Opdivo is an immunotherapeutic drug used to treat two different types of cancer, melanoma, which is an aggressive skin cancer, and lung cancer.
This medicine helps strengthen the immune system by improving the body's response to cancer cells, with fewer side effects than traditional treatment methods such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
The active principle of Opdivo is Nivolumabe and is produced by Bristol-Myers Squibb Laboratories. Generally, this medicine is not usually bought, since it is acquired and applied in the own hospitals, however can be acquired in pharmacies with the strict medical indication.
Price
In Brazil, the value of Opdivo costs, on average, 4, 000 reais for the 40mg / 4ml vial, or 10, 000 reais for the 100mg / 10ml vial, which may vary according to the pharmacy that sells it.
Who can use
Nivolumabe is indicated for the treatment of advanced stage lung cancer that has spread and has not been successfully treated with chemotherapy. In addition, it can also be used to treat melanoma in cases where the cancer has spread too much and can no longer be removed with surgery.
How to use
The mode of use of this medicinal product should be defined by the physician depending on each case, type of cancer, in addition to the body weight of each person, but usually Opdivo is administered directly to the hospital in the vein, diluted in physiological saline or glycosated, in sessions of 60 minutes per day.
In general, the recommended dose is 3 mg Nivolumabe per kilogram of its weight every 2 weeks, which may vary according to the medical indication.
Unwanted effects
The main side effects of Opdivo include persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, diarrhea, blood in the stool, stomach pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes, nausea, vomiting, excessive tiredness, itching and redness of the skin, fever, headaches, muscle aches and blurred vision.
Any new symptom noted should be reported to the physician and monitored, since an adverse reaction with Nivolumabe may occur at any time during or after treatment, and patients should be continuously monitored during their use, to avoid the development of possible complications such as pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis or nephritis, for example.
Who can not take
This medicinal product is contraindicated in cases of allergy to the medicinal product or to any excipients in the formulation.
However, it should be used with caution in pregnant women and patients with pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis, endocrine diseases, nephritis, renal problems or encephalitis.
