Dosing information

The recommended daily dose of Tarceva^© is 150 mg ^[1]

• For the treatment of NSCLC, Tarceva^© is available in strengths of 150 mg, 100 mg and 25 mg.*^[1]

*25-mg tablet not available in all countries.

Do not take with food

• Tarceva^© should be taken at least one hour before or two hours after the ingestion of food to minimize side effects. ^[1,2]
• Food substantially increases the bioavailability of erlotinib and may increase the risk of adverse events. ^[1-3]
• Taking Tarceva^© on an empty stomach helps ensure that patients obtain consistent plasma levels of the drug. ^[1,2]

Multiple tablet strengths allow for dose reduction

• In the pivotal trial, most patients tolerated the 150-mg dose. ^[1,2]
• If patients experience intolerable adverse events, such as intolerable skin reactions, intolerable diarrhea that is unresponsive to loperamide or that causes dehydration, or severe liver function test abnormalities, consider dose reduction or interruption of Tarceva^© . ^[1]
• The pivotal Phase III protocol specified the following dose modification guidelines for Grade ≥ 3 rash or diarrhea that could not be medically managed: ^[1,2]
• withhold therapy until symptom severity is returned to Grade ≤ 1 ^[2]
• then resume therapy at a 50-mg step lower than original dose ^[1]
• Six percent and 1% of patients needed dose reduction for rash and diarrhea, respectively. ^[1]
• Treatment should continue unless a patient experiences unacceptable toxicity, disease progression or Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD). ^[1]
• There is no evidence that treatment beyond disease progression is beneficial. ^[4]
• Tarceva^© therapy should be suspended if ILD is suspected and discontinued if confirmed. ^[1]