Tarceva Side Effects

I started Tarceva 5 and 1/2 weeks ago, after 6 days I had the most horrific rash, mainly over my nose, chin, chest and back. The rash on my face became huge and appeared infected, I took a couse of antibiotics and steroid cream, which has calmed it down, but, I still look to have severe achne on my face chest and back. Does anyone know if this will eventually balance out and how long it takes or is this a permanent side effect?

 Thank you for taking the time to read my posting!

First does your Doctor have to say about the rash? He should be able to either give you something for rash or change the amount of Tarceva you take  if necessary. I am lucky that I only show a slight rash all over.

The doctor did suggest to reduce from 150 to 100, but to be honest I would rather give the 150 its fair run, as it appears to be working [so that is good news!!!] But other than the prescriptive anitbiotics and cream they have not offered much more than that. What I am trying to ascertain is if this is a permanent side effect or does your body eventuall settle? I am sure there are others on this site that have had a similar experience.

 

On 6/7/2008 Ireney wrote:

The doctor did suggest to reduce from 150 to 100, but to be honest I would rather give the 150 its fair run, as it appears to be working [so that is good news!!!] But other than the prescriptive anitbiotics and cream they have not offered much more than that. What I am trying to ascertain is if this is a permanent side effect or does your body eventuall settle? I am sure there are others on this site that have had a similar experience.

I had the same reaction in the beginning and my onc reduce the dosage down to 100, then back to 125, and then to the 150 and have been on it ever since.  I didn't want to lower the dosage either but my oncologist convinced me that as long as tarceva stayed in my body, it wouldn't hurt anything.  And he was right.  After doing that the rash calmed down and still comes and goes but nowhere like the beginning.  He also prescribed a cream call clobatasol propionate 0.05% and that helps clear the spots pretty quickly for me.  It is usually prescribed for eczema and based on what he told me, it is not usually prescribed for tarceva "acne" but since I had requested to give it a try, he did.  He is now recommending it to other patients because it worked so well for me.

If you are lucky, the rash will never go away.  It won't be as severe and it will travel to different parts of the body at different times, but that means it is still working.  And like you, that's all I cared about. 

Dropping the dose will not hurt.  I have now been on tarceva for 21 months. 

Hope this helps.  Good luck to you.  To me, tarceva has been a blessing, even with the side effects.  But I've reached the point I don't even think about them much anymore.

 

On 6/7/2008 Ireney wrote:

I started Tarceva 5 and 1/2 weeks ago, after 6 days I had the most horrific rash, mainly over my nose, chin, chest and back. The rash on my face became huge and appeared infected, I took a couse of antibiotics and steroid cream, which has calmed it down, but, I still look to have severe achne on my face chest and back. Does anyone know if this will eventually balance out and how long it takes or is this a permanent side effect?

 Thank you for taking the time to read my posting!

Yes, I was hit hard the first week also - even my eyes were infected.  My doctor switched me from 150 mg to 100 mg after 2 weeks, and the rashes 'settled down'.  My skin remains itchy and very dry - especially the insides of my elbows, knees, neck and around my midriff (where the shingles usually strike).  I understand the skin is more sensitive in this area and the nerve endings more numerous.  I have been on Tarceva for nearly 6 months now.  After 2 months a CT scan showed a slight reduction in the lymph node tumor (I started with lung ca - non small cell, adenocarcinoma).  I had another CT scan last week and will get  the results this Thursday, the 12th.  I use alot of Eucrin lotion (esp the anti-itch formula).  This lotion is very thick and can leave oily stains on your clothing, so I use Cetaphil esp on my back during the day - it doesn't stain and is much thinner.  Good luck w/Tarceva.  It has its side effects, but so far I have felt much better with its use.  Keep me posted.  Jan

 

 

On 6/7/2008 RVdreaming wrote:

 

On 6/7/2008 Ireney wrote:

I started Tarceva 5 and 1/2 weeks ago, after 6 days I had the most horrific rash, mainly over my nose, chin, chest and back. The rash on my face became huge and appeared infected, I took a couse of antibiotics and steroid cream, which has calmed it down, but, I still look to have severe achne on my face chest and back. Does anyone know if this will eventually balance out and how long it takes or is this a permanent side effect?

 Thank you for taking the time to read my posting!

Yes, I was hit hard the first week also - even my eyes were infected.  My doctor switched me from 150 mg to 100 mg after 2 weeks, and the rashes 'settled down'.  My skin remains itchy and very dry - especially the insides of my elbows, knees, neck and around my midriff (where the shingles usually strike).  I understand the skin is more sensitive in this area and the nerve endings more numerous.  I have been on Tarceva for nearly 6 months now.  After 2 months a CT scan showed a slight reduction in the lymph node tumor (I started with lung ca - non small cell, adenocarcinoma).  I had another CT scan last week and will get  the results this Thursday, the 12th.  I use alot of Eucrin lotion (esp the anti-itch formula).  This lotion is very thick and can leave oily stains on your clothing, so I use Cetaphil esp on my back during the day - it doesn't stain and is much thinner.  Good luck w/Tarceva.  It has its side effects, but so far I have felt much better with its use.  Keep me posted.  Jan

I forgot to mention I still have to use the steroid cream and ointment if I accidentally scratch myself in my sleep, but a good layer of the Eucerin before bed really helps. Jan

 

 

On 6/7/2008 Chessie wrote:

 

On 6/7/2008 Ireney wrote:

The doctor did suggest to reduce from 150 to 100, but to be honest I would rather give the 150 its fair run, as it appears to be working [so that is good news!!!] But other than the prescriptive anitbiotics and cream they have not offered much more than that. What I am trying to ascertain is if this is a permanent side effect or does your body eventuall settle? I am sure there are others on this site that have had a similar experience.

