Available only by prescription, pemetrexed (
Alimta®) is a chemotherapy drug used to treat certain
types of lung cancer, including
mesothelioma. It may also be used for non-squamous,
non-small-cell lung cancer. The medicine works by preventing
folic acid from converting into its active form. The body uses this active form to make DNA and RNA, molecules that are necessary for cell division.
This drug is slowly injected into a vein; this process takes about 10 minutes. Typically, you will receive one dose every 21 days. Although pemetrexed is most likely to affect cancer cells, healthy cells may also be affected -- this increases your risk of side effects. Common side effects reported with this medicine include nausea, fatigue, and loss of appetite.
(For more information on this drug, click Pemetrexed. This article offers a detailed overview of this product, including an explanation of safety precautions and the other medications that should be taken during treatment.)
