The drug Gleevec has turn chronic myelogenous leukemia, a once-terminal cancer, into a manageable condition. But it’s not the only pill that’s saving patients.
Gefitinib works by inhibiting an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase, a protein that contributes to cancerous cell growth. Side effects may include eye problems and pain in the stomach.
Letrozole
Letrozole is a drug that can help treat certain types of breast cancer and prevent it from coming back. It’s a hormone therapy medicine that works by decreasing the amount of estrogen in your body. It is not a chemotherapy drug, but it works with your other cancer treatments to improve their effects. It’s use for women who have gone through the natural menopause or who are taking medication to stop their ovaries from working (temporary menopause).
Most breast cancer cells grow faster when they get more estrogen than healthy cells do. Letrozole blocks the action of the enzyme aromatase, which changes other sex hormones into oestrogen. It also decreases the amount of oestrogen produce in the body. letrozole tablets manufacturers is more effective in post-menopausal women than it is in pre-menopausal women, because after the menopause the majority of oestrogen production comes from fat tissue and muscle, not the ovaries.
You take letrozole in tablet form. It’s important to take it exactly as your doctor or nurse tells you. You can take it with or without food, but don’t take more than your doctor prescribes. You will need to have regular medical tests and your doctor may monitor your blood pressure, cholesterol and bone density during treatment.
People with breast cancer who are postmenopausal can use letrozole as a standalone medicine or alongside other hormone therapies, such as tamoxifen. It’s also often given after surgery to reduce the chances of the cancer returning. Letrozole can also be use to treat a type of ovarian cyst call an endometriosis tumour. It’s sometimes prescribe off-label to try to prevent or reduce the symptoms of this condition, which include pelvic pain and difficulties getting pregnant.
Women who are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding should not have this medicine because it could pass into the baby’s milk. It’s also not recommend for women who are trying to conceive. Your doctor can talk to you about using effective contraception during and after your treatment.
Gefitinib
Gefitinib is a cancer drug that stops the growth of cancer cells by blocking a protein call epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). It has been shown to improve survival in some patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). gefitinib manufacturers india works in a different way than other chemotherapy drug. It inhibits the phosphorylation of EGFR. This prevents EGFR from signaling to the cell, so the cell cannot grow and reproduce. It is an oral medication and can be taken with or without food. It is usually taken once daily.
Gefitinib was originally approve to treat advance NSCLC in May 2003. It is often use in combination with other cancer medicines. It is most effective in patients with NSCLC whose cancer has a specific type of mutation that results in an abnormal EGFR protein. These patients are most likely to be women, of Asian descent, and never smokers with a subtype of NSCLC known as bronchioloalveolar carcinoma.
Some people taking gefitinib develop a serious side effect call interstitial lung disease (ILD). ILD can cause shortness of breath, coughing, fever, and difficulty breathing. It usually begins with a dry cough and gets worse over time. They can be severe and can lead to death. It is cause by a buildup of fluid in the lungs that causes inflammation and fibrosis. Risk factors include age over 60, male gender, history of smoking, and previous radiation to the lungs.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had ILD. It is important to tell your doctor about all of your medications, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. It is especially important to tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or plan to become pregnant.
Temozolomide
Temozolomide is an alkylating agent use to treat a type of brain cancer call glioblastoma multiforme. It is also use to help treat a type of lung cancer call small cell lung cancer. It has show to be effective in preventing the growth of tumours and stopping their progression. Temozolomide acts by interfering with the DNA of cancerous cells and preventing them from reproducing. It is also an effective treatment for a type of bone marrow cancer call myelodysplastic syndrome.
Temozolomide comes in capsule form and is taken by mouth. It is important to follow the directions on your prescription label carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part of the prescription that you do not understand. You may be given more than one type and color of capsule to make up your full dose, so pay close attention to the number and colors of the capsules that you receive.
This medication should not be use during pregnancy or by women who are breastfeeding. It can harm the baby. If you become pregnant while taking temozolomide manufacturers india, use effective birth control and tell your doctor right away. This medication can have genotoxic effects, which could damage sperm and cause male infertility. Men who have a risk of developing infertility should talk to their doctor about cryoconservation (freezing for long-term storage) of sperm before starting temozolomide.
If you are taking temozolomide in combination with radiation therapy, your doctor will monitor you for symptoms of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). This is a serious type of pneumonia that can be fatal if it is not treat promptly. You will be give medication to prevent PCP while you are receiving temozolomide.
Temozolomide can cause nausea and vomiting. Your doctor may prescribe antinausea medications to help with these side effects.
Specialty Pharmacy
The specialty pharmacy industry is not one of the healthcare industry’s most well-known, but it is an important and growing segment of the market. It deals with high-cost medications use to treat complex and rare diseases. These medications may be deliver in an oral form or via injection. Specialty pharmacies also offer patient counseling and support services to help patients understand their conditions and medications, and to ensure they are adhering to their treatment regimens. They can also provide financial assistance for patients who cannot afford their medications.
Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) often contract with specialty pharmacies to serve their members. They do this because these pharmacies are often capable of providing care management and clinical support services that are beyond the scope of what they can deliver on their own. In addition, they have the ability to negotiate prices and discounts for prescription drug.
For example, if an employer provides its employees with access to a specialty drug that is not on a prefer formulary, the company can contract with a specialty pharmacy to deliver it directly to its workers. This can result in significant savings for the company as it doesn’t have to pay full price for the medication.
The work that specialty pharmacies do is incredibly rewarding from a pharmacist’s perspective. It allows them to help patients who are living with chronic and life-altering conditions, such as Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and hepatitis B and C. The medications they distribute help patients regain control of their lives, rather than having their disease dictate how they live.
The services provide by specialty pharmacies can be invaluable for patients, and it is easy to see why so many of them have become integral parts of the healthcare landscape. It is important that they continue to innovate and find new ways to improve the way in which they serve their patients.
