Pemetrexed injection

What is this medicine?

PEMETREXED (PEM e TREX ed) is a chemotherapy drug used to treat lung cancers like non-small cell lung cancer and mesothelioma. It may also be used to treat other cancers.

How should I use this medicine?

This drug is given as an infusion into a vein. It is administered in a hospital or clinic by a specially trained health care professional.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue

• breathing problems

• redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth

• signs and symptoms of bleeding such as bloody or black, tarry stools; red or dark-brown urine; spitting up blood or brown material that looks like coffee grounds; red spots on the skin; unusual bruising or bleeding from the eye, gums, or nose

• signs and symptoms of infection like fever or chills; cough; sore throat; pain or trouble passing urine

• signs and symptoms of kidney injury like trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine

• signs and symptoms of liver injury like dark yellow or brown urine; general ill feeling or flu-like symptoms; light-colored stools; loss of appetite; nausea; right upper belly pain; unusually weak or tired; yellowing of the eyes or skin

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• constipation

• dizziness

• mouth sores

• nausea, vomiting

• pain, tingling, numbness in the hands or feet

• unusually weak or tired

What may interact with this medicine?

This medicine may interact with the following medications:

• Ibuprofen

What if I miss a dose?

It is important not to miss your dose. Call your doctor or health care professional if you are unable to keep an appointment.

Where should I keep my medicine?

This drug is given in a hospital or clinic and will not be stored at home.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• infection (especially a virus infection such as chickenpox, cold sores, or herpes)

• kidney disease

• low blood counts, like low white cell, platelet, or red cell counts

• lung or breathing disease, like asthma

• radiation therapy

• an unusual or allergic reaction to pemetrexed, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservative

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

Visit your doctor for checks on your progress. This drug may make you feel generally unwell. This is not uncommon, as chemotherapy can affect healthy cells as well as cancer cells. Report any side effects. Continue your course of treatment even though you feel ill unless your doctor tells you to stop.

In some cases, you may be given additional medicines to help with side effects. Follow all directions for their use.

Call your doctor or health care professional for advice if you get a fever, chills or sore throat, or other symptoms of a cold or flu. Do not treat yourself. This drug decreases your body's ability to fight infections. Try to avoid being around people who are sick.

This medicine may increase your risk to bruise or bleed. Call your doctor or health care professional if you notice any unusual bleeding.

Be careful brushing and flossing your teeth or using a toothpick because you may get an infection or bleed more easily. If you have any dental work done, tell your dentist you are receiving this medicine.

Avoid taking products that contain aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen unless instructed by your doctor. These medicines may hide a fever.

Call your doctor or health care professional if you get diarrhea or mouth sores. Do not treat yourself.

To protect your kidneys, drink water or other fluids as directed while you are taking this medicine.

Do not become pregnant while taking this medicine or for 6 months after stopping it. Women should inform their doctor if they wish to become pregnant or think they might be pregnant. Men should not father a child while taking this medicine and for 3 months after stopping it. This may interfere with the ability to father a child. You should talk to your doctor or health care professional if you are concerned about your fertility. There is a potential for serious side effects to an unborn child. Talk to your health care professional or pharmacist for more information. Do not breast-feed an infant while taking this medicine or for 1 week after stopping it.