Geftinat 250mg Tablet

What is Geftinat 250 mg?

Geftinat 250Mg Tablet helps to relieve the extreme pain and discomfort suffered by patients of breast or lung cancers. It slows down the production of cancer cells, thereby inhibiting the spread of the malignant tissues. It can be administered orally with or without food. The dosage depends upon the medical history of the patient, health conditions, and the response to the therapy.

The drug is contraindicated in patients who have suffered or are suffering from glaucoma, cardiac disorders, lungs or liver disorders, or renal malfunctioning. Take proper medical help in case you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy any time soon, or breastfeeding.

You must also inform the doctor of any other prescription drugs that you may be taking, such as hormonal pills as oral contraceptives, or any dietary supplements as Geftinat 250Mg Tablet may interact with the other drugs and cause a number of health complications. You must avoid alcohol consumption, smoking, tobacco, or caffeine during the course of the treatment to avoid any further health complications.

There may be a number of side effects such as headaches, blurred vision, some nausea, and some allergic rashes on the skin. However, there can be some adverse reactions as well. It is advised that even the slightest discomfort should be reported to the doctor immediately, in order to avoid complications

Geftinat 250mg Uses

Geftinat tablets 250mg are used as first-line therapy to treat locally advanced (stage III) or metastatic (stage IV) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which is the most common form of lung cancer and grows more slowly than small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

NSCLC is associated with a mutation in the gene for Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) in a proportion of this cancers1, 2 specifically those with a cell type of adenocarcinoma3.  Epidermal Growth Factor is a growth factor that is found in many normal tissues and controls cell growth.

However, in some types of cancer including NSLC, its action is uncontrolled, allowing cells to continue to grow and spread.  For Geftinat tablets 250mg to be an effective treatment for NSCLC a specific type of gene mutation should be identified and present in the tumor cells.  In these cases of treatment of NSCLC with Geftinat tablets, 250mg is highly effective in preventing disease progression.

How does Geftinat 250 mg work?

Geftinat tablets 250mg contain gefitinib a potent inhibitor of tyrosine kinase (TK), an enzyme that phosphorylates a protein inside a cell (transfers a phosphate from ATP to a protein inside the cell), which is the way many cell processes are regulated.

Tyrosine kinases (TK) are cell surface receptors for many cellular messengers including growth factors and gefitinib in Geftinat tablets 250mg acts as a potent inhibitor of the Epidermal Growth Factor receptor (EGFR) by targeting the part of the receptor where EGF binds to ATP (adenosine triphosphate).  EGF stimulates cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation in normal cells.  It acts by binding with high affinity to its cell surface receptor EGFR, which belongs to the TK family of receptors. 

When EGF binds to EGFR, the receptor undergoes a shape change, which activates TK activity by phosphorylation of its substrates within the cell and this is the first step in a complex cell signaling pathway involved in cell proliferation and survival.  Normally EGFR activation is regulated and therefore, cell proliferation is controlled and programmed cell death (apoptosis) takes place.

However, the mutation associated with NSCLC leaves the receptor in a state that is constantly activated or turned on (constitutively activated) even when EGF is not bound to the receptor.  This results in cells that are stimulated to constantly proliferate and survive to lead to NSCLC.  Normally the expression of ECGFR is expressed at low levels but over-expression can cause cancer and is associated with aggressive advanced and metastatic tumors as is found in 40-80% of NSCLC4. 

There are several different gene mutations that can affect the control of EGFR activity and gefitinib in Geftinat tablets 250mg is most effective in tumors containing the Exon 19 deletion or an L858R mutation, which is point mutations affecting a single DNA nucleotide.  It has been suggested that the identification of specific mutations in the ECGFR gene may predict sensitivity to gefitinib5, 6.

There is also evidence of amplification of the specific mutated activating gene in some cases of NSCLC and this is thought to confer increased susceptibility to gefitinib in Geftinat tablets 250mg1.  Gefitinib in Geftinat tablets 250mg works by blocking the intracellular phosphorylation of EGFR, which blocks the signaling pathway for cell proliferation and survival and induces cell death in NSCLC cells, which results in tumor regression.  

How to take Geftinat 250 mg?

The dosage and drug form depends on the age, weight, and medical condition of an individual. Take Gefitinib as prescribed by your doctor. Swallow the tablet whole, but do not crush or chew the tablet. Take the drug with or without food.

If you miss a dose of Gefitinib, take it immediately once you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, then skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.

Geftinat 250 mg Dosage

• Missed Dose:

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if the time remaining for your next dose is less than 12 hours. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed dose.

Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it. If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time. Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses

• Overdose:

Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose.

What are the Side effects of Geftinat 250 mg?

• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Allergic skin reaction
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Increase in liver enzyme levels
• Eye irritation
• Difficulty in breathing
• Abdominal pain
• Sore throat
• Redness around fingernails

Warnings:

Patients receiving Geftinat 250 mg Tablet have experienced severe skin reactions like toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and erythema multiforme. Close monitoring of symptoms like change in color of the skin, skin rashes, itching, blistering, etc. is necessary while receiving this medicine. Any such symptoms should be reported to the doctor on priority. The treatment should be discontinued if these symptoms appear.

References:

Internet]. 2017 [cited 21 July 2017]. Available from: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/22104

Gefitinib: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 21 July 2017]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a607002.html

DailyMed – gefitinib tablet, coated [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 21 July 2017]. Available from: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=827d60e8-7e07-41b7-c28b-49ef1c4a5a41

Gefitinib – DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2017 [cited 21 July 2017]. Available from: https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00317

Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2017 [cited 21 July 2017]. Available from: https://www.tga.gov.au/prescribing-medicines-pregnancy-database

FAQ:

1. How should Gefitinib be stored?

Gefitinib must be stored at room temperature (25 – 30OC). Keep the medicine away from direct sunlight.

2. Is it safe to alter the dose of the Gefitinib?

No, Gefitinib dose is prescribed depending on the complexity of neuropathic pain. Therefore, altering the dose is not advised.

3. How long can I take Gefitinib?

Gefitinib should be taken only for the prescribed period.

4. What are the overdose symptoms of Gefitinib?

The overdose symptoms of Gefitinib include chest pain, difficulty breathing, and persistent vomiting. You must seek immediate medical care if you experience any of the above symptoms.

5. Can I give Gefitinib to my 8-year-old child?

No, Gefitinib should be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. However, the safe use of Gefitinib in children is not yet established.