Ramucirumab
Description
Ramucirumab is used alone and in combination with other cancer medications, to treat cancer of the stomach, lungs, colon, or rectum in patients who have not adequately responded to other anticancer medications. It is also used for the treatment of cancer that affects the liver cells. This medicine is not recommended for use in patients below 18 years of age.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Ramucirumab
- Diarrhea
- Swelling in the arms or legs
- Nausea and vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Headache
- Dizziness and fainting
- Sweating
- Increased thirst
Uses of Ramucirumab
What is it prescribed for?
- Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Gastric Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe amount of time required for this medicine to show its action is not clinically established.
- Duration of effectThe amount of time for which this medicine remains active in the body is not clinically established.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies were reported.
- Usage in pregnancy?This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to ramucirumab or any other inactive ingredients present along with it.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
General warnings
Bleeding
This medicine should be used with extreme caution in patients with a known risk of bleeding due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. Close monitoring of the clinical condition, appropriate corrective measures, dose adjustments, or replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary based on the clinical condition of the patient.
Heart diseases
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with heart diseases due to the increased risk of adverse effects. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition.
Impaired wound healing
This medicine may impair the wound healing process in some patients. Appropriate corrective measures, dose adjustments, or replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary based on the clinical condition of the patient.
Gastrointestinal Diseases
This medicine should be used with extreme caution in patients suffering from stomach or intestine problems due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. Close monitoring of the clinical condition, appropriate corrective measures, dose adjustments, or replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary based on the clinical condition of the patient.
Driving or operating machinery
Use of this medicine may cause dizziness, visual disturbances, and tiredness. Hence, it is advised that you do not perform any activities that require high mental alertness such as driving a vehicle or operating heavy machinery during treatment with this medicine.
Use in children
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients less than 18 years of age since the safety and efficacy of use are not clinically established.
Hypertension
This medicine should be used with caution due to the increased risk of hypertension (increased blood pressure). Blood pressure should be monitored regularly while receiving this medicine. In cases of severe or persistent hypertension or hypertensive crisis despite institution of antihypertensive therapy, permanent discontinuation of Ramucirumab should be considered.
Missed Dose
Since this medicine is usually administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the clinical/hospital setting, the likelihood of a missed dose is very low. If you miss any scheduled session, contact your doctor immediately for further instructions.
Overdose
Since this medicine is administered in the hospital setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of an overdose is very less. However, emergency medical treatment will be initiated by the doctor if an overdose is suspected.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Escitalopram
Sertraline
Clomipramine
Clopidogrel
Diclofenac
Disease interactions
Hypothyroidism
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with hypothyroidism (a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce sufficient levels of hormones) due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. Close monitoring of thyroid function is necessary while receiving this medicine. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition of the patient.
Liver impairment
This medicine should be used with extreme caution in patients suffering from liver diseases due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. Close monitoring of liver function is necessary while receiving this medicine. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition of the patient.
Hypertension
This medicine should be used with caution due to the increased risk of hypertension (increased blood pressure). Blood pressure should be monitored regularly while receiving this medicine. In cases of severe or persistent hypertension or hypertensive crisis despite institution of antihypertensive therapy, permanent discontinuation of Ramucirumab should be considered.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
This medicine is usually administered in the clinical/hospital setting under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional. Follow all the instructions given by your doctor. Inform the doctor if you have a known allergy to this medicine. Report all your current medicines as well as your medical conditions to the doctor before receiving this medicine.
Miscelleneous
How it works
This medicine works by inhibiting the actions of certain abnormal proteins that cause the cancer cells to multiply. This helps in stopping the growth and spread of cancer.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Antineoplastics, VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors
Schedule
Schedule H
Ramucirumab Injection: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2019 [cited 31 May 2019]. Available from:
[Internet]. Pi.lilly.com. 2019 [cited 26 March 2019]. Available from:
[Internet]. Ema.europa.eu. 2019 [cited 26 March 2019]. Available from:
[Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2019 [cited 26 March 2019]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 31 May 2019
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.