Journal of Clinical & Experimental Pharmacology

Abemaciclib Drug: Treatment for Metastatic Breast Cancer

Mohammad Aisha^* Department of Pharmacy, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
^*Correspondence: Mohammad Aisha, Department of Pharmacy, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, Email:

Received: 16-Dec-2022, Manuscript No. CPECR-22-19321; Editor assigned: 19-Dec-2022, Pre QC No. CPECR-22-19321 (PQ); Reviewed: 02-Jan-2023, QC No. CPECR-22-19321; Revised: 16-Mar-2023, Manuscript No. CPECR-22-19321 (R); Published: 23-Mar-2023, DOI: 10.35248/2161-1459.23.13.364

Introduction

Abemaciclib is a drug used to treat metastatic breast cancer and is also called as verzenio, and ramiven. Abemaciclib is used to treat certain types of hormone receptor positive early stage breast cancer in combination with aromatase inhibitors such as anastrozole (arimidex), exemestane (aromasin), and letrozole (femara). Abemaciclib is also used with fulvestrant (faslodex) to spread certain types of hormone-receptor positive advanced breast cancer (breast cancer that depends on hormones such as estrogen to grow) or to other parts of the body after treatment. Abemaciclib is also used alone to treat hormone receptor positive advanced breast cancer or breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body of people who have already been treated with antidepressants or chemotherapy. Abemaciclib is available as an oral tablet. It is usually taken twice daily with or without food. Take abemaciclib at about the same time each day. Do not take more or less or take it more often than your doctor tells you. Swallow the entire tablet. Do not split, chew or crush them. Never take tablets that are broken, cracked, or damaged. If you vomit after taking abemaciclib, do not take any more. In recent years, many treatment options have emerged to treat stage 4 or metastatic breast cancer, significantly improving survival. Treatment of breast cancer depends on several other factors, including the stage of cancer, age, genetic mutation status, and medical history. Most cases of breast cancer require a combination of two or more treatments. Common signs and symptoms of advanced and metastatic cancer include loss of energy, tiredness, and weakness. This can be exacerbated and difficult to perform routine tasks such as bathing and changing clothes.

While living with metastatic breast cancer, there are ways to help improve your physical and emotional life conditions. Hormone therapy is only used for breast cancers that are found to have receptors for the naturally occurring hormones estrogen or progesterone. The most common forms of hormone therapy for breast cancer work by blocking hormones from attaching to receptors on cancer cells or by decreasing the bodys production of hormones.

Description

Hormone therapy for breast cancer is often used after surgery to reduce the risk that cancer will return. Hormone therapy for breast cancer may also be used to shrink a tumor before surgery, making it more likely cancer will be removed completely. If cancer has spread to other parts of the body, hormone therapy for breast cancer can help control cancer. The side effects of hormone therapy for breast cancer are hot flashes, vaginal discharge, vaginal dryness or inflammation, malaise, nausea, joint and muscle pain, and impotence in men with breast cancer. There are some less common but more serious side effects of hormone therapy that include intravenous thrombus, endometrial cancer or uterine cancer, cataract, stroke, osteoporosis, and heart disease.

When taking abemaciclib, do not take anything that contains St John`s Wort (it contains many chemicals which help to send signals in the brain that regulate the changes in mood and many people will use this kind of drug for mood and depression disorders) and also does not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice. Some drugs should not be taken with abemaciclib like prescribed antibiotics, antifungal, and antiepileptic drugs. Diarrhea is a very common side effect of abemaciclib and can sometimes be severe. The most likely time to have diarrhea is during the first week of treatment. It may last for around two weeks. If you have loose stools, it’s recommended that you start antidiarrheal medicine straight away, drink plenty of fluids, and contact your treatment team.

Conclusion

Specialists or health care professionals can prescribe antidiarrheal medicine so you have it available at home before you start your treatment. If you develop severe diarrhea while taking abemaciclib, a doctor may decrease the dose, delay your next cycle of treatment or stop your treatment completely.

Not having enough white blood cells (low white blood cell count) can increase the risk of getting an infection, such as a breast infection. In a very rare case, allergic reactions to abemaciclib can occur. Reactions can vary from mild to severe, although severe reactions are uncommon. If you have any swelling, wheezing, chest pain, or difficulty breathing after taking abemaciclib, contact the health care professional. Taking abemaciclib while pregnant may be harmful to a developing baby. Barrier contraceptives should be used during treatment and for at least 3 weeks after treatment discontinuation. Although it may not affect female fertility, abemaciclib can reduce male fertility. Men taking abemaciclib should discuss sperm storage with the medical team before starting treatment.