Tarceva

View all Lung Cancer Discussions Post A New Discussion

10 Posts | Page(s): 1

How can I prevent stomach discomfort about one to two hours after I take the tarceva?

Quote | Reply

Teacher - That's a tough one since the directions for taking Tarceva specifically state it must be taken "one hour before or two hours after" eating. Maybe if you ate something light 1 hour after taking the Tarceva it would help. Do you take it in the morning? My husband wakes me up and gives me my pill before he goes to work then I go back to sleep. I get up usually 1-1/2 to 2 hours later and eat breakfast. I haven't noticed any stomach discomfort but have felt like it makes me sleepier in the morning than I was before I started taking it. dotdot

Quote | Reply

Teacher

Thanks for your message. I do eat an early dinner an hour after taking tarceva. I'll keep experimentig to try to find a solution. I don't feel sleepy after tarceva. I am on a much lower strength than 150mg. The side effects at top strength were so severe,I had to stop. Now I am taking 50mg a day. I hope that is enough to keep the cancer under control without the severe acne and diarhea I suffered before.

Quote | Reply

Sandoster

My partner has NSCLC and is taking Tarceva 150 mg. The handout from CancerCare specifically states to take the Tarceva "with food to increase its effectiveness." EVERYTHING I see online and from the manufacturers says to take Tarceva on an empty stomach. Is it possible that CancerCare of Maine got it wrong???? Or are there times (IE: 150 mg dose) when food is necessary to prevent side effects?? I am MIGHTY confused!! Thanks for any help!

Quote | Reply

Dotdot

Sandoster - I would go with the recommendation of the drug manufacturer who says take it "one hour before or two hours after a meal." Or, I would call Cancer Care and tell them that every bit of literature you have seen says to take it the way the manufacturer suggests and ask why they say to do it differently. When I bought my Tarceva at the pharmacy (with a $490.00 co-pay on my part) the drug information sheet very plainly gave the manufacturers directions for taking this drug. It would be a shame to be taking this high dollar drug and be doing it wrong?!? dotdot

Quote | Reply

Sandoster

Well, now Donna is stopping the Tarceva due to violent diarrhea. We will meet with the onc tomorrow to discuss whether or not to lower the dose or discontinue all together. I will be asking them why their handout says to take with meals.

Quote | Reply

Kimflorida

After reading an article posted by a lung cancer survivor on Tarceva, I've been taking 150 mg of Tarceva every night - at least 2 hours after dinner - just before bed. It has worked for me, so I have not tried any other times of the day. I hope this helps!

Quote | Reply

1daughter_1

I don't know why CCA recommends however, when taking Tarceva with meals there will be an INCREASE the levels of TARCEVA in the blood and therefore a possibility of more side effects, but they believe more EFFECTIVENESS in the bloodstream and getting around to all the cancer. If you read the package insert, you will see that taking Tarceva with food will give almost 100% bioavailability. I imagine that if you have too much side effects, you will stop taking the drug, so therefore you take it between meals, not with meals to tolerate the drug. My Mother is on TARCEVA (stage IV Adenocarcinoma) metastasized to bones, etc. and has experienced the diarrhea. However, she stopped it for one week and then resumed the Tarceva and it was okay. The company may have structured their studies in such a way that the recommended dose is what the government approved. This is my opinion. She started taking it in January after taking 1 course of Carbo/Taxol. After 5 months, Her tumors were shrinking as of the May Scans. However, she wanted to drop to the 100 mg dose (side effects - tongue and taste) and more recently, August last week her scans showed her cancer was progressing. She now wants to start taking the 150 mg again, but the doctors think that it won't help since her cancer showed progression with the smaller dose. Any comments? Thank you! Maybe she should take it with food?

Quote | Reply

Kelseyboy

On 7/22/2005 Teacher wrote:

How can I prevent stomach discomfort about one to two hours after I take the tarceva?

I am being treated by the Cancer Center of America for Lung, Spine and Pelvic. After my 1st regiment of Chemo and Radiation my Dr. has prescribed Tarceva 150mg. which I take first thing every morning on an empty stomach. The only side-effects that I have are a troubling rash with pinhead size whiteheads on my nose and chin. Other that that, I'm OK.

I am determined that I'll take anything they give me to beat this devastating disease.

Try taking it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

Good Luck: Kelseyboy

Quote | Reply

kaushik_mandal

On 1/29/2007 Kelseyboy wrote:

On 7/22/2005 Teacher wrote:

How can I prevent stomach discomfort about one to two hours after I take the tarceva?

I am being treated by the Cancer Center of America for Lung, Spine and Pelvic. After my 1st regiment of Chemo and Radiation my Dr. has prescribed Tarceva 150mg. which I take first thing every morning on an empty stomach. The only side-effects that I have are a troubling rash with pinhead size whiteheads on my nose and chin. Other that that, I'm OK.
I am determined that I'll take anything they give me to beat this devastating disease.
Try taking it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
Good Luck: Kelseyboy

HI,,

how r u now..ny father is also taking tarceva..after
failure of 1st chemo following lobectomy...the tarceva is working
good..the scans r negetive after 3 months but i heard that the tumour
gets resistence to the treatment after 8-9 month...do you now abou
that...then what option do we have??

pls reply soon

Quote | Reply

10 Posts | Page(s): 1