Lapatinib Dosing

For those who are being treated for breast cancer with lapatinib, dosing typically starts at 1250 mg a day. It is taken every day for a 21-day cycle, and capecitabine (a medication that is used in combination with lapatinib) is taken only on days 1 through 14 of that cycle. Your lapatinib dosage should be taken at least an hour before or after a meal.

 

Lapatinib Dosing: An Introduction

The dose of lapatinib (Tykerb®) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Other medications you may be taking
  • Other medical conditions you may have.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your lapatinib dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Lapatinib Dosing for Breast Cancer

The usual recommended dose of lapatinib for treating breast cancer is 1250 mg (five tablets), taken once daily, at least one hour before or one hour after a meal. Lapatinib is always used in combination with another cancer medication, capecitabine (Xeloda®). Lapatinib is taken every day for a 21-day cycle, and capecitabine is taken only on days 1 through 14 of that cycle. After 21 days, the cycle is started over, with no days in between. Essentially, lapatinib is taken every single day, but capecitabine is taken for two-week periods with one week in between.
 
Lower lapatinib dosages may be recommended in the following circumstances:
 
  • If lapatinib causes a decrease in heart function (your healthcare provider will check for this problem regularly)
  • If you have severe liver disease, such as cirrhosis or liver failure
  • If you are taking medications that increase the level of Lapatinib in your blood (see Drug Interactions With Lapatinib).
     
Lapatinib (along with capecitabine) is usually taken until the cancer becomes worse or until dangerous or bothersome side effects of lapatinib occur.
 
(Lapatinib Dosing Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;