Description
Necitumumab injection is used in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin to treat squamous non-small cell lung cancer that has spread.
Necitumumab interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed by the body. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by necitumumab, other unwanted effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Some unwanted effects, such as a skin rash, may not be serious but may cause concern. Some of the unwanted effects do not occur until months or years after the medicine is used.
This medicine is to be given only by or under the supervision of your doctor.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
- Solution
Before Using
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of necitumumab injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Geriatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of necitumumab injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have blood clots (eg, pulmonary embolism), which may require caution in patients receiving necitumumab injection.
Breastfeeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Blood clots (eg, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism) or
- Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
Proper Use
A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins. It must be given slowly, so the needle will remain in place for 60 minutes and the infusion will be given on Day 1 and 8 of each 3-week cycle.
You may also receive medicines to help prevent possible allergic reactions to the injection.
Precautions
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant during therapy and for 3 months after the last dose of this medicine. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.
Hypomagnesemia may occur while you are receiving this medicine. Tell your doctor right away if you have drowsiness, mood or mental changes, muscle spasms or twitching, seizures, or unusual tiredness or weakness after receiving this medicine.
Blood clots may occur while you are receiving this medicine. Call your doctor if you have chest pain that may spread to your arms, jaw, back, or neck, coughing up blood, nausea, numbness or weakness in your arm or leg, or on one side of your body, sudden or severe headache, problems with vision, speech, or walking, trouble breathing, or unusual sweating.
This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Use a sunscreen when you are outdoors. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.
Infusion-related reactions may occur while you are receiving this medicine. Tell your doctor right away if you have the following symptoms: back pain, chest tightness, chills, fever, flushing, headache, nausea and vomiting, weakness, or trouble breathing.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
- Abdominal or stomach cramps
- confusion
- convulsions
- decreased urine
- difficulty with breathing
- drowsiness
- dry mouth
- increased thirst
- irregular heartbeat
- loss of appetite
- mood or mental changes
- muscle cramps in the hands, arms, feet, legs, or face
- muscle pain or muscle spasms (tetany) or twitching
- nausea or vomiting
- numbness and tingling around the mouth, fingertips, or feet
- tremor
- unusual tiredness or weakness
Less common
- Anxiety
- back pain
- chest pain or discomfort
- chest tightness
- chills
- cough
- difficulty with speaking
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- double vision
- fainting
- fast heartbeat
- fever
- flushing
- headache
- heart stops
- inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles
- no breathing
- no pulse or blood pressure
- pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
- pain, redness, or swelling in the arm or leg
- pains in the chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves of the legs
- severe headaches of sudden onset
- slow speech
- sudden loss of coordination
- sudden onset of slurred speech
- sudden shortness of breath or troubled breathing
- sudden vision changes
- sweating
- trouble breathing
- unconscious
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Blemishes on the skin
- burning, dry, or itching eyes
- decreased weight
- diarrhea
- discharge or excessive tearing
- dry skin
- itching skin or rash
- loosening of the fingernails
- pimples
- rash with flat lesions or small raised lesions on the skin
- redness or soreness around the fingernails
- redness, pain, or swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
- swelling or inflammation of the mouth
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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