Ramucirumab Injection
Ramucirumab injection is used alone and in combination with another chemotherapy medication to treat stomach cancer or cancer located in the area where the stomach meets the esophagus (the tube between the throat and stomach) when these conditions do not improve after treatment with other medications. Ramucirumab is also used in combination with docetaxel to treat a certain type of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has spread to other parts of the body in people who have already been treated with other chemotherapy medications and have not improved or worsened. It is also used in combination with erlotinib (Tarceva) to a certain type of NSCLC that has spread to other parts of the body. Ramucirumab is also used in combination with other chemotherapy medications to treat cancer of the colon (large intestine) or rectum that has spread to other parts of the body in people that have already been treated with other chemotherapy medications and have not improved or worsened. Ramucirumab is also used alone to treat certain people with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; a type of liver cancer) who have already been treated with sorafenib (Nexafar). Ramucirumab is in a class of medications called monoclonal antibodies. It works by stopping the growth of cancer cells.
🔔 How should this medicine be used?
Ramucirumab injection comes as a liquid to be injected into a vein over 30 or 60 minutes by a doctor or nurse in a hospital or medical facility. For the treatment of stomach cancer, cancer of the colon or rectum, or HCC, it is usually given once every 2 weeks. For the treatment of NSCLC along with erlotinib, ramucirumab is usually given once every 2 weeks. For the treatment of NSCLC along with docetaxel, ramucirumab is usually given once every 3 weeks. The length of your treatment depends on how well your body responds to the medication and the side effects that you experience.
Your doctor may need to interrupt or stop your treatment if you experience certain side effects. Your doctor will give you other medications to prevent or treat certain side effects before you receive each dose of ramucirumab injection. Tell your doctor or nurse if you experience any of the following while you receive ramucirumab: uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body; back pain or spasms; chest pain and tightness; chills; flushing; shortness of breath; wheezing; pain, burning, numbness, pricking, or tingling in the hands or feet or on the skin; breathing difficulties; or a fast heartbeat.
