Vemurafenib is a medicine used to treat melanoma, which is the most serious type of skin cancer, when metastases are present and surgery can not be performed, which is effective in prolonging patients' lives and delaying the worsening of the disease.
This antineoplastic drug, which can be found under the name Zelborat, is produced by the Roche laboratory and can only be used for medical reasons.
What is Vemurafenibe
Zelborat is a medicine indicated for the treatment of melanoma that is the most serious type of skin cancer, and that can not be treated through surgery or has already reached other organs, presented metastases.
Zelboraf is only intended for patients whose melanoma tumor cells have a BRAF V600 mutation, which can only be confirmed by blood tests and is generally recommended for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma or non-cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
Price of Vemurafenibe
This medicine costs between 7 thousand and 9 thousand reais.
How to take Vemurafenib
The medicine for skin cancer should be taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after the meal, always following the indications of the oncologist.
Generally, it is recommend the intake of 960 mg per day, which corresponds to 4 tablets of 240 mg per day. The medicine has to be taken twice a day, one in the morning and the other in the evening, separated by 12 hours, and therefore, at each intake two tablets should be taken.
The tablet should be taken whole with a little water, and should not be broken in the middle or chewed.
What to do if you forget to take 1 dose?
If a dose is missed, it can be taken up to 4 hours before the next dose so as to maintain the dosing schedule and 2 doses should never be taken at the same time.
Side Effects of Vemurafenib
The main side effects of Zelborat can cause decreased appetite, changes in stool, tiredness, bone pain and cough.
Contraindications of Vemurafenib
This medicinal product is contraindicated for patients with known hypersensitivity to vemurafenib or any of the excipients contained in the coated tablet.
This medicinal product should be avoided during pregnancy, postpartum and during breastfeeding because there are no studies demonstrating its effects, but it may be used in pregnant women if the possible benefits to the mother outweigh the possible risk to the fetus .
Precautions to be taken while using Vemurafenib
It is essential to use a condom during treatment with this medicine and for the next 6 months because it increases the chances of getting pregnant. In addition, if you vomit or have diarrhea you should not take another dose of the medicine, maintaining the treatment as usual.
