• Pembrolizumab should be given as an injection directly into the vein or intravenously in a very slow manner over a period of at least 30 minutes.
• Pembrolizumab comes as a powder which can be initially mixed with sterile water for injection and further diluted either with sodium chloride 0.9% or dextrose 5%.
• The reconstituted or diluted solutions of pembrolizumab should be used within 6 hours if stored at room temperature between 20°C to 25°C, and within 24 hours if kept in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C); any unused solutions after that should be discarded.
• The refrigerated solution of pembrolizumab should be allowed to come to room temperature before administering to the patient.
• Never give other medicines through the same intravenous (IV) line to avoid any drug-induced side effects.
• It is also given for up to 24 months in patients whose disease condition is under control i.e., without any progression or not moving to an advanced level.
• The prescribed dose for children is 2mg/kg body weight, and the maximum dose should however not exceed 200 mg.
• The dose of pembrolizumab can be adjusted or reduced if any side effects occur and the dose can be resumed to normal when the side effects are greatly reduced.
• Pembrolizumab can be permanently discontinued if any life-threatening side effects occur during the treatment.
• Allergy to pembrolizumab
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Stemcell or organ transplant due to rejection
• Steroid or immune suppressive treatment
Caution is required in treating patients with-
• Liver dysfunction
• Airway disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)
• Kidney disorder
• Pembrolizumab comes as a powder which can be initially mixed with sterile water for injection and further diluted either with sodium chloride 0.9% or dextrose 5%.
• The reconstituted or diluted solutions of pembrolizumab should be used within 6 hours if stored at room temperature between 20°C to 25°C, and within 24 hours if kept in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C); any unused solutions after that should be discarded.
• The refrigerated solution of pembrolizumab should be allowed to come to room temperature before administering to the patient.
• Never give other medicines through the same intravenous (IV) line to avoid any drug-induced side effects.
Dosage & When it is to be taken
• The recommended adult dose of pembrolizumab is 200 mg given every three weeks until the progression of the disease or until patients experience any unacceptable toxicity.• It is also given for up to 24 months in patients whose disease condition is under control i.e., without any progression or not moving to an advanced level.
• The prescribed dose for children is 2mg/kg body weight, and the maximum dose should however not exceed 200 mg.
• The dose of pembrolizumab can be adjusted or reduced if any side effects occur and the dose can be resumed to normal when the side effects are greatly reduced.
• Pembrolizumab can be permanently discontinued if any life-threatening side effects occur during the treatment.
When it is not to be taken (Contraindications)
Pembrolizumab should not be used in patients with-• Allergy to pembrolizumab
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Stemcell or organ transplant due to rejection
• Steroid or immune suppressive treatment
Caution is required in treating patients with-
• Liver dysfunction
• Airway disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)
• Kidney disorder
