2. What should I know before I use LUTATHERA?
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide,
amino acid solutions or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI, you are
pregnant or think you may be pregnant, if your kidneys are seriously impaired, or
if you have any problem with the breakdown of amino acids in your body. The radiation
coming from the medicine may potentially decrease your fertility.
Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns, including whether you have any other
medical conditions, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
or are breastfeeding.
For more information, see Section
2. What should I know before I use LUTATHERA? in the full CMI.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I use LUTATHERA?
LUTATHERA is given in a hospital or other licensed facility by specially trained staff.
LUTATHERA is given as a single infusion into your vein approximately every 8 weeks
for a total of 4 times.
5. What should I know while using LUTATHERA?
|
Things you should do
|
Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using LUTATHERA.
Drink plenty of water e.g. 1 glass of water every hour on the day of infusion and
the day after.
Limit close contact (less than 1 metre) with others in your household for 7 days after
receiving each dose of LUTATHERA, and with children and pregnant women to less than
15 minutes per day for 7 days after receiving each dose of LUTATHERA.
Sleep in a separate bedroom from others in your household for 7 days, from children
or pregnant women for 15 days after receiving each dose of LUTATHERA.
|
|
Things you should not do
|
Do not stop using effective birth control during LUTATHERA treatment and for 7 months
after completing the treatment for females and for 4 months after completing the treatment
for males.
|
|
Driving or using machines
|
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how LUTATHERA
affects you.
|
|
Looking after your medicine
|
You will not need to store, handle, or dispose of this medicine.
The specialist needs to store LUTATHERA below 25°C (do not freeze) and to store LUTATHERA
in the original package to protect from ionising radiation (lead shielding).
|
6. Are there any side effects?
Very common side effects include: feeling sick, vomiting, tiredness, tummy pain, diarrhoea.
More serious very common side effects include: bleeding or bruising more easily than
normal or difficulty to stop bleeding, infections with signs such as fever, sore throat
or mouth ulcers, tiredness, weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, passing less
urine or smaller amounts than usual.
For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section
6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.
This medicine is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification
of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side effects you may get.
You can report side effects to your doctor, or directly at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems .
Active ingredient(s): Lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide
Full Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using LUTATHERA. You should also speak to your doctor, pharmacist or healthcare professional if you
would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using
LUTATHERA.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I using LUTATHERA?
LUTATHERA contains the active ingredient lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide. LUTATHERA is a radiopharmaceutical product for therapy only.
LUTATHERA is used for the treatment of adults with certain tumors called gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine
tumors. The tumour needs to have somatostatin proteins (receptors) on the surface of its cells
in order for the medicine to work. LUTATHERA binds with these receptors and sends
out radioactivity directly into the tumour cells, causing them to die.
The use of LUTATHERA involves exposure to amounts of radioactivity. Your doctor and
the nuclear medicine doctor have considered that the clinical benefit that you will
obtain from the procedure with the radiopharmaceutical outweighs the risk due to radiation.
2. What should I know before I use LUTATHERA?
Warnings
Do not use LUTATHERA if:
You are allergic to lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide, or any of the ingredients listed
at the end of this leaflet. Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use
this medicine.
You are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, or it has not been confirmed you are
not pregnant. You need to make sure you are not pregnant by doing a pregnancy test
before starting LUTATHERA.
Your kidneys are seriously impaired.
You are allergic to amino acid solutions or if you have any problem with the breakdown
of amino acids in your body.
Check with your doctor if you:
have or have had kidney problems
have or have had liver problems
have or have had any other type of cancer or previous anti-cancer treatment (chemotherapy)
or radiation therapy
have low levels of certain types of cells in the blood (red blood cells, white blood
cells, neutrophils, and platelets)
have high levels of potassium in your blood (symptoms can include breathlessness,
weakness, numbness, chest pain, tremors or abnormal heart rhythm)
have or have had heart failure
take any medicines for any other condition.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
You must tell your doctor and/or the nuclear medicine doctor before taking LUTATHERA
if there is a possibility you might be pregnant or if you have missed your period
or if you are breast-feeding.
Do not take LUTATHERA if you are pregnant as ionising radiation is dangerous for the
unborn baby. Stop breast-feeding during treatment with this medicine. If treatment
with LUTATHERA during breastfeeding is necessary, the child must be weaned.
Contraception
For female patients, use effective birth control during LUTATHERA treatment and for
7 months after completing the treatment.
For male patients, use effective birth control during treatment and for 4 months after
completing the treatment.
Ask your doctor, pharmacist or healthcare professional for options of effective birth
control.
If you are a woman who could become pregnant, your doctor or other healthcare professional
will check if you are pregnant and perform a pregnancy test, if necessary, before
starting treatment with LUTATHERA.
If you become pregnant or think you are pregnant after starting treatment with LUTATHERA,
tell your doctor and/or nuclear medicine doctor right away.
Fertility
The radiation coming from the medicine may potentially decrease your fertility. A
consultation with a genetic counsellor is recommended if you wish to have children
after treatment. Preservation of sperm or eggs may be offered to you before the treatment.
Children and Adolescents
LUTATHERA has not been studied in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.
