Herceptin Side Effects
As with any medication prescribed for treating cancers, Herceptin may have serious side effects. These might include heart complications such as reduced function or congestive heart failure. The risk of heart problems is increased in patients who received both Herceptin and a chemotherapy drug called anthracycline. It is strongly cautioned to consult with a physician about possible heart complications before and after going through a Herceptin regimen. Herceptin has also been known to cause high blood pressure and heart attacks.Infusion reactions, or severe allergic reactions, from taking Herceptin have also included death. There has also been reactions to taking Herceptin that have included swelling, lung problems and shortness of breath, and swelling of the lungs, fluid inside or outside the lungs, weakening of the valve of the heart to the lungs, decreased oxygen in the body, and scarring of the lungs. Usually if a patient has adverse reactions to taking Herceptin, these symptoms will show within the first 24 hours. Other infusion reactions have included fever and chills, pain (in some instances at the site of the tumor), headache, rash, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and lack of strength and energy.Herceptin can cause serious harm to the fetus in pregnant women and in some instances has resulted in the death of the fetus. It is strongly urged to take birth control while taking Herceptin and also 6 months after taking Herceptin. Nursing mothers are advised to stop taking Herceptin while nursing.The worsening of white blood cell counts to serious levels and fever are higher in patients taking Herceptin with a chemotherapy regimen compared to patients taking chemotherapy alone. The possibility that a patient can die from an infection is in the same range among patients who are taking Herceptin and those who do not.The common side effects reported in patients taking Herceptin for metastic stomach cancer include:
- Low white blood cell counts
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Low platelet counts
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Low red blood cell counts
- Swelling of the mouth lining
- Fever
- Swelling of mucous membranes and nose and throat
- Change in taste
- Diarrhea
- Short term memory loss has also been reported
The most common side effects reported in patients taking Herceptin for breast cancer include:
- Low white blood cell counts
- Weight loss
- Low red blood cell counts
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Infections
- Increased Coughing
- Rash
- Headache
- Infusion Reactions
- Fatigue
- Muscle Pain
- Nausea
- Shortness of Breath
Warnings & Recalls for Herceptin
There are currently no proven contraindications for the drug Herceptin and is not under the threat of a recall by the FDA.
Herceptin Treatment and Use
The drug Herceptin | Trastuzumab, is manufactured by Genentech USA, and was approved by the FDA in 1998 for the treatment of adjuvant breast cancer, metastic breast cancer and gastric cancer. Herceptin is used as a therapy for HER2 (Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2) cancer in its early stages in women and can be used for treating cancers that might or might not have spread into the lymph nodes. It can be used simultaneously with other chemotherapy drugs for the treatment of these cancers, leading patients to higher survival rates compared to taking Herceptin alone. It is important to distinguish between chemotherapy and targeted therapy, which is what Herceptin provides. Targeted therapy blocks the growth of cancer cells by hindering targeted molecules necessary for carcinogenesis or growing tumors, leading to more effective treatments and less harm to normal cells.
Herceptin is considered somewhat controversial because of the cost incurred with treatment, which can be up to $100,000 per year, hence many insurance companies have refused to cover patients prescribed to this therapy.
Other Names for Herceptin
Trastuzumab
Lawsuits & Legal Information for Herceptin
