Type of medicine: antineoplastic (anticancer)
Generic and brand names: everolimus, oral; Afinitor
Afinitor is taken by mouth to treat:
Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Also tell your healthcare provider if you are scheduled to have any live vaccine or have close contact with someone who has recently received a live vaccine.
Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. Use effective birth control while taking this medicine and for 8 weeks after stopping this medicine. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.
Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.
You may take this medicine with or without food, but you should take it the same way each time, either with food or without food. Do not break, crush, or chew the tablets. Swallow them whole with a full glass of water.
If you miss a dose, you may still take it for up to 6 hours after the time you normally take this medicine. If it is more than 6 hours after you normally take this medicine, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.
Symptoms of an acute overdose have not been reported.
You will need to have regular tests to find out how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.
You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. Also, do not have any vaccines without getting your healthcare provider's approval first.
This medicine can cause severe lung or breathing problems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have a new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, or wheezing.
While taking this medicine there is an increased risk of skin cancer caused by exposure to sunlight or sunlamps. While you are taking this medicine, avoid long exposure to the sun. Wear protective clothing, a hat, and sunscreen lotion when you need to be outdoors. Do not use a sunlamp. Ask your pharmacist for the most protective sunscreen lotion.
This medicine may cause mouth ulcers and sores. Tell your healthcare provider if you have pain, discomfort, or open sores in your mouth while you are using this medicine. Your provider can prescribe a special mouthwash or mouth gel to treat these mouth sores.
This medicine may affect your ability to have children in the future. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.
This medicine may lead to diabetes in some people. Notify your healthcare provider if you develop increased thirst or hunger or need to urinate more often.
Diabetics: This medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).
Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Trouble breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath, trouble urinating; fast, slow, pounding, or irregular heartbeat; numbness or tingling in hands or feet; fever, cough, chills, sore throat, seizures, ringing in the ears, yellowing of the skin or eyes, unusual weakness or tiredness, unusual bleeding or bruising; mouth sores; swelling in hands, ankles, or feet or any unexplained swelling.
Other: Trouble sleeping, constipation, vomiting, itching, rash, dry skin, abdominal pain, back pain, blurred vision, abnormal dreams, muscle cramps, diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, change in sense of taste, dizziness, headache.
When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
The effects of this medicine may be dangerously increased if you drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.