You must limit extended close contact (less than one metre) with children to less
than 15 minutes per day for 7 days after receiving each dose of LUTATHERA to minimise
radiation risk.
Treatment monitoring
Your specialist or healthcare professional will do blood tests before and during treatment
to check your condition and to notice any side effects as early as possible. Based
on the results, your specialist may decide to delay, modify, or stop your treatment
with LUTATHERA if necessary.
If necessary, the electrical activity of your heart will also be checked before you
are discharged from the hospital (with a test called an electrocardiogram or ECG).
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor, pharmacist or healthcare professional if you are taking any other
medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a
prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with LUTATHERA and affect how it works. These include:
somatostatin analog medicines that belong to a group of medicines called "anti-growth
hormones" (somatostatin analogs) e.g. Sandostatin
glucocorticoids (also called corticosteroids).
Check with your doctor, pharmacist or healthcare professional if you are not sure
about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect LUTATHERA.
4. How do I use LUTATHERA?
How much will I receive
The standard dose is 7400 MBq (megabecquerel, the unit used to express radioactivity)
given directly into a vein.
When will I receive LUTATHERA
LUTATHERA is given as a single infusion once approximately every 8 weeks for a total
of 4 times.
Duration of treatment
Your nuclear medicine doctor or other healthcare professional will tell you about
the usual time required for the treatment.
The infusion of LUTATHERA takes 30 ±10 minutes, but the complete time required will
be approximately 5 hours. Your doctor will regularly monitor how you are going during
this time.
During treatment with Lutathera
During the procedure, you should isolate from other patients who are not receiving
the same treatment due to the radiation released by this medicine.
You will also be given an infusion with amino acids to protect your kidneys. This
might make you feel sick and vomit and you will also receive an injection with a medicine
before treatment to help decrease the sick feeling and vomiting.
The doctor or other healthcare professional will inform you when you can leave the
controlled area of the hospital.
If you miss an appointment to receive LUTATHERA
Contact your specialist or healthcare professional as soon as possible. You should
receive LUTATHERA once every 8 weeks for a total of 4 times.
If you receive too much LUTATHERA
LUTATHERA is given in a hospital or other licensed facility. It is unlikely that you
will receive too much. Your specialist will check and treat you if you receive too
much.
You should immediately:
phone the Poisons Information Centre
(by calling
13 11 26), or
contact your doctor, or
go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
5. What should I know while using LUTATHERA?
Things you should do
drink plenty of water e.g. 1 glass of water every hour so that you urinate as often
as possible on the day of infusion and the day after, and try to empty your bowels
every day, in order to remove the medicine from your body.
limit close contact (less than 1 metre) with others in your household for 7 days after
receiving each dose of LUTATHERA
limit close contact (less than 1 metre) with children and pregnant women to less than
15 minutes per day for 7 days after receiving each dose of LUTATHERA
sleep in a separate bedroom from others in your household for 7 days, from children
or pregnant women for 15 days after receiving each dose of LUTATHERA.
Use of toilets
Take special care to avoid contamination for 7 days
after receiving treatment:
You must always sit when using the toilet.
It is important that you use toilet paper every time you use the toilet.
Always wash your hands well after using the toilet.
Flush all wipes and/or toilet paper down the toilet immediately after use.
Flush any tissues or any other items that contain bodily waste, such as blood, urine,
and faeces (poo) down the toilet. Items that cannot be flushed down the toilet, such
as sanitary pads and bandages, must be placed in separate plastic waste disposal bags
(according to "Household waste disposal" below).
Showering and laundry
Take a shower every day for at least 7 days after treatment.
Wash your underwear, pyjamas, sheets and any clothes that contain sweat, blood or
urine separately from the laundry of other members of your household, using a standard
washing cycle for 7 days after treatment. You do not need to use bleach and you do
not need extra rinses.
For care givers
For 7 days after treatment:
People who are confined to bed or have reduced mobility will preferably receive assistance
from a care giver. The care giver must wear disposable gloves.
Any special medical equipment that could be contaminated by your bodily fluids (e.g.
catheters, colostomy bags, bedpans, water nozzles) must be emptied immediately into
the toilet and then cleaned.
Care givers who clean up vomit, blood, urine, or faeces (poo) should wear plastic
gloves, which should be disposed of in a separate plastic waste disposal bag.
Household waste disposal
Throw away all items in a separate plastic waste disposal bag that is to be used only
for this purpose.
Keep the plastic waste disposal bags separate from the other household waste and away
from children and animals.
A member of the hospital staff will tell you how and when to get rid of these waste
disposal bags.
Hospitalisation and emergency care
If for any reason you require emergency medical assistance or are unexpectedly admitted
to the hospital during the 3 months after your treatment, please inform the healthcare
professionals about the name, date, and dose of your radioactive treatment.
Carry your discharge letter with you at all times to make it easier for 3 months after
your treatment.
Your specialist will inform you if you need to take any other special precautions
after receiving this medicine. Contact your nuclear medicine doctor (your specialist)
if you have any questions or are planning any travel.
Call your doctor straight away if you experience any of the following after the start
of LUTATHERA treatment:
flushing, diarrhoea, difficulty breathing with wheezing or coughing, dizziness, light-headedness
(signs and symptoms of neuroendocