Erlotinib Oral

In Depth

Generic Name: ERLOTINIB - ORAL
Pronounced: (er-LOE-tye-nib)

Erlotinib Oral Side Effects

Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, mouth sores, dry skin, or eye irritation may occur. Changes in diet such as eating several small meals or limiting activity may help lessen the chance of nausea. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Diarrhea is a common side effect. Drink plenty of fluids as directed by your doctor to reduce your risk of losing too much body water. Your doctor may prescribe anti-diarrhea medication (e.g., loperamide) to control your symptoms. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop:

severe or persistent diarrhea
signs of dehydration (e.g., dizziness, decreased amount of urine)

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur:

black stools
vomit that looks like coffee grounds
easy bleeding/bruising
stomach/abdominal pain
yellowing eyes or skin
dark urine
unusual fatigue
signs of infection (e.g., fever, chills, persistent sore throat)

Seek immediate medical attention if you develop any of these rare but very serious side effects:

new or worsening shortness of breath or cough

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include:

rash
itching
swelling
severe dizziness
trouble breathing

Erlotinib can commonly cause a mild rash that is usually not serious. However, you may not be able to tell it apart from a rare rash that could be a sign of a severe allergic reaction. Therefore, seek immediate medical attention if you develop any rash.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Erlotinib Oral Medical Alert

Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For enrollment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).