• Afatinib comes as a tablet which should be taken by mouth on an empty stomach preferably either two hours after a meal or one hour before a meal.
• Never take afatinib tablets in smaller or larger amounts but exactly as directed by the doctor.
• Do not take a missed dose of afatinib tablets if the next scheduled dose is within 12 hours.
• Take afatinib tablets at the same time every day and do not stop taking afatinib tablets without the doctor’s approval.
• Patients with severe kidney disease can be started initially with 30 mg of afatinib given once daily.
• The dose of afatinib can either be adjusted or modified based on the side effects experienced by the patients during the treatment, to avoid dangerous interactions with other drugs and in patients with a history of severe liver disease.
• The treatment with afatinib can be permanently discontinued if any serious or life-threatening side effects occur.
• Allergy to afatinib
• Cancer with resistant EGFR mutations
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Children (lack of data on safety and effectiveness)
• Patients undergoing fertility treatments
Caution is required while treating patients with-
• Eye disorders (dry eye or eye damage)
• Severe kidney or liver disease
• Lung disease
• Skin disorders
• Never take afatinib tablets in smaller or larger amounts but exactly as directed by the doctor.
• Do not take a missed dose of afatinib tablets if the next scheduled dose is within 12 hours.
• Take afatinib tablets at the same time every day and do not stop taking afatinib tablets without the doctor’s approval.
Dosage & When it is to be taken
• The recommended adult dose of afatinib is 40 mg taken one time daily.• Patients with severe kidney disease can be started initially with 30 mg of afatinib given once daily.
• The dose of afatinib can either be adjusted or modified based on the side effects experienced by the patients during the treatment, to avoid dangerous interactions with other drugs and in patients with a history of severe liver disease.
• The treatment with afatinib can be permanently discontinued if any serious or life-threatening side effects occur.
When it is not to be taken (Contraindications)
Afatinib should not be used in patients with-• Allergy to afatinib
• Cancer with resistant EGFR mutations
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Children (lack of data on safety and effectiveness)
• Patients undergoing fertility treatments
Caution is required while treating patients with-
• Eye disorders (dry eye or eye damage)
• Severe kidney or liver disease
• Lung disease
• Skin disorders
