What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
-Heart failure
-Lung disease
-An unusual or allergic reaction to trastuzumab, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
-Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
-Breast-feeding
What may interact with this medication?
-Certain types of chemotherapy, such as daunorubicin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
Your condition will be monitored carefully while you are receiving this medication.
This medication may make you feel generally unwell. This is not uncommon, as chemotherapy affects healthy cells as well as cancer cells. Report any side effects. Continue your course of treatment even though you feel ill unless your care team tells you to stop.
This medication may increase your risk of getting an infection. Call your care team for advice if you get a fever, chills, sore throat, or other symptoms of a cold or flu. Do not treat yourself. Try to avoid being around people who are sick.
Avoid taking medications that contain aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen unless instructed by your care team. These medications can hide a fever.
Talk to your care team if you may be pregnant. Serious birth defects can occur if you take this medication during pregnancy and for 7 months after the last dose. You will need a negative pregnancy test before starting this medication. Contraception is recommended while taking this medication and for 7 months after the last dose. Your care team can help you find the option that works for you.
Do not breastfeed while taking this medication and for 7 months after stopping treatment.
What are the most serious risks of this medication?
This medication may cause heart muscle disease. This makes it hard for your heart to pump blood to the rest of your body. Talk to your care team right away if you have weakness or fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles, feet, or hands, or sudden weight gain.
This medication may cause serious birth defects if taken during pregnancy. Do not take this medication if you are pregnant.
This medicine may cause serious, life threatening lung damage.
Serious side effects can occur during the infusion of this treatment. Your care team will watch you closely.