Afatin 20mg Tablet is used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. It is used in the treatment of adult patients who have certain mutations of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).

Afatin 20mg Tablet should be taken on an empty stomach, but try to have it at the same time every day to get the most benefits. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to.

The most common side effects of this medicine include diarrhea, rash, dry skin, and nausea. Diarrhea can be serious sometimes so take medicine to treat it as prescribed by the doctor or stay hydrated. Your doctor may advise for some blood tests while you are taking this medicine. It may also make your skin sensitive to the sun, so use sunscreen and wear protective clothing if you have to be in sunlight. Inform your doctor if you notice pain or redness in the eye or dry eye.

Before taking it, tell your doctor if have a breathing problem, liver, or kidney problems, or are taking any medicines to treat infections. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your healthcare team know all medications you are using. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The use of effective contraception by females during treatment is important to avoid pregnancy.

Uses of Afatin Tablet

Non-small cell lung cancer

Benefits of Afatin Tablet

In Non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer is one of the major kinds of lung cancer and it affects both smokers as well as non-smokers. Afatin 20mg Tablet helps treat non-small cell lung cancer and may be given alone or in combination with other medicines. It is a potent and very toxic medicine and you should discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. You should avoid drinking alcohol while having this treatment and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Side effects of Afatin Tablet

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Afatin

Diarrhea
Rash
Dry skin
Nausea
Vomiting
Loss of appetite
Itching
Stomatitis (Inflammation of the mouth)
Nail disorder

How to use Afatin Tablet

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Afatin 20mg Tablet is to be taken empty stomach.

How Afatin Tablet works

Afatin 20mg Tablet is an anti-cancer medication. It works by binding and inhibiting the enzyme receptors (EGFR, HER2, and HER4) that are responsible for the growth of cancer cells. Hence, resulting in the downregulation of signaling pathways. This is how it to stop or slow the spread of cancer.

Safety advice

Alcohol

SAFE

Consuming alcohol with Afatin 20mg Tablet does not cause any harmful side effects.

Pregnancy

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

Afatin 20mg Tablet is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However, the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor.

Breast feeding

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

Afatin 20mg Tablet is probably unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby.

Driving

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

It is not known whether Afatin 20mg Tablet alters the ability to drive. Do not drive if you experience any symptoms that affect your ability to concentrate and react.

Kidney

SAFE IF PRESCRIBED

Afatin 20mg Tablet is probably safe to use in patients with kidney disease. Limited data available suggests that dose adjustment of Afatin 20mg Tablet may not be needed in these patients. Please consult your doctor.

Liver

SAFE IF PRESCRIBED

Afatin 20mg Tablet is probably safe to use in patients with liver disease. Limited data available suggests that dose adjustment of Afatin 20mg Tablet may not be needed in these patients. Please consult your doctor.

What if you forget to take Afatin Tablet?

If you miss a dose of Afatin 20mg Tablet, skip it and continue with your normal schedule. Do not double the dose.

All substitutes

For informational purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.

Afatin 20mg Tablet

₹123.57/Tablet

Afasted 20 Tablet

Halsted Pharma Private Limited

₹194.68/tablet

58% costlier

Afzanna 20mg Tablet

Celon Laboratories Ltd

₹172.86/tablet

40% costlier

Xovoltib 20mg Tablet

Boehringer Ingelheim

₹1942/tablet

1472% costlier

Afamac 20 Tablet

Admac Pharma Ltd

₹102.93/tablet

17% cheaper

Afayro 20 Tablet

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd

₹95.54/tablet

23% cheaper

View all substitutes

Quick tips

You have been prescribed Afatin 20mg Tablet for the treatment of certain type of lung cancer (non-small cell lung cancer).
Take Afatin 20mg Tablet on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before a meal or 2 hours after a meal.
Diarrhea is common with Afatin 20mg Tablet and may sometimes be severe. Your doctor may prescribe medicines to treat diarrhea. Stay hydrated and take this medicine exactly as directed.
Afatin 20mg Tablet can make your skin sensitive to the sun. Limit your time in the sun. Use sunscreen and wear protective clothing if you have to be in sunlight.
Afatin 20mg Tablet can cause redness, rash, and acne. Get treatment for skin reactions as soon as you notice them.
Use a reliable contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy while you are taking this medicine and for a month after you stop taking it.
Monitor your blood pressure regularly while taking this medication. Inform your doctor if you notice symptoms of very high blood pressure such as severe headache, confusion, problems with your eyesight, nausea or vomiting.
Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant, planning to conceive or breastfeeding.

Fact Box

Chemical Class

Quinazoline and Butenamide Derivative

Habit Forming

Therapeutic Class

ANTI NEOPLASTICS

Action Class

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Interaction with drugs

Taking Afatin with any of the following medicines can modify the effect of either of them and cause some undesirable side effects

Amiodarone (Injection Route) Moderate

Amiodarone may raise blood levels of Afatinib dimaleate. If concurrent use is essential, ensure a gap of at least 12 hours between taking Afatinib dimaleate and Amiodarone. Watch ... More

Azithromycin (Oral Route) Moderate

Azithromycin may raise blood levels of Afatinib dimaleate. If concurrent use is essential, ensure a gap of at least 12 hours between taking Afatinib dimaleate and Azithromycin. Wa... More

Azithromycin (Injection Route) Moderate

Azithromycin may raise blood levels of Afatinib dimaleate. If concurrent use is essential, ensure a gap of at least 12 hours between taking Afatinib dimaleate and Azithromycin. Wa... More

Azithromycin (Oral Route) Moderate

Azithromycin may raise blood levels of Afatinib dimaleate. If concurrent use is essential, ensure a gap of at least 12 hours between taking Afatinib dimaleate and Azithromycin. Wa... More

Amiodarone (Oral Route) Moderate

Amiodarone may raise blood levels of Afatinib dimaleate. If concurrent use is essential, ensure a gap of at least 12 hours between taking Afatinib dimaleate and Amiodarone. Watch ... More

View all drug interactions

Patient concerns

What is the purpose of Chemotherepy given at the time of radiotherapy in ca lung small cell carcinoma

Dr. Vijay Sharnangat

Medical Oncology and Hematology

This is given to enhance the therapeutic effect of radiation therapy which is curative for small cell lung cancer.