I had the same reaction in the beginning and my onc reduce the dosage down to 100, then back to 125, and then to the 150 and have been on it ever since.  I didn't want to lower the dosage either but my oncologist convinced me that as long as tarceva stayed in my body, it wouldn't hurt anything.  And he was right.  After doing that the rash calmed down and still comes and goes but nowhere like the beginning.  He also prescribed a cream call clobatasol propionate 0.05% and that helps clear the spots pretty quickly for me.  It is usually prescribed for eczema and based on what he told me, it is not usually prescribed for tarceva "acne" but since I had requested to give it a try, he did.  He is now recommending it to other patients because it worked so well for me.

If you are lucky, the rash will never go away.  It won't be as severe and it will travel to different parts of the body at different times, but that means it is still working.  And like you, that's all I cared about. 

Dropping the dose will not hurt.  I have now been on tarceva for 21 months. 

Hope this helps.  Good luck to you.  To me, tarceva has been a blessing, even with the side effects.  But I've reached the point I don't even think about them much anymore.

 

 

Thank you for reply to my e-mail. I will speak to my oncologist re the cream you suggested and mabye to drop the dose to 100mg for a short time.

Good luck to you for the future.

Ireney

 

On 6/7/2008 RVdreaming wrote:

 

On 6/7/2008 Ireney wrote:

I started Tarceva 5 and 1/2 weeks ago, after 6 days I had the most horrific rash, mainly over my nose, chin, chest and back. The rash on my face became huge and appeared infected, I took a couse of antibiotics and steroid cream, which has calmed it down, but, I still look to have severe achne on my face chest and back. Does anyone know if this will eventually balance out and how long it takes or is this a permanent side effect?

 Thank you for taking the time to read my posting!

Yes, I was hit hard the first week also - even my eyes were infected.  My doctor switched me from 150 mg to 100 mg after 2 weeks, and the rashes 'settled down'.  My skin remains itchy and very dry - especially the insides of my elbows, knees, neck and around my midriff (where the shingles usually strike).  I understand the skin is more sensitive in this area and the nerve endings more numerous.  I have been on Tarceva for nearly 6 months now.  After 2 months a CT scan showed a slight reduction in the lymph node tumor (I started with lung ca - non small cell, adenocarcinoma).  I had another CT scan last week and will get  the results this Thursday, the 12th.  I use alot of Eucrin lotion (esp the anti-itch formula).  This lotion is very thick and can leave oily stains on your clothing, so I use Cetaphil esp on my back during the day - it doesn't stain and is much thinner.  Good luck w/Tarceva.  It has its side effects, but so far I have felt much better with its use.  Keep me posted.  Jan

Thank you for your reply..

My skin is itchy and dry also so I think it will be a case of trial and error as I have found that any creams that contain alcohol make my face sting.

I wish you all the luck in the world for the 12th. Together and with lots of hope we can beat this.

 

Ireney

 

 

 

 

On 6/8/2008 Ireney wrote:

 

On 6/7/2008 RVdreaming wrote:

 

On 6/7/2008 Ireney wrote:

I started Tarceva 5 and 1/2 weeks ago, after 6 days I had the most horrific rash, mainly over my nose, chin, chest and back. The rash on my face became huge and appeared infected, I took a couse of antibiotics and steroid cream, which has calmed it down, but, I still look to have severe achne on my face chest and back. Does anyone know if this will eventually balance out and how long it takes or is this a permanent side effect?

 Thank you for taking the time to read my posting!

Yes, I was hit hard the first week also - even my eyes were infected.  My doctor switched me from 150 mg to 100 mg after 2 weeks, and the rashes 'settled down'.  My skin remains itchy and very dry - especially the insides of my elbows, knees, neck and around my midriff (where the shingles usually strike).  I understand the skin is more sensitive in this area and the nerve endings more numerous.  I have been on Tarceva for nearly 6 months now.  After 2 months a CT scan showed a slight reduction in the lymph node tumor (I started with lung ca - non small cell, adenocarcinoma).  I had another CT scan last week and will get  the results this Thursday, the 12th.  I use alot of Eucrin lotion (esp the anti-itch formula).  This lotion is very thick and can leave oily stains on your clothing, so I use Cetaphil esp on my back during the day - it doesn't stain and is much thinner.  Good luck w/Tarceva.  It has its side effects, but so far I have felt much better with its use.  Keep me posted.  Jan

Thank you for your reply..

My skin is itchy and dry also so I think it will be a case of trial and error as I have found that any creams that contain alcohol make my face sting.

I wish you all the luck in the world for the 12th. Together and with lots of hope we can beat this.

 

Ireney

Hi, everyone.  I've been taking 150mg of Tarceva for about 2 years now, At first, I had a really severe acne-form rash, along with incredibly dry, itchy skin which I scratched in my sleep, so it became infected.  My onc. prescribed 100mg of Doxycycline every day.  Since I've been taking that my skin has cleared right up, although it's still very dry  and photo-sensitive.  I have been using a skin-care line by "Scosh" and it has  really helped with the driness on my face. They're online at www.scoshskincare.com .   

I am pleased to still get the rash though ( every now and then I stop taking the antibiotic & it flares right up ) because there is some evidence that the rash indicates a good response to the Tarceva.  I was dx with Stg 4 nsclc in 4/05 and given 6-16 mos. to live - it was touch and go for the first year, but  I played 18 holes of golf yesterday and plan to go to lunch and a movie with a friend today.   I credit my relative longevity and my high quality of life to Tarceva &  God,  ( and a great Onc ).

God bless all of you - be strong!

 Bentley

 

 

 

Does anyone know if this drug  is available in  Canada?