Apo-Erlotinib Side Effects

Like all medicines, APO-ERLOTINIB can have side effects.
The most common side effects (more than 5 out of 10 patients): rash; diarrhea.
If diarrhea occurs, patient should drink plenty of water throughout the day to reduce the risk of dehydration. If patient is having difficulty drinking liquids due to severe nausea/vomiting, advise him/her to call a doctor immediately to be assessed for possible dehydration, low potassium levels and kidney failure.
Very common side effects (more than 1 out of 10 patients): tiredness, loss of appetite, difficulty in breathing, cough, infection, nausea, vomiting, mouth irritation, stomach pain, itching, dry skin, eye irritation.
Common side effects (less than 1 out of 10 patients): Bleeding from the stomach or the intestines.
Abnormal blood tests for the liver function.
Headaches and dizziness.
Hair and nail changes. These included inflammatory reactions around the fingernail (common), excess body and facial hair of a male distribution pattern (uncommon), eyelash and eyebrow changes (uncommon), and brittle and lose nails (uncommon).
Acne or other red or pink little bumps at hair follicles.
Patient should contact the doctor as soon as possible if he/she suffers from any of the previously mentioned side effects.
Uncommon serious side effects (less than 1 out of 100 patients): Interstitial lung disease, a rare form of lung inflammation and can have a fatal outcome in some cases. If patient develops symptoms such as sudden difficulty of breathing associated with cough or fever, he/she should contact a doctor immediately.
Gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation (a hole through the entire wall of stomach, intestine, or bowel).
Corneal perforation, the risk is higher in patients who have had cataract surgery or wear contact lenses.
Severe skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome).
In case of any side effects not mentioned in this monograph, patient should inform the doctor or pharmacist.