Managing Tarceva Side Effects
Fatigue, rash, nausea, loss of appetite and diarrhea were the most common side effects associated with the Tarceva (erlotinib) plus gemcitabine therapy in a large clinical study. Severe rash and diarrhea were each reported in 5% of patients receiving Tarceva plus gemcitabine therapy in this same large clinical study.
The rash associated with the Tarceva (erlotinib) plus gemcitabine therapy may appear on your body or face, typically within 10 days of starting this treatment. However, the rash may occur anytime during treatment with Tarceva plus gemcitabine. The rash associated with Tarceva is not an allergic reaction and may look like acne or dry skin. Please contact your doctor if you develop a rash.
Typically, diarrhea may develop within 15 days of starting the Tarceva plus gemcitabine therapy.
What you can do to ease the common side effects of Tarceva plus gemcitabine
Always let your doctor or nurse know if you experience any side effects. Your doctor may change your dose. Ask your doctor or nurse for the best way to handle drug-related side effects.
You may be able to take steps to ease some of the side effects you may experience during treatment. A list of self-help tips are included in the chart below. Ask your doctor or nurse for more ways to help ease these or any other possible side effects.
Some side effects of the disease itself, such as nausea and vomiting, may make it difficult for you to take your Tarceva. If that happens, let your doctor or nurse know.
Always take Tarceva as prescribed by your doctor
Taking Tarceva with food may increase your chance of developing side effects. For this reason, it's important to take Tarceva at least one hour before or two hours after eating.
| Side effect | Self-help tips |
Fatigue |
|
Rash |
|
Loss of appetite |
|
Nausea and vomiting |
|
Diarrhea |
|
Checking your progress with regular follow-up visits
- Your doctor will check to see how well your treatment is working during regular follow-up visits.
- As part of a regular physical exam, you may undergo a Computed Tomography (CT) scan or other imaging tests.
- Blood tests may also be used to measure the effectiveness of your treatment.
Please see full Prescribing Information

