lapatinib, a miscellaneous antineoplastic drug. ▪ INDICATIONS: This drug is used to treat advanced breast cancer in patients with tumors that overexpress HER2 protein and who have received previous chemotherapy. ▪ CONTRAINDICATIONS: Pregnancy, breastfeeding, torsades de pointes, or known hypersensitivity to this drug prohibits its use. ▪ ADVERSE EFFECTS: Adverse effects of this drug include fatigue, insomnia, palpitations, anorexia, diarrhea, dyspepsia, mouth ulcerations, nausea, vomiting, xerosis, rash, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, and dyspnea. Life-threatening side effects include heart failure, QT prolongation, anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia.
