Herticad Adverse Reactions

Like all medicines, Trastuzumab can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Some of these side effects may be serious and may lead to hospitalization.
During a trastuzumab infusion, chills, fever and other flu like symptoms may occur. These are very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people).
Other infusion-related symptoms are: feeling sick (nausea), vomiting, pain, increased muscle tension and shaking, headache, dizziness, breathing difficulties, wheezing, high or low blood pressure, heart rhythm disturbances (palpitations, heart fluttering or irregular heartbeat), swelling of the face and lips, rash and feeling tired. Some of these symptoms can be serious and some patients have died.
These effects mainly occur with the first intravenous infusion ("drip" into the vein) and during the first few hours after the start of the infusion. They are usually temporary. Patient will be observed by a health care professional during the infusion and for at least six hours after the start of the first infusion and for two hours after the start of other infusions. If the patient develops a reaction, they will slow down or stop the infusion and may give the patient treatment to counteract the side effects. The infusion may be continued after the symptoms improve.
Occasionally, symptoms start later than six hours after the infusion begins. If this happens to the patient, contact the doctor immediately. Sometimes, symptoms may improve and then get worse later.
Other side effects can occur at any time during treatment with trastuzumab, not just related to an infusion. Heart problems can sometimes occur during treatment and occasionally after treatment has stopped and can be serious. They include weakening of the heart muscle possibly leading to heart failure inflammation (swollen, red, hot, and in pain) of the lining around the heart and heart rhythm disturbances. This can lead to symptoms such as: breathlessness (including breathlessness at night), cough, fluid retention (swelling) in the legs or arms, palpitations (heart fluttering or irregular heartbeat). The doctor will monitor the heart regularly during and after treatment but patient should tell the doctor immediately if the patient notices any of the previously mentioned symptoms. If the patient experiences any of the previously mentioned symptoms when the treatment with Trastuzumab has finished, patient should see the doctor and tell them that the patient has previously been treated with Trastuzumab.
Very common side effects of trastuzumab: may affect more than 1 in 10 people: infections, diarrhoea, constipation, heartburn (dyspepsia), weakness, skin rashes, chest pain, abdominal pain, joint pain, low counts of red blood cells and white blood cells (which help fight infection) sometimes with fever, muscle pain, conjunctivitis, watery eyes, nosebleeds, runny nose, hair loss, tremor, hot flush, dizziness, nail disorders, weight loss, loss of appetite, inability to sleep (insomnia), altered taste, low platelet count, numbness or tingling of the fingers and toes, redness, swelling or sores in the mouth and/or throat, pain, swelling, redness or tingling of hands and/or feet, breathlessness, headache, cough, vomiting, nausea.
Common side effects of trastuzumab: may affect up to 1 in 10 people: allergic reactions, throat infections, bladder and skin infections, shingles, inflammation of the breast, inflammation of the pancreas or liver, kidney disorders, increased muscle tone or tension (hypertonia), pain in the arms and/or legs, itchy rash, sleepiness (somnolence), bruising, haemorrhoids, itchiness, dry mouth and skin, dry eyes, sweating, feeling weak and unwell, anxiety, depression, abnormal thinking, asthma, infection of lungs, lung disorders, back pain, neck pain, bone pain, acne, leg cramps.
Uncommon side effects of Trastuzumab: may affect up to 1 in 100 people: deafness, bumpy rash, blood infection.
Rare side effects of Trastuzumab: may affect up to 1 in 1000 people: weakness, jaundice, inflammation or scarring of the lungs.
Other side effects that have been reported with trastuzumab use: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data: abnormal or impaired blood clotting, anaphylactic reactions, high potassium levels, swelling of the brain, swelling or bleeding at the back of the eyes, shock, swelling of the lining of the heart, slow heart rate, abnormal heart rhythm, respiratory distress, respiratory failure, acute accumulation of fluid in the lungs, acute narrowing of the airways, abnormally low oxygen levels in the blood, difficulty in breathing when lying flat, liver damage/failure, swelling of the face, lips and throat, kidney failure, abnormally low levels of fluid around baby in womb, failure of lungs to develop in the womb, abnormal kidney development in the womb.
Some of the side effects the patient experiences may be due to the underlying breast cancer. If the patient receives Trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy, some of them may also be due to the chemotherapy.
If the patient gets any side effects, talk to the doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Reporting of side effects: If the patient gets any side effects, talk to the doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this monograph. The patient can also report side effects directly (see details as follows). By reporting side effects, patient can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.