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Afinitor

  • Generic Name: everolimus tablets
  • Brand Name: Afinitor
  • Drug Class: Antineoplastics mTOr Kinase Inhibitors
Reviewed by Medsayfa.com Last updated June 03, 2024

Patient Information

AFINITOR
(a-fin-it-or)
(everolimus) tablets

AFINITOR DISPER
(Afinitor-Disperz) (everolimus tablets for oral suspension)

Read this Patient Information leaflet that comes with it before you start taking it and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.

What is the most important information I should know about AFINITOR and AFINITOR DISPERZ?

AFINITOR and AFINITOR DISPERZ can cause serious side effects, including:

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have a temperature of 100.5°F or above, chills, or do not feel well. Symptoms of hepatitis B or infection may include the following:

  1. You may develop lung or breathing problems.In some people lung or breathing problems may be severe and can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms:
    • New or worsening cough
    • Shortness of breath
    • Chest pain
    • Difficulty breathing or wheezing
  2. You may be more likely to develop an infection, such as pneumonia, or a bacterial, fungal or viral infection. Viral infections may include active hepatitis B in people who have had hepatitis B in the past (reactivation). In some people (including adults and children) these infections may be severe and can lead to death. You may need to be treated as soon as possible.
    • Fever
    • Chills
    • Skin rash
    • Joint pain and swelling
    • Tiredness
    • Loss of appetite
    • Nausea
    • Pale stools or dark urine
    • Yellowing of the skin
    • Pain in the upper right side of the stomach
  3. Severe allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you get signs and symptoms of a severe allergic reaction including: rash, itching, hives, flushing, trouble breathing or swallowing, chest pain or dizziness.
  4. Possible increased risk for a type of allergic reaction called angioedema, in people who take an Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitor medicine during treatment with this drug. Talk with your healthcare provider before taking it if you are not sure if you take an ACE inhibitor medicine. Get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing or develop swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat during treatment with this drug.
  5. Mouth ulcers and sores. Mouth ulcers and sores are common during treatment with it but can also be severe. When you start treatment with it, your healthcare provider may tell you to also start a prescription mouthwash to reduce the likelihood of getting mouth ulcers or sores and to reduce their severity. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions on how to use this prescription mouthwash. If you develop pain, discomfort, or open sores in your mouth, tell your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider may tell you to re-start this mouthwash or to use a special mouthwash or mouth gel that does not contain alcohol, peroxide, iodine, or thyme.
  6. You may develop kidney failure. In some people this may be severe and can lead to death. Your healthcare provider should do tests to check your kidney function before and during your treatment with it.

If you have any of the serious side effects listed above, you may need to stop taking i for a while or use a lower dose. Follow yotur healthcare provider’s instructions.

What is AFINITOR?

AFINITOR is a prescription medicine used to treat:

  • advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, along with the medicine exemestane, in postmenopausal women who have already received certain other medicines for their cancer.
  • adults with a type of pancreatic cancer known as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET), that has progressed and cannot be treated with surgery.
  • adults with a type of cancer known as neuroendocrine tumor (NET) of the stomach and intestine (gastrointestinal), or lung that has progressed and cannot be treated with surgery.

AFINITOR is not for use in people with carcinoid tumors that actively produce hormones.

  • adults with advanced kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma or RCC) when certain other medicines have not worked.
  • people with the following types of tumors that are seen with a genetic condition called tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC):
    • adults with a kidney tumor called angiomyolipoma, when their kidney tumor does not require surgery right away.
    • adults and children 1 year of age and older with a brain tumor called subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) when the tumor cannot be removed completely by surgery.

What is AFINITOR DISPERZ?

Afinitor-Disperz is a prescription medicine used to treat:

  • adults and children 1 year of age and older with a genetic condition called tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) who have a brain tumor called subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) when the tumor cannot be removed completely by surgery.
  • adults and children 2 years of age and older with a genetic condition called tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) who have certain types of seizures (epilepsy), as an added treatment to other antiepileptic medicines.

It is not known if THESE are safe and effective in children to treat:

  • hormone receptor-positive, HER-2 negative breast cancer
  • a type of cancer called neuroendocrine tumors (NET)
  • kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma)
  • a kidney tumor called angiomyolipoma, that can happen in children with a genetic condition called tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).

Do not take AFINITOR or AFINITOR DISPERZ if you have had a severe allergic reaction to everolimus. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking this medicine if you are allergic to:

  • sirolimus (Rapamune®)
  • temsirolimus (Torisel®)

Ask your healthcare provider if you do not know.

Before taking AFINITOR or AFINITOR DISPERZ, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

Females who are able to become pregnant:

Males with a female partner, you should use effective birth control during treatment and for 4 weeks after your last dose of both drugs.

Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that may be right for you during this time. If you become pregnant or think you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider right away.

  • Have or have had kidney problems
  • Have or have had liver problems
  • Have diabetes or high blood sugar
  • Have high blood cholesterol levels
  • Have any infections
  • Previously had hepatitis B
  • Are scheduled to receive any vaccinations. You should not receive a “live vaccine” or be around people who have recently received a “live vaccine” during your treatment with it. If you are not sure about the type of immunization or vaccine, ask your healthcare provider. For children with TSC and SEGA or certain types of seizures, work with your healthcare provider to complete the recommended childhood series of vaccines before your child starts treatment with this medicine.
  • Are pregnant, can become pregnant, or have a partner who can become pregnant. It can cause harm to your unborn baby.
    • Your healthcare provider will give you a pregnancy test before you start treatment with it.
    • You should use effective birth control during treatment and for 8 weeks after your last dose of it.
  • Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if it passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 2 weeks after your last dose of this drug.
  • Are planning to have surgery or if you have had a recent surgery. You should stop taking it at least 1 week before planned surgery. See “What are the possible side effects of AFINITOR and AFINITOR DISPERZ?”
  • Have received radiation therapy or are planning to receive radiation therapy in the future. See “What are the possible side effects of AFINITOR and AFINITOR DISPERZ?”

Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

It may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines can affect how these work. Taking it with other medicines can cause serious side effects.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:

  • St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
  • Medicine for:
    • Fungal infections
    • Bacterial infections
    • Tuberculosis
    • Seizures
    • HIV-AIDS
    • Heart conditions or high blood pressure
  • Medicines that weaken your immune system (your body’s ability to fight infections and other problems) Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if your medicine is one of those taken for the conditions listed above. If you are taking any medicines for the conditions listed above, your healthcare provider might need to prescribe a different medicine or your dose of AFINITOR or AFINITOR DISPERZ may need to be changed. You should also tell your healthcare provider before you start taking any new medicine.

How should I take AFINITOR or AFINITOR DISPERZ?

  • Your healthcare provider will prescribe the dose of it that is right for you.
  • Take it exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to.
  • Your healthcare provider may change your dose of it or tell you to temporarily interrupt dosing, if needed.
  • Take only these medicine. Do not mix them together.
  • Use scissors to open the blister pack.
  • Take AFINITOR 1 time each day at about the same time.
  • Take it the same way each time, either with food or without food.
  • If you take too much AFINITOR, contact your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away. Take the pack of it with you.
  • If you miss a dose of, you may take it if it is less than 6 hours after the time you normally take it. If it is more than 6 hours after you normally take your medicine, skip the dose for that day. The next day, takem at your usual time. Do not take 2 doses to make up for a missed dose. If you are not sure about what to do, call your healthcare provider.
  • You should have blood tests before you start it and as needed during your treatment. These will include tests to check your blood cell count, kidney and liver function, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
  • If you take to treat SEGA or AFINITOR DISPERZ to treat certain types of seizures with TSC, you will also need to have blood tests regularly to measure how much medicine is in your blood. This will help your healthcare provider decide how much you need to take.

AFINITOR:

  • Swallow AFINITOR tablets whole with a glass of water. Do not take any tablet that is broken or crushed.

AFINITOR DISPERZ:

  • If your healthcare provider prescribes for you, see the “Instructions for Use” that comes with your medicine for instructions on how to prepare and take your dose.
  • Each dose of it must be prepared as a suspension before it is given.
  • It can cause harm to an unborn baby. When possible, the suspension should be prepared by an adult who is not pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
  • Wear gloves to avoid possible contact with everolimus when preparing suspensions of it for another person.

What should I avoid while taking AFINITOR or AFINITOR DISPERZ?

You should not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit during your treatment with AFINITOR or AFINITOR DISPERZ. It may make the amount of it in your blood increase to a harmful level.

What are the possible side effects of AFINITOR or AFINITOR DISPERZ?

These can cause serious side effects.

    • See “What is the most important information I should know about AFINITOR and AFINITOR DISPERZ?” for more information.
    • Risk of wound healing problems. Wounds may not heal properly during treatment. Tell your healthcare provider if you plan to have any surgery before starting or during treatment with it.
      • You should stop taking of it at least 1 week before planned surgery.
      • Your healthcare provider should tell you when you may start taking again after surgery.
    • Increased blood sugar and fat (cholesterol and triglyceride) levels in the blood. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check your fasting blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in the blood before you start and during treatment with it.
    • Decreased blood cell counts. It can cause you to have decreased red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check your blood cell counts before you start and during treatment with AFINITOR.
  • Worsening side effects from radiation treatment, that can sometimes be severe. Tell your healthcare provider if you have had or are planning to receive radiation therapy.

The most common side effects of AFINITOR in people with advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, advanced neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas, stomach and intestine (gastrointestinal) or lung, and advanced kidney cancer include:

  • Infections
  • Rash
  • Feeling weak or tired
  • Diarrhea
  • Swelling of arms, hands, feet, ankles, face, or other parts of the body
  • Stomach-area (abdominal) pain
  • Nausea
  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Headache
  • Decreased appetite

The most common side effects of AFINITOR and AFINITOR DISPERZ in people who have SEGA, renal angiomyolipoma, or certain types of seizures with TSC include respiratory tract infections.

Other side effects that may occur with it:

  • Absence of menstrual periods (menstruation). You may miss 1 or more menstrual periods. Tell your healthcare provider if this happens.
  • It may affect fertility in females and may affect your ability to become pregnant. Talk to your healthcare provider if this is a concern for you.
  • It may affect fertility in males and may affect your ability to father a child. Talk to your healthcare provider if this is a concern for you.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of this drug. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store AFINITOR or AFINITOR DISPERZ?

  • Store it at room temperature, between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
  • Keep it in the pack it comes in.
  • Open the blister pack just before taking it.
  • Keep this dry and away from light.
  • Do not use it that is out of date or no longer needed.

Keep AFINITOR or AFINITOR DISPERZ and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about the safe and effective use of AFINITOR and AFINITOR DISPERZ.

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use this for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give this drug to other people, even if they have the same problem you have. It may harm them. This leaflet summarizes the most important information about AFINITOR and AFINITOR DISPERZ. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information written for healthcare professionals. For more information call 1-888-423-4648 or go to www.AFINITOR.com.

What are the ingredients in AFINITOR?

Active ingredient: everolimus.

Inactive ingredients: anhydrous lactose, butylated hydroxytoluene, crospovidone, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, and magnesium stearate.

What are the ingredients in AFINITOR DISPERZ?

Active ingredient: everolimus.

Inactive ingredients: butylated hydroxytoluene, colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, mannitol, and microcrystalline cellulose.

This Patient Information has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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