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Trastuzumab Injection (tras too' zoo mab)
Other names: Herceptin
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Trastuzumab injection may cause serious or life-threatening heart problems. Tell your doctor if you ... Full Alert
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Why is this medication prescribed?

Trastuzumab injection is used along with other medications or after other medications have been used to treat a certain type of breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Trastuzumab injection is also used to decrease the chance that a certain type of breast cancer will return in women who have been treated with other medications or are being treated with other medications. Trastuzumab is in a class of medications called monoclonal antibodies. It works by stopping the growth of cancer cells.

How should this medication be used?

Trastuzumab injection comes as a liquid to be injected into a vein by a doctor or nurse in a hospital or medical facility. When trastuzumab injection is used to treat breast cancer that has spread, it is usually given once a week. When trastuzumab injection is used to prevent the return of breast cancer, it is sometimes given once every 3 weeks and is sometimes given once a week along with other chemotherapy medications, and then once every 3 weeks after treatment with the other medications is completed. The length of your treatment depends on how well your body responds to the medication and the side effects that you experience. If you are using trastuzumab to prevent the return of breast cancer, your treatment may last up to 52 weeks.

Are there other uses for this medicine?

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

  • Herceptin®
Last Revised January 01, 2009
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
This information being provided is copyrighted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., ASHP, Bethesda, Maryland.
©2009. All Rights Reserved.
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