DESCRIPTION
Afinitor 5 mg tablets from Novartis also known as 'Everolimus' is a FDA approved drug to treat the following diseases.
1.Advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, along with the medicine exemestane, in postmenopausal women who have received certain other medicines for their cancer.
2.Adults with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET) that has progressed and cannot be treated with surgery.
Adults with advanced kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma or RCC)
3.Adults with a kidney tumor called angiomyolipoma, seen with a genetic condition called tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), when their kidney tumor does not require surgery.
Manufacturer: Novartis
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
How To Use Afinitor:
Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start taking Afinitor (everolimus) 10mg and each time you get a refill.If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Take Afinitor (everolimus) 5 mg ,10 mg by mouth with or without food, usually once daily or as directed by your doctor.Swallow Afinitor (everolimus) 10mg whole with a glass of water.Do not crush, chew, or break the tablets.
Dosage of Afinitor (everolimus) 10mg is based on your medical condition, interacting drugs, and response to treatment.
Use Afinitor (everolimus) 10mg , 5 mg regularly to get the most benefit from it.To help you remember, take it at the same time each day.
Do not increase your dose or take Afinitor (everolimus) 10mg more often without your doctor's approval.Your condition will not improve any faster and the risk of serious side effects may be increased.
Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using Afinitor (everolimus) 10mg unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.Grapefruit can increase the amount of Afinitor (everolimus) 10mg in your bloodstream.Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
Since Afinitor (everolimus) 10mg can be absorbed through the skin and lungs, women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not handle Afinitor 10mg or breathe the dust from the tablets.
Storage:
Store at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from light and moisture.Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted.Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so.Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed.Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
SIDE EFFECTS
Common side effects while taking Afinitor include mouth ulcers. Tell your healthcare provider if you have pain, discomfort, or open sores in your mouth. Your healthcare provider may tell you to use a special mouthwash or gel that does not contain alcohol, peroxide, iodine, or thyme.
Other common side effects include:
- Infections
- Feeling weak or tired
- Cough, shortness of breath
- Diarrhea and constipation
- Skin problems (such as rash, acne, dry skin, or itching)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
- Loss of appetite, weight loss
- Swelling of arms, hands, feet, ankles, face, or other parts of the body
- Abnormal taste or dry mouth
- Inflammation of the lining of the digestive system
- Headache
- Nose bleeds
- Absence of menstrual periods. You may miss one or more menstrual periods. Tell your healthcare provider if this happens
- Pain in arms and legs, mouth and throat, back or joints, or stomach area (abdomen)
- Low red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets
- Increased blood cholesterol level and certain other blood tests
- Decreased blood phosphate level
- Increased blood sugar levels
- High blood pressure
- Difficulty sleeping
- Hair loss
- Muscle spasms
- Feeling dizzy
- Nail disorders
- Anxiety, aggression, and other abnormal behaviors
