All about Eribulin Mesylate

Widely known as Halaven, Eribulin Mesylate is an antineoplastic chemotherapy drug used to treat HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. It is also useful for women with the same condition who have been treated with other anti-cancer medications previously. It interferes with a component of cells known as micro tubulin, which is helpful for cell reproduction. In this way, the medication helps prevent cancer cells from dividing and spreading within the body. 

Dosage and Usage 

Eribulin Mesylate injection is administered through a vein by a push or an intravenous infusion. It takes over 2 to 5 minutes. You will receive Inj Eribulin 2 mg on days 1 and 8 of the 21 days cycle. However, the dose can be altered according to the response from your body, the current medical condition, body weight, and extend of your disease. Usually, doses are reduced in patients with hepatic and moderate renal impairment. In case your body develops severe toxicity, which does not improve over time, the doctor may postpone the doses. Usually, in such cases, the 8th-day dose is delayed by a week to help the body recover. 

Precautionary Measures

1. Inform your doctor if you have had a medical history involving heart problems, kidney problems, liver issues, QT syndrome, and low potassium and magnesium content in the blood. 

2. If you are about to start therapy and think you might be pregnant, tell your doctor immediately. It is not advised to get an Eribulin Mesylate injection under such conditions because the ingredients may harm the unborn baby. 

3. Male patients should wait until 2 weeks, and female patients should wait till 14 weeks after the last dose to start trying to get pregnant again. 

4. It has not been discovered yet whether Eribulin Mesylate can pass through breast milk. Therefore, the viable option is to refrain from breastfeeding during the treatment. 

5. Give all the details of the medications you are taking at present to your doctor, including herbal remedies and vitamin supplements because they have a chance of interacting with the constituents of Halaven and giving rise to toxicity within the body or interrupt the treatment. 

6. Without getting the approval of your doctor, it is absolutely unsafe to consume immunization or vaccine shots. 

7. In cases of neuropathy, the patient must go through regular checkups. 

Eribulin Side Effects

• Low WBC count- Due to a considerable drop in the white blood cell count, the body is more prone to catching infections. Some of the symptoms include a high fever with chills, cough, painful urination, etc.

• Peripheral Neuropathy- If you have numbness, tingling, or sharp pain in your hands, it’s only likely that you have developed this condition. 

• Baldness- It is one of the most common side effects of this chemotherapy. Hair thinning and hair loss takes place gradually, which leads to baldness.

• Nausea- Usually, medications are prescribed by doctors to deal with this condition so that the patient can maintain a healthy diet and avoid excessive weight loss. 

The above side effects can be dealt with because they’re not stagnant. However, if you have a fever of 100.4 degrees F or more, it is advised to consider it as an emergency seek medical attention immediately. The RBC count is also affected at times that gives rise to anemic conditions in patients. 

Conclusion 

Regular medical checkups will be conducted in patients to assess the disease progression and also monitor their health conditions. Eribulin Mesylate price in India is relatively high- 19000 INR per vial, roughly translating to 3 lakhs for the full course. The overall survival rate of this chemo drug is approximately 53.9%.