Important information
What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take Pectuna®?
- If you are allergic to this drug, any part of this drug
- If you are breast-feeding
- Treatment with pertuzumab may affect your heart. If you ever had heart problems such as heart failure or treatment for serious irregular heartbeats or uncontrolled high blood pressure or a recent heart attack, your heart function will be checked before and during treatment with pertuzumab and your doctor will run test to check if your heart is working properly.
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this drug with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.
Is Pectuna® safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Before starting treatment you must tell your doctor or nurse if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or if you think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby. They would advise you about the benefits and the risk for you and your baby of taking pertuzumab while you are pregnant.
Tell your doctor straight away if you get pregnant during treatment or during the 6-months after stopping treatment. Ask your doctor about breastfeeding during or after treatment. Pertuzumab may harm the unborn baby. You should use effective contraception during treatment and for six months after stopping treatment. Talk to your doctor about the best contraception for you.
How to use Pectuna®?
Pectuna® will be given to you by a doctor or nurse in a hospital or clinic. It is given by a drip into a vein (intravenous infusion). You will be monitored for 60 minutes after the first infusion and 30 minutes after subsequent infusions for adverse reactions.
What happens if you miss a dose?
If you forget or miss your appointment with your doctor, make another appointment as soon as possible. If it has been six weeks or more since your last visit, a higher dose of Pectuna® will be given to you.
Side Effects
What are some side effects of Pectuna®?
All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:
• Feeling dizzy, tired, or weak.
• Headache.
• Stomach pain.
• Mouth irritation or mouth sores.
• Decreased appetite.
• Change in taste.
• Dry skin.
• Itching and skin rashes
•Cough
•Hair loss
• Diarrhea, throwing up, upset stomach, and decreased appetite are common with this drug.
If these happen, talk with your doctor about ways to lower these side effects. Call your doctor right away if any of these effects bother you, do not get better or are severe.
Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:
• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat. Rarely, some allergic reactions have been deadly.
• Signs of infection like fever, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, or wound that will not heal.
• Chest pain or pressure or a fast heartbeat.
• Any unexplained bruising or bleeding.
• A burning, numbness, or tingling feeling that is not normal.
• This drug may cause a bad and sometimes deadly health problem called tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). Call your doctor right away if you have a fast heartbeat or a heartbeat that does not feel normal; any passing out; trouble passing urine; muscle weakness or cramps; upset stomach, throwing up, loose stools or not able to eat; or feel sluggish.
• A severe and sometimes deadly health problem called cytokine release syndrome (CRS) has happened in people getting this drug. Call your doctor right away if you have chills, dizziness, feeling tired or weak, fever, headache, passing out, rash, swelling of the face, trouble breathing, upset stomach or throwing up, or wheezing.