Afanat 30 mg Tablet

What is the Afanat 30 mg Tablet?

Afanat 30 mg Tablet is a high-quality product manufactured under strict quality control standards. Please consult with healthcare professional for specific information.

What are the Uses of Afanat 30 mg Tablet?

What are the Dosage Guidelines for Afanat 30 mg Tablet?

Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor mutation

• Recommended dose: 1 tablet of Afanat (30 mg of Afatinib) taken orally once daily on an empty stomach (Tablet must be taken at least 1 or 2 hours after consuming food).
• Maximum dose: 50 mg of Afatinib in 24 hours. (A 50 mg tablet of Afanat will be required). 
• Missed dose instructions for Afanat 30 mg tablet: The missed dose should be taken as soon as the patient remembers, provided the time after the previous dose is more than 12 hours. If the time passed since the last dose is less than or equal to 12 hours, the missed dose should be skipped, and the normal dosage schedule should be followed. Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed dose of Afanat 30 mg tablet.
• Overdose instructions: In case of an overdose, immediate medical attention should be taken in case of an overdose. Typical symptoms of Afanat 30 mg tablet overdose to look for are severe diarrhea, skin toxicity, dehydration, and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Advanced / Metastatic Squamous Cell Lung Carcinoma (after platinum-based chemotherapy)

• Recommended dose: 1 tablet of Afanat (30 mg of Afatinib) taken orally once daily on an empty stomach (Tablet must be taken at least 1 or 2 hours after consuming food).
• Maximum dose: 50 mg of Afatinib in 24 hours. (A 50 mg tablet of Afanat will be required).
• Missed dose instructions: The missed dose should be taken as soon as the patient remembers, provided the time after the previous dose is more than 12 hours. If the time passed since the last dose is less than or equal to 12 hours, the missed dose should be skipped, and the normal dosage schedule should be followed. Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed dose.
• Overdose instructions: In case of an overdose, immediate medical attention should be taken in case of an overdose. Typical symptoms of Afanat 30 mg overdose to look for are severe diarrhea, skin toxicity, dehydration, and gastrointestinal symptoms.

How does Afanat 30 mg Tablet Work?

Afanat 30 mg tablet contains active ingredient Afatinib. helps to treat Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor mutation. Afanat 30 mg tablet works by inhibiting a specific family of proteins known as the ErbB receptor family, which includes EGFR (ErbB1), HER2 (ErbB2), and ErbB4. These receptors are present on normal cells, and they signal in favor of cell growth and proliferation. However, in malignant cells, the EGFR gene is mutated which causes these receptors to be expressed in an abnormally high number. As a result, the cell-division signal for the mutated cells remains continuously “switched on” and the cell proliferates rapidly and uncontrollably which leads to the formation of a cancerous mass.

Afanat blocks the ErbB family of proteins, specifically the tyrosine kinase domain on these protein receptors. Tyrosine kinase is a crucial enzyme important for cell signalling activities. By inhibiting this enzyme on the ErbB proteins, Afatinib is classified as an irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). As the ErbB receptor expression is inhibited, several downstream pathways including MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways involved in the signalling for cell division are also disrupted. This prevents malignant cells from proliferating any further.

As a result of the molecular interference by Afanat 30 mg, several changes in the tumor are observed including reduced tumor cell growth, inhibition of tumor progression, and increased apoptosis (programmed cancer cell death). As Afanat 30 mg tablet specifically works on the receptors that are only overexpressed in cancer cells,without affecting any normal body cells, it is considered as a targeted anticancer therapy. This property makes Afanat 20 mg a safer option than traditional chemotherapy.

In this way, Afanat 30 mg tablet helps in slowing down the progression of EGFR mutated lung cancer and enhances the control of the disease in patients suffering from advanced or metastatic disease.

What are the Side Effects of Afanat 30 mg Tablet?

