Understand Potential Risks
of Treatment
Understand
Potential Risks of
Treatment
What is the most important information I should know about ENHERTU?
ENHERTU can cause serious side effects, including:
- Lung problems that may be severe, life-threatening or that may lead to death
- Low white blood cell count (neutropenia)
- Heart problems that may affect your heart's ability to pump blood
Your healthcare provider will check you for these side effects during your treatment with ENHERTU. Your healthcare provider may reduce your dose, delay treatment or completely stop treatment with ENHERTU if you have severe side effects. Learn more about each below.
- Cough
- Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
- Fever
- Other new or worsening breathing symptoms (e.g., chest tightness, wheezing)
Lung problems (interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pneumonitis) have been reported with the use of ENHERTU. ENHERTU may cause lung problems that may be life-threatening or fatal. Symptoms may be similar to symptoms of other lung diseases.
Before you receive ENHERTU, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you have lung or breathing problems.
Tell your doctor right away if you experience any of these symptoms while taking ENHERTU:
- New or worsening cough
- Trouble breathing
- Fever
- New or worsening shortness of breath or other breathing issues
Low white blood cell counts are common with ENHERTU and can sometimes be severe. Your healthcare provider will check your white blood cell counts before starting ENHERTU and before starting each dose. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of an infection or have fever or chills during treatment with ENHERTU.
Your healthcare provider will check your heart function before starting treatment with ENHERTU. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs and symptoms:
- New or worsening shortness of breath
- Coughing
- Feeling tired
- Swelling of your ankles or legs
- Irregular heartbeat
- Sudden weight gain
- Dizziness or feeling light-headed
- Loss of consciousness
Before you receive ENHERTU, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you have or have had any heart problems.
Things you can talk to your healthcare provider about to help with some side effects
Things you can talk to your healthcare provider about to help with some side effects
- Eat 5 or 6 small meals and snacks each day instead of 3 large meals
-
Eat bland, easy-to-digest food and drinks
- Avoid food and drinks that are too hot or too cold
- Avoid strong smells
- If you feel like vomiting, take deep, slow breaths and if possible get fresh air
If you are experiencing nausea and/or vomiting, talk to your doctor
about the best ways for you to manage these side effects
If you are experiencing nausea and/or vomiting, talk to your doctor about the best ways for you to manage these side effects
- Eat 5 or 6 small meals and snacks instead of 3 large meals
- Eat foods low in fiber
- Drink clear liquids to replace lost fluids. Check with your healthcare provider how much fluid you should drink and what types of fluid might be best for you
Ask your healthcare provider before taking any medicine for diarrhea
Ask your healthcare provider before taking any medicine for diarrhea
- Meditation may help you relax and decrease stress. Talk to your healthcare provider about what activities may be right for you
- Plan time to rest and try not to do too much
- Get regular exercise (according to your healthcare provider's approval) and plan activities when you have the most energy
- Let other people help!
Talk to your healthcare provider to help determine the cause
of why you may be feeling tired
Talk to your healthcare provider to help determine the cause of why you may be feeling tired
Before hair loss:
- Talk with your healthcare provider about the possibility of hair loss
- Consider cutting your hair short to feel more in control of hair loss
- Be gentle when you wash your hair. Use a mild shampoo, such as baby shampoo
- Avoid items such as electric hair dryers, hairspray, hair dyes, products to perm or relax your hair, hair bands and clips that can hurt your scalp
- If you plan on buying a wig, do so while you still have hair
During and after hair loss:
- Protect your scalp
- Cover your head to help stay warm. You may feel colder once you lose your hair
- Sleep on a satin pillow case. Satin creates less friction and may be more comfortable
If you are concerned about hair loss, you might want to talk with a member
of your healthcare team, a friend or family member, or another person
like you undergoing treatment
If you are concerned about hair loss, you might want to talk with a member of your healthcare team, a friend or family member, or another person like you undergoing treatment
What are the possible side effects of ENHERTU?
ENHERTU can cause serious side effects. See "What is the most important information I should know about ENHERTU?" above.
The most common side effects of ENHERTU include:
Nausea
Feeling tired
Vomiting
Hair loss
Constipation
Decreased appetite
Low red blood cell counts
Low white blood cell counts
Diarrhea
Cough
Low platelet counts
ENHERTU may cause fertility problems in males, which may affect the ability to father children. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about fertility.
These are not all of the possible side effects of ENHERTU. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Before you receive ENHERTU, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- Have lung or breathing problems.
- Have signs or symptoms of an infection.
- Have or have had any heart problems.
- Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if ENHERTU passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with ENHERTU and for 7 months after the last dose.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Harm to your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you might be pregnant during treatment with ENHERTU.
- If you are able to become pregnant, your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with ENHERTU.
- Females who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with ENHERTU and for at least 7 months after the last dose.
- Males who have female partners that are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with ENHERTU and for at least 4 months after the last dose.
Managing side effects with ENHERTU
Let your healthcare provider know right away if you are experiencing any side effects.
Your healthcare provider may take steps to help manage your side effects, including:
- Slowing down, interrupting, or stopping ENHERTU treatment
- Prescribing other medicines to help lessen side effects
-
Recommending lifestyle changes
Download the Medication Guide.
Talk to Your Doctor Before Taking Any Medications or
Making Changes to Your Diet or Daily Activities
Talk to Your Doctor Before Taking
Any Medications or Making
Changes to Your Diet or
Daily Activities
For Patients and Their Caregivers:
Understanding and Managing Side Effects During Treatment with ENHERTU
