the effectiveness of Iressa.
- antifungals such as itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), and voriconazole (Vfend). You may need a lower dose of Iressa to prevent side effects caused by increased levels of Iressa.
- ranitidine or cimetidine. These medicines increase gastric pH causing a reduced plasma concentration of Iressa. This may make Iressa less effective.
- vinorelbine. Iressa, when taken along with vinorelbine, may increase the possibility you will get a condition called neutropenia. This is an abnormally low count of neutrophils, white blood cells that help your immune system fight off infections.
Many other medications may interact with Iressa, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list. 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 pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of the lungs), or liver or kidney disease.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should use birth control to prevent pregnancy during your treatment with Iressa and for some time after you stop using the medication. If you become pregnant while taking Iressa, call your doctor.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed while you are taking Iressa.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should use birth control to prevent pregnancy during your treatment with Iressa and for some time after you stop using the medication. If you become pregnant while taking Iressa, call your doctor.
Iressa is used alone (monotherapy) for the treatment of patients with a certain type of lung cancer (non-small cell lung cancer or NSCLC) that has not responded to chemotherapy.
Iressa is used to treat non-small cell lung cancer in people currently receiving and benefiting from Iressa. There are other medications that may help people who have non-small cell lung cancer live longer. Therefore, only people who have already taken Iressa and benefited from the medication should continue to take it.
Iressa is a tablet to be taken by mouth, with our without food, usually once a day. Take Iressa at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully and take this medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medication unless your doctor or pharmacist says you may. Grapefruit may increase the chance of side effects with this medicine.
If you miss a dose take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for your next dose.
If you have difficulty swallowing tablets, you may dissolve Iressa tablets in water. No other liquids should be used. Drop the tablet in the water, without crushing it, stir until the tablet is dispersed (approximately 10 minutes) and drink the liquid immediately. Rinse the glass with half a glass of water and drink. The liquid can also be administered through a naso-gastric tube.
Iressa is not available in pharmacies. You can only get Iressa through a distribution program that has been set up by the manufacturer for people who have taken Iressa in the past. You will need to sign a consent form before you receive any medication. You will receive your medication by mail from a specific mail order pharmacy. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about receiving your medication.
Before receiving this medication, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:
- are allergic to Iressa or any other medicines
- have or have ever had pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of the lungs), or liver or kidney disease
- are pregnant or breastfeeding
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Iressa is a prescription medicine that is used to treat certain types of lung cancer. Iressa is in a class of anti-cancer medications called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The way Iressa works is not fully understood. It is thought to work by blocking the action of a certain naturally occurring substance that may be needed to help cancer cells grow and multiply. Iressa blocks a protein called epidermal growth factor (EGF) from triggering growth and multiplication of cells, including cancer cells. Normally when EGF attaches to cells on epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs), it causes another substance called tyrosine kinase to become activated. Tyrosine kinase triggers chemical processes that cause cells, including cancer cells, to grow and multiply.
If you regularly eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice, discuss this with your doctor, as it may interfere with Iressa.
Iressa is a tablet to be taken by mouth, with our without food, usually once a day. Take Iressa at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully and take this medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medication unless your doctor or pharmacist says you may. Grapefruit may increase the chance of side effects with this medicine.
If you miss a dose take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for your next dose.
If you have difficulty swallowing tablets, you may dissolve Iressa tablets in water. No other liquids should be used. Drop the tablet in the water, without crushing it, stir until the tablet is dispersed (approximately 10 minutes) and drink the liquid immediately. Rinse the glass with half a glass of water and drink. The liquid can also be administered through anaso-gastric tube.
Iressa is not available in pharmacies. You can only get Iressa through a distribution program that has been set up by the manufacturer for people who have taken Iressa in the past. You will need to sign a consent form before you receive any medication. You will receive your medication by mail from a specific mail order pharmacy. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about receiving your medication.
Store at controlled room temperature 20-25°C (68-77°F). Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.
Iressa is available in 250 mg tablets.
Active ingredient: Gefitinib
Inactive ingredients: lactose monohydrate, cellulose, microcrystalline, croscarmellose sodium, povidone, sodium lauryl sulfate, magnesium stearate, hypromelloses, polyetylene glycol 300, titanium dioxide, ferric oxide red, ferric oxide yellow.
If you take too much Iressa contact your local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.
Iressa is a prescription medication used to treat a certain type of lung cancer (non-small cell lung cancer or NSCLC) that has not responded to chemotherapy.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed while you are taking Iressa.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your body’s response to Iressa.
Do not let anyone else take your medication even if they have the same symptoms as you. This medicine may harm them.