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Lung Cancer Treatments With Alimta

Alimta is a chemotherapy drug used to treat two types of lung cancer: malignant pleural mesothelioma, or MPM, and metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC. It is FDA-approved to be used along with cisplatin, another chemotherapy drug, to fight MPM in patients who cannot have surgery and NSCLC patients as an initial treatment. Lung cancer patients with advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer might be treated with Alimta after already undergoing at least one round of chemotherapy.

  1. How It Works

    • Alimta decreases the growth of cancerous tumor cells. It works by blocking the enzymes that are thought to facilitate growth of lung tumors.

    How to Use Alimta

    • Alimta is given via injection into a vein. Patients typically receive an injection every 3 weeks, and each injection takes about 10 minutes. Individual dosages will depend on the patient's size and overall health, and the type of cancer being treated.

    Side Effects

    • As with most chemotherapy drugs, most Alimta patients experience some bothersome side effects. Nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, headaches, constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, drowsiness, dizziness and body aches are all known side effects of Alimta. Some patients will experience hair loss while receiving Alimta, but hair growth should continue normally after treatment has ended. Taking folic acid and receiving vitamin B12 shots help reduce the chances of experiencing side effects from Alimta.

    Warnings

    • Alimta is not safe for people with severe kidney disease and may not be safe for people with liver disease and certain blood and bone marrow disorders, including anemia and leukopenia. Be sure to discuss your full medical history with your doctor before starting chemotherapy with Alimta.

    Drug Interactions

    • Some medications can increase the chances that patients will experience the side effects of Alimta, including probenecid and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen. Be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all medications and herbal supplements you are taking to avoid an interaction.

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