Pempro 500 Mg Injection

Description

About Pempro 500 mg Injection

Pempro 500 mg Injection contains 500 mg of pemetrexed per vial, supplied as a single vial. Pemetrexed is a cytotoxic chemotherapy medicine – an antifolate. Treatment is prescribed and supervised by a cancer specialist. It is given as an infusion by a doctor or nurse in a treatment centre, never self-administered.

How it works

Cells need folate to build the components of DNA. Pemetrexed blocks several of the enzymes in that pathway at once, so a dividing cell runs out of the material it needs to copy its DNA and dies.

What it is used for

Pemetrexed is used in non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer and in malignant pleural mesothelioma, alone or with a platinum medicine.

Important: what this medicine is not

Pemetrexed is not an antibiotic, and has no role in bone or joint disease.

Safety and monitoring

Folic acid tablets and vitamin B12 injections are started before treatment and continued throughout – they substantially reduce the risk of serious blood and gut toxicity, and are not optional. Blood counts are checked before each dose; report fever, mouth ulcers, severe diarrhoea or unusual bruising. Kidney function matters to how the medicine is cleared and is monitored. Rash is common and a steroid is often given to reduce it.

Prescription and storage

A prescription from your healthcare provider is required to purchase pemetrexed. Storage and handling follow the pack instructions and are managed by the treating centre.