Right lung tumour cancer in upper portion In jalgaon district which oncologist is best for lung cancer.

Dr. Vijay Sharnangat

Medical Oncology and Hematology

Dr Nitin Chaudhari us best oncologist

My father in law is a lung cancer patient.He had gone through two chemo cycles.The first one led to a significant reduction of about 50% in the tumor size.He was administered gemcitabine and carboplatin.However,the 2nd one was ineffective.Please advise as to what could be the next course of action. He was a smoker and has non-small cell carcinoma.The cancer has spread to the adrenal glands.

Dr. Sanjay Singh Rai

Medical Oncology and Hematology

U have to do a CT SCAN 3WKS AFTER 3RD CHEMOBased on that u make assessment of response

FAQs

Is Afatin 20mg Tablet an immunotherapy or chemotherapy?

Afatin 20mg Tablet is neither an immunotherapy nor a conventional chemotherapy. It belongs to kinase inhibitors class of anti-cancer medicines. It works by blocking a group of proteins. These proteins are known to be involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells. By blocking the activity of these proteins, Afatin 20mg Tablet stops the cancer cells from growing and multiplying.

How long does it take for Afatin 20mg Tablet to work?

The peak levels of Afatin 20mg Tablet are reached 2-5 hours after taking it. However, it may take weeks or months to see a noticeable change in the progression of cancer. The symptoms may improve visibly, but the effectiveness of Afatin 20mg Tablet can be confirmed only after determining certain parameters.

How should I take Afatin 20mg Tablet?

Afatin 20mg Tablet is taken by mouth without food, at least 1 hour before or 3 hours after meals. Swallow the complete tablet with water without crushing or breaking it. Take this medicine once daily at about the same time each day. This will make it easier to remember to take this medicine. If you have difficulty in swallowing the tablet, dissolve it in a glass of water. Do not use any other liquid instead of water. Drop the tablet into the water without crushing it and stir occasionally for up to 15 minutes until the tablet is broken up into very small particles. Drink the liquid straight away. Then refill the glass with water and drink it to make sure all medicine is taken.

Does Afatin 20mg Tablet have any effect on fertility?

Afatin 20mg Tablet may decrease fertility in both men and women Therefore, if you have any concerns regarding fertility, talk to your doctor who might suggest sperm or egg preservation before starting treatment.

Can Afatin 20mg Tablet be given along with chemotherapy?

There are no supporting studies to suggest that Afatin 20mg Tablet can be used along with other chemotherapy medicines. Afatin 20mg Tablet is used to treat specific type of lung cancer when the prior chemotherapy has been insufficient.

Can Afatin 20mg Tablet cure lung cancer?

No, Afatin 20mg Tablet cannot cure lung cancer, but it prolongs the survival of the patient. It may also reduce the size of the tumor.

What should I avoid while taking Afatin 20mg Tablet?

You should avoid sun exposure as Afatin 20mg Tablet can make your skin sensitive to the sun. You may get a severe sunburn or may develop rash or acne or it may get worsened. Therefore, use sunscreen and wear a hat before moving out in the sun. Wear clothes that cover your skin if you have to go out in the sun.

Can I do something if I get diarrhea due to Afatin 20mg Tablet?

Diarrhea is a very common side effect of Afatin 20mg Tablet. Severe diarrhea can cause excessive loss of body fluids (dehydration) and kidney problems that can sometimes lead to death. Start drinking plenty of fluids at the first signs of diarrhea and contact your doctor immediately. The doctor will start the appropriate antidiarrheal treatment (e.g. loperamide) as soon as possible. The doctor may also reduce your dose or discontinue the therapy if you develop severe diarrhea.

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Tata 1mg's sole intention is to ensure that its consumers get information that is expert-reviewed, accurate and trustworthy. However, the information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This may not cover everything about particular health conditions, lab tests, medicines, all possible side effects, drug interactions, warnings, alerts, etc. Please consult your doctor and discuss all your queries related to any disease or medicine. We intend to support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship.

References

Afatinib. Ridgefield, CT: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; 2013. [Accessed 03 Jul. 2019] (online) Available from:
Gilotrif. Afatinib. [Accessed 26 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from:
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). [Accessed 27 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from:

Marketer details

Name: BDR Pharmaceuticals Internationals Pvt

Address: 407-408, Sharda Chambers, New Marine Lines, Mumbai 400 020 (Maharashtra), New Marine Lines, Marine Lines, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400020

Country of origin: India

The list of available options shown with the same composition has been prepared upon the advice of registered medical practitioners, pharmacists affiliated with TATA 1MG. TATA 1MG does not promote any pharmaceutical product of any particular company, and all recommendations are based on the medical opinion, advisories from specialist medical and pharmaceutical professionals.