Anti-cancer drugs are more likely to be orally administered rather than through IVs as was the case decades ago, notes the University of Chicago Medical Center. Cancer patients must be very careful how they take these pills, and many of the drugs contain numerous warning about not taking the medicine with food. No-food alerts warn individuals that heartbeat irregularities and a sudden death could occur if the patient does not fast for a few hours before taking the drug.
Yet new research from a doctor and expert in cancer-drug dosing from the University of Chicago shows that patients could be “…better off taking much lower doses along with a meal,” said Dr. Mark Ratain. “This could reduce the risks of an overdose, save money and give patients more control over their daily lives.”
Because of the long-ingrained standard of taking anti-cancer medications without food, Ratain is concerned that patients could be susceptible to ingesting unintended high doses. In his example in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Ratain notes that some patients will fast for two hours before taking the 1,000 milligram dose but then get hungry within an hour. Depending on how many calories are eaten, a patient could be at risk for 10 times the normal dose. The heightened chances for an overdose and untimely death could have been prevented with novel thinking about how anti-cancer drugs should be taken, Ratain proposes.
Ratain suggests that patients should take a lower dose with food. This would not only be safer and more cost efficient, but would help the medicine be more effective. Every patient is advised to speak to their doctor before they take any action on this matter. An individual’s doctor can best examine the patient’s medical history, how he or she will metabolize the medicine with food, and any other concerns that are important to consider.
More research should be done to make the anti-cancer drugs fit into a patient’s lifestyle. Ratain says that taking a one-fourth of a dose with a sensible, low-fat meal “…could get the same anti-cancer benefit, [allow patients to] eat when they are hungry and save an estimated $3,750 per month. This way, the patient gets a simplified schedule, the convenience of eating whenever he wants, and shares the savings with his the insurance company.”
A family that is dealing with the death of their loved one due to a drug overdose can take legal action to correct the error that could have been prevented.
Robert Briskman is a Chicago wrongful death attorney and Chicago wrongful death lawyer with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.
