Find out what pemetrexed is, how you have it and other important information about having pemetrexed.

Pemetrexed is a chemotherapy drug used to treat non small cell lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma. It is also known by its brand name Alimta. 

It is a treatment for:

• mesothelioma
• non small cell lung cancer

How pemetrexed works

Pemetrexed is a type of drug known as an anti metabolite. It stops cells making and repairing DNA so they can't grow and multiply.

How you have pemetrexed

You have pemetrexed into your bloodstream.

You have the treatment through a drip into your arm. A nurse puts a small tube (a cannula) into one of your veins and connects the drip to it.

You might need a central line. This is a long plastic tube that gives the drugs into a large vein, either in your chest or through a vein in your arm. It stays in while you’re having treatment, which may be for a few months.

When you have it

You usually have it every 3 weeks. Each pemetrexed treatment takes about 10 minutes.

Pemetrexed blocks the action of folic acid in the body. To help reduce the side effects this causes, you need to:

• take folic acid tablets – starting 5 days before you begin treatment, and continuing throughout treatment and for 3 weeks after treatment has ended
• have vitamin B12 injections – one injection in the week before you start treatment and then one before every 3rd treatment cycle

Tests during treatment

You have blood tests before starting treatment and during your treatment. They check your levels of blood cells and other substances in the blood. They also check how well your liver and kidneys are working.

Side effects

Important information

Other medicines, foods and drink

Cancer drugs can interact with some other medicines and herbal products. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any medicines you are taking. This includes vitamins, herbal supplements and over the counter remedies.

Pregnancy and contraception

This treatment might harm a baby developing in the womb. It is important not to become pregnant or father a child while you are having treatment and for a few months afterwards. Talk to your doctor or nurse about effective contraception before starting treatment.

 Men need to continue using contraception for 6 months after the end of treatment.

Fertility

You may not be able to become pregnant or father a child after treatment with this drug. Talk to your doctor before starting treatment if you think you may want to have a baby in the future. Men may be able to store sperm before starting treatment. Women may be able to store eggs or ovarian tissue but this is rare.

Breastfeeding

Don’t breastfeed during this treatment because the drug may come through in your breast milk.

Treatment for other conditions

Always tell other doctors, nurses, pharmacists or dentists that you’re having this treatment if you need treatment for anything else, including teeth problems.

Immunisations

Don’t have immunisations with live vaccines while you’re having treatment and for at least 6 months afterwards.

In the UK, live vaccines include rubella, mumps, measles, BCG, yellow fever and shingles vaccine (Zostavax).

You can:

• have other vaccines, but they might not give you as much protection as usual
• have the flu vaccine
• be in contact with other people who've had live vaccines as injections

Avoid contact with people who’ve had live vaccines taken by mouth (oral vaccines). This includes the rotavirus vaccine given to babies. The virus is in the baby’s urine for up to 2 weeks and can make you ill. So, avoid changing their nappies for 2 weeks after their vaccination if possible. Or wear disposable gloves and wash your hands well afterwards.

You also need to avoid anyone who has had oral polio or typhoid vaccination recently.

More information about this treatment

For further information about this treatment go to the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC) website.

You can report any side effect you have to the Medicines Health and Regulatory Authority (MHRA) as part of their Yellow Card Scheme.