Tecentriq (atezolizumab)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval to Tecentriq (atezolizumab), a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) blocking antibody for the treatment of people with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Urothelial carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer, and can also be found in the renal pelvis, ureter and urethra.
Important information
Tecentriq is a medicine that may treat your bladder cancer by working with your immune system. It can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in many areas of your body and can affect the way they work.
These problems can sometimes become serious or life-threatening and can lead to death.
Call or see your healthcare provider right away if you get any symptoms of the following problems or these symptoms get worse:
Lung problems (pneumonitis). Signs and symptoms of pneumonitis may include:
new or worsening cough
shortness of breath
chest pain
Liver problems (hepatitis). Signs and symptoms of hepatitis may include:
yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
severe nausea or vomiting
pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen)
drowsiness
dark urine (tea colored)
bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
feeling less hungry than usual
Intestinal problems (colitis). Signs and symptoms of colitis may include:
diarrhea (loose stools) or more bowel movements than usual
blood in your stools or dark, tarry, sticky stools
severe stomach area (abdomen) pain or tenderness
Hormone gland problems (especially the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal glands, and pancreas). Signs and symptoms that your hormone glands are not working properly may include:
headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches
extreme tiredness
weight gain or weight loss
dizziness or fainting
feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual
hair loss
changes in mood or behavior, such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness
feeling cold
constipation
your voice gets deeper
urinating more often than usual
nausea or vomiting
stomach area (abdomen) pain
Nervous system problems (neuropathy, meningoencephalitis). Signs of nervous system problems may include:
severe muscle weakness
numbness or tingling in
hands or feet
fever
confusion
changes in mood or
behavior
extreme sensitivity to light
neck stiffness
Inflammation of the eyes. Symptoms may include:
blurry vision, double vision, or other vision problems
eye pain or redness
Severe infections. Symptoms of infection may include:
fever
cough
frequent urination
flu -like symptoms
pain when urinating
Severe infusion reactions. Signs and symptoms of infusion reactions may include:
chills or shaking
itching or rash
flushing
shortness of breath or wheezing
dizziness
fever
feeling like passing out
back or neck pain
facial swelling
Getting medical treatment right away may help keep these problems from becoming more serious.
Your healthcare provider will check you for these problems during your treatment with Tecentriq. Your healthcare provider may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. Your healthcare provider may delay or completely stop treatment if you have severe side effects.
Tecentriq is a prescription medicine used to treat:
a type of bladder cancer called urothelial carcinoma. Tecentriq may be used when your bladder cancer has spread or cannot be removed by surgery (advanced urothelial carcinoma) and,
you have tried chemotherapy that contains platinum, and it did not work or is no longer working.
It is not known if this medicine is safe and effective in children.
Before you start treatment, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
have immune system problems such as Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus
have had an organ transplant
have lung or breathing problems
have liver problems
have a condition that affects your nervous system, such as Myasthenia Gravis or Guillain-Barr syndrome are being treated for an infection are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Tecentriq can harm your unborn baby. If you are able to become pregnant, you should use an effective method of birth control during your treatment and for at least 5 months after the last dose.
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Tecentriq passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for at least 5 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.
Tecentriq side effects
Tecentriq can cause serious side effects, including:
See Important information
The most common side effects include:
feeling tired
decreased appetite
nausea
urinary tract infection
fever
constipation
These are not all the possible side effects. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information.
Source: drugs.com
