Package Leaflet: Information for the User
Pemetrexed Glenmark100 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion EFG
Pemetrexed Glenmark500 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion EFG
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.
Contents of the pack
Pemetrexed is a medicine used to treat cancer.
This medicine may be given to you in combination with cisplatin, another anticancer medicine, as a treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma, a type of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, in patients who have not received chemotherapy before.
Pemetrexed may also be given to you in combination with cisplatin as an initial treatment for patients with advanced stages of lung cancer.
Pemetrexed may be prescribed for you if you have advanced lung cancer if your disease has responded to treatment or if it remains unchanged after initial chemotherapy.
Pemetrexed may also be given to you for the treatment of patients with advanced stages of lung cancer whose disease has progressed, who have already received other initial chemotherapy treatment.
Do not use Pemetrexed Glenmark
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or hospital pharmacist before you start using this medicine.
If you have or have had kidney problems, talk to your doctor or hospital pharmacist as you may not be able to receive pemetrexed.
Before each infusion, you will need to give blood samples to check if your kidney and liver function is sufficient and to check if you have enough blood cells to receive pemetrexed. Your doctor may decide to change your dose or delay treatment depending on your general condition and if your blood cell count is too low. If you are also receiving cisplatin, your doctor will make sure you are properly hydrated and receive appropriate treatment before and after receiving cisplatin to prevent vomiting.
If you have received or are going to receive radiotherapy, please talk to your doctor, as a reaction to radiation may occur with pemetrexed.
If you have been vaccinated recently, please talk to your doctor, as this may cause a negative effect with pemetrexed.
If you have a heart condition or a history of heart disease, please talk to your doctor.
If you have fluid accumulation around the lung, your doctor may decide to drain the fluid before administering pemetrexed to you.
Children and adolescents
This medicine must not be used in children or adolescents, as there is no experience with this medicine in children and adolescents under 18 years.
Other medicines and Pemetrexed Glenmark
Talk to your doctor if you are taking any medicine for pain or inflammation (swelling), such as medicines called "non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines" (NSAIDs), including those bought without a prescription (such as ibuprofen). There are many classes of NSAIDs with different durations of action. Depending on the scheduled date for your pemetrexed infusion and/or the status of your kidney function, your doctor should advise you on which medicines you can use and when you can take them. If you are unsure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist in case any medicine you are taking is an NSAID.
Tell your doctor if you are taking medicines called proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, and rabeprazole) used to treat stomach acid and acid reflux.
Tell your doctor or hospital pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicine, including those bought without a prescription.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before using this medicine.
The use of pemetrexed should be avoided during pregnancy. Your doctor will inform you of the possible risks of using pemetrexed during pregnancy. Women must use effective contraceptive methods during treatment and for up to 6 months after the last dose of pemetrexed.
Breastfeeding
If you are breastfeeding, tell your doctor.
Breastfeeding must be stopped during treatment with pemetrexed.
Fertility
Male patients are advised not to father a child during and up to 3 months after treatment with pemetrexed and, therefore, must use effective contraceptive methods during and up to 3 months after treatment with pemetrexed. If you wish to have a child during treatment or in the 3 months following treatment, seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Due to the possibility that treatment with pemetrexed may cause infertility, male patients are advised to seek advice on the possibility of going to a sperm bank before starting treatment.
Driving and using machines
Pemetrexed may make you feel tired. Be careful when driving a car or using machines.
Pemetrexed Glenmark contains sodium
Pemetrexed Glenmark 100 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion:
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per vial; this is essentially "sodium-free".
Pemetrexed Glenmark 500 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion:
This medicine contains 54 mg of sodium (a major component of cooking/table salt) in each vial. This is equivalent to 2.7% of the maximum recommended daily intake of sodium for an adult.
The recommended dose of pemetrexed is 500 milligrams per square meter of your body surface area. Your height and weight will be measured to calculate your body surface area. Your doctor will use this body surface area to calculate the correct dose for you. This dose may be adjusted, or treatment may be delayed depending on your blood cell count and your general condition. The hospital pharmacist, nurse, or doctor will have mixed the pemetrexed powder with a solution of sodium chloride for injection 9 mg/ml (0.9%) before it is given to you.
You will always receive pemetrexed by infusion into one of your veins. The infusion will take about 10 minutes.
