Targeted Therapies

Common names include:

• Bevacizumab (Avastin)
• Cetuximab (Erbitux)
• Panitumumab (Vectibix)

Targeted therapy uses medications to seek out cancer cells and destroy them. They can be used alone or with other chemotherapy drugs. Because they target cancer cells specifically, the side effects are not as severe as with chemotherapy drugs.

Possible side effects include:

For bevacizumab:

• High blood pressure
• Fatigue
• Bleeding
• Headache
• Mouth sores
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea

For cetuximab:

• Skin rash
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Diarrhea

For panitumumab:

• Skin rash
• Sensitivity to sunlight
• Fatigue
• Diarrhea

Nausea Therapies

Common names include:

• Prochlorperazine (Compazine)
• Ondansetron (Zofran)
• Granisetron (Kytril)
• Metoclopramide (Octamide, Metoclopramide Intensol, Reglan)
• Dronabinol (Marinol)

Medications for nausea, also called anti-emetics, are given to help treat nausea and vomiting that may be caused by chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery to treat cancer. Prochlorperazine can be taken by mouth, injection, or a suppository. Ondansetron and granisetron can be taken orally or as injections; metoclopramide is usually given by injection. Dronabinol is a synthetic cannabinoid taken by mouth.

Possible side effects include:

For prochlorperazine:

• Blurred vision
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Restlessness or need to keep moving
• Shuffling walk
• Stiffness of arms or legs
• Trembling and shaking of hands and fingers

For ondansetron:

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Headache
• Unusual tiredness or weakness

For granisetron:

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Unusual tiredness or weakness

For metoclopramide:

• Diarrhea
• Drowsiness
• Restlessness
• Increased risk of tardive dyskinesia, a serious neurological condition, in patients who take metoclopramide for longer than three months

For dronabinol:

• Dose-related high, such as euphoria or elation
• Rapid heart beat
• Flush face
• Confusion
• Anxiety
• Lightheadedness
• Hallucinations
• Paranoia

Corticosteroids

Common names include:

• Dexamethasone
• Prednisone

Corticosteroids help reduce inflammation and relieve pain due to inflammation.

Possible side effects include:

• Increased appetite
• Indigestion
• Nervousness or restlessness

Opioids

Common names include:

• Hydrocodone
• Hydromorphone
• Oxycodone

Opioids act on the central nervous system to relieve pain. These drugs can be very effective; however, opioids must be used with great caution because they can be mentally and/or physically addicting. If you are going to take one of these drugs for a long period of time, your doctor will closely monitor you.

The most common side effects of opioids include:

• Lightheadedness, or feeling faint
• Drowsiness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Constipation

Blood Stem Cell Support Drugs

Common names include:

• Filgrastim (Neupogen)
• Epoetin (Epogen, Procrit)

During cancer treatment, blood cells can be destroyed along with cancer cells. Filgrastim helps your bone marrow make new white blood cells, which help your body fight infection. Therefore, filgrastim helps to reduce your risk of infection. Epoetin helps your bone marrow make new red blood cells.

Both filgrastim and epoetin are given by injection in your doctor's office.

Possible side effects include:

For filgrastim:

• Bone pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Skin rash or itching

For epoetin:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Injection site pain
• Cough
• Headache
• Blood clots

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Common names include:

• Ibuprofen (Advil, Bayer Select Ibuprofen, Dolgesic, Excedrin IB, Genpril, Haltran, Ibifon, Ibren, Ibu, Ibuprin, Ibuprohm, Medipren, Midol IB, Motrin, Nuprin, Q-Profen, Rufen, Trendar)
• Naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn)

NSAIDs are used to relieve pain and inflammation.

Possible side effects include:

• Stomach upset
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Headache