Possible Side Effects of Afanat 30 mg tablet

– > Gastrointestinal

• Diarrhea
• Stomatitis
• Oral mucositis
• Nausea
• Vomiting

– > Skin / Appendages

• Rash
• Acneiform dermatitis
• Dry skin (xerosis)
• Pruritus
• Paronychia
• Cheilitis

– > General / Metabolic

• Decreased appetite
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• – > Respiratory / ENT
• Epistaxis
• Rhinorrhea
• Nasopharyngitis
• – > Eye
• Conjunctivitis

Common (1–10%)

• Dyspepsia
• Abdominal pain
• Gastrointestinal inflammation
• – > Skin
• Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia
• Skin fissures
• Nail disorders
• Dermatitis
• Skin infection
• Hyperkeratosis
• – > Metabolic
• Dehydration
• Hypokalemia
• – > Nervous system
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Dysgeusia
• – > Eye
• Dry eye
• Eye irritation
• Increased lacrimation

– > Musculoskeletal

• Muscle spasms

– > Hepatic / Laboratory

• Increased ALT
• Increased AST
• – > Renal / Urinary
• Renal impairment
• Renal failure
• Cystitis

– > Hematologic

• Decreased lymphocyte count
• Leukopenia
• Uncommon (0.1–1%)
• – > Respiratory
• Interstitial lung disease
• Pneumonitis
• – > Eye
• Keratitis
• Corneal inflammation
• – > Gastrointestinal
• Pancreatitis
• – > Skin
• Bullous dermatitis
• Exfoliative dermatitis
• Severe blistering skin reactions

Rare / Very Rare

• Stevens-Johnson syndrome
• Toxic epidermal necrolysis

Serious / Clinically Significant Reactions

• Severe diarrhea
• Severe dehydration
• Interstitial lung disease
• Severe cutaneous reactions
• Hepatotoxicity
• Gastrointestinal perforation
• Corneal ulceration
• Severe infections
• Sepsis
• Acute renal failure
• Embryo-fetal toxicity
• Reduced fertility
•  

What are the Precautions Afanat 30 mg Tablet?

• Afanat 30 mg must be taken only when prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional.
• This medication must be consumed only on an empty stomach. Patients must consume the meals at least an hour after taking Afanat 30 mg.
• Do not crush, chew, or split the Afanat 30 mg tablet. It must be consumed whole.
• To reduce the chances of side effects, patients must maintain adequate hydration, especially in cases of diarrhoea.
• Afanat 30 mg can increase the risk of sun sensitivity. Hence, after taking this drug, patients must take the necessary protective measures.
• This medication must not be stopped abruptly without any medical advice.
• A common side effect of Afanat 30 mg is diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems. In such cases, steady antidiarrheal treatment and adequate water intake must be maintained.
• While on Afanat 30 mg therapy, patients must regularly take kidney function and liver function tests. Kidney function tests are especially essential after severe diarrhea or dehydration
• Patients must be regularly monitored for new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, or fever, which are indicators of interstitial lung disease.
• They must also be monitored regularly for eye pain, redness, tearing, blurred vision, or light sensitivity, as they may indicate keratitis.
• Apart from these, Afanat 30 mg must be considered carefully for patients with cardiac, lung, kidney, or liver disorders. 
• Patients must inform their healthcare providers about this medication if they are about to undergo a surgery or any wound healing practice.
• Afanat 30 mg is contraindicated with certain other medications which include P-glycoprotein inhibitors or inducers. These drugs can alter the levels of Afatinib in the body, if consumed simultaneously.

Other Information

• Q. Can we take Afanat 30 mg after a meal?

Afanat 30 mg must be consumed on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before a meal or 2 hours after a meal.

• Q. How long does Afanat 30 mg take to work?

On a molecular level, Afanat 30 mg starts acting immediately on the tumor cells. However, to observe noticeable changes in the body, it may take a few weeks.

• Q. Can Afanat 30 mg cause skin problems?

Yes. Common skin problems associated with Afanat 30 mg are Skin rash, acne-like eruptions, dryness, and nail infections.

• Q. Is Afanat 30 mg a chemotherapy drug?

No. Afanat 30 mg is a target anticancer drug which specifically targets the malignant cells and not normal cells of the body.

• Q. Can Afanat 30 mg be taken during pregnancy?

No. This medication can affect the developing fetus and hence, it must not be consumed by pregnant women under any circumstances.