When using pemetrexed in combination with cisplatin:
Your doctor or hospital pharmacist will calculate the dose based on your height and weight. Cisplatin is also given by infusion into one of your veins and is given about 30 minutes after the pemetrexed infusion has finished. The cisplatin infusion will take about 2 hours.
You should usually receive your infusion once every 3 weeks.
Additional medication:
Corticosteroids: your doctor will prescribe steroid tablets (equivalent to 4 milligrams of dexamethasone twice a day) that you must take the day before, the day of, and the day after treatment with pemetrexed. This medicine is given to you to reduce the frequency and severity of skin reactions that you may experience during your anticancer treatment.
Vitamin supplement: your doctor will prescribe oral folic acid (vitamin) or a multivitamin that contains folic acid (350 to 1,000 micrograms) that you must take once a day while you are using pemetrexed. You must take at least 5 doses during the 7 days before the first dose of pemetrexed. You must continue taking folic acid during 21 days after the last dose of pemetrexed. In addition, you will receive a vitamin B12 injection (1,000 micrograms) in the week before pemetrexed administration and then approximately every 9 weeks (corresponding to 3 cycles of treatment with pemetrexed). Vitamin B12 and folic acid are given to you to reduce the possible toxic effects of anticancer treatment.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
You must tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
Side effects with pemetrexed may include:
Very common(may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
Common(may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Uncommon(may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Rare(may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
Very rare(may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
Frequency not known(frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
You may experience some of these symptoms and/or situations. You should tell your doctor as soon as you start experiencing any of these side effects.
If you are concerned about any side effect, talk to your doctor.
Reporting of side effects
If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly through the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Use Medicines: www.notificaram.es. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label and carton after EXP. The expiry date is the last day of the month shown.
This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.
Reconstituted and infusion solution: this medicine should be used immediately. When prepared as indicated, the chemical and physical in-use stability of the reconstituted and infusion solution is 48 hours in refrigeration.
This medicine is for single use; the unused solution should be discarded in accordance with local regulations.
Composition of Pemetrexed Glenmark
The active ingredient is pemetrexed.
After reconstitution, the solution contains 25 mg/ml of pemetrexed. Before administration, it is required that the healthcare professional perform another dilution.
The other components are mannitol (E 421), hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment), and sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment).
Appearance of the Product and Container Content
Pemetrexed Glenmark is a powder for concentrate for solution for infusion in a vial. It is a white to pale yellow or yellowish-green lyophilized cake or powder.
It is available in packs of 1 vial.
Only some pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing authorization holder:
Glenmark Arzneimittel GmbH
Industriestr. 31
82194 Gröbenzell
Germany
Manufacturer:
Apis labor GmbH
Resslstraße 9
Ebenthal, 9065
Austria
You can request more information about this medication by contacting the local representative of the marketing authorization holder:
Glenmark Farmacéutica, S.L.U.
C/ Retama 7, 7th floor
28045 Madrid
Spain
This medication is authorized in the Member States of the European Economic Area under the following names:
Germany: Pemetrexed Glenmark 100 mg Pulver für ein Konzentrat zur Herstellung einer Infusionslösung
Pemetrexed Glenmark 500 mg Pulver für ein Konzentrat zur Herstellung einer Infusionslösung
Spain: Pemetrexed Glenmark 100 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion EFG
Pemetrexed Glenmark 500 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion EFG
Sweden: Pemetrexed Glenmark 100 mg powder for concentrate for infusion solution
Pemetrexed Glenmark 500 mg powder for concentrate for infusion solution
Norway: Pemetrexed Glenmark 100 mg powder for concentrate for infusion solution
Pemetrexed Glenmark 500 mg powder for concentrate for infusion solution
Denmark: Pemetrexed Glenmark
Finland: Pemetrexed Glenmark 100 mg dry substance for intermediate concentrate for infusion solution
Pemetrexed Glenmark 500 mg dry substance for intermediate concentrate for infusion solution
Poland: Pemetrexed Glenmark
Italy: Pemetrexed Glenmark 100 mg powder for concentrate for infusion solution
Pemetrexed Glenmark 500 mg powder for concentrate for infusion solution
Date of the last revision of this prospectus:April 2025.
Detailed information about this medication is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) (http://www.aemps.gob.es/).