Tagrisso vs. Tarceva

Tagrisso (osimertinib) and Tarceva (erlotinib) are kinase inhibitors used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Tarceva is also used to treat pancreatic cancer.

Side effects of Tagrisso and Tarceva that are similar include diarrhea, dry skin, nausea, decreased appetite, eye disorders/dry eyes/eye irritation, and fatigue/tiredness.

Side effects of Tagrisso that are different from Tarceva include rash, nail toxicity, constipation, inflammation of the mouth and lips, itching, cough, back pain, headache, pneumonia, and blood clots.

Side effects of Tarceva that are different from Tagrisso include stomach upset, vomiting, weight loss, mouth sores, acne, and unusual eyelash growth.

Both Tagrisso and Tarceva may interact with macrolide antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, nefazodone, phenytoin, rifamycins, St. John's wort, and carbamazepine.

Tagrisso may also interact with fentanyl, cyclosporine, quinidine, and ergot alkaloids.

Tarceva may also interact with phenobarbital.

Side effects of Tagrisso include

• diarrhea,
• rash,
• dry skin,
• nail toxicity,
• nausea,
• decreased appetite,
• constipation,
• inflammation of the mouth and lips,
• itching,
• eye disorders,
• cough,
• fatigue,
• back pain,
• headache,
• pneumonia, and
• blood clots.

Common side effects of Tarceva include:

• nausea,
• stomach upset,
• vomiting,
• loss of appetite,
• weight loss,
• diarrhea,
• mouth sores,
• dry skin,
• acne,
• dry eyes,
• eye irritation,
• unusual eyelash growth, or
• tired feeling.

Tell your doctor if you have rare but very serious side effects of Tarceva including:

• black stools,
• vomit that looks like coffee grounds,
• easy bleeding or bruising,
• stomach or abdominal pain,
• yellowing eyes or skin,
• dark urine,
• unusual fatigue,
• signs of infection (e.g., fever, chills, persistent sore throat),
• eye pain, or
• vision changes.

Tagrisso (osimertinib) is a kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as detected by an FDA-approved test, who have progressed on or after EGFR TKI therapy.

Tarceva (erlotinib) is a cancer chemotherapy medication used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or pancreatic cancer.

Tagrisso may interact with macrolide antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, nefazodone, phenytoin, rifampicin, St. John's Wort, fentanyl, cyclosporine, quinidine, ergot alkaloids, and carbamazepine. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tagrisso is not recommended for use during pregnancy; it may harm a fetus. Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with Tagrisso.

Tarceva may interact with HIV/AIDS medications, rifamycins, clarithromycin, nefazodone, telithromycin, troleandomycin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, antifungal medications, or St. John's Wort.

The dose of Tagrisso is 80 mg orally once daily, with or without food.

The recommended daily dose of Tarceva for NSCLC is 150 mg taken on an empty stomach at least one hour before or two hours after the ingestion of food. The recommended daily dose of Tarceva for pancreatic cancer is 100 mg taken on an empty stomach at least one hour before or two hours after the ingestion of food, in combination with gemcitabine. For both conditions, treatment should continue until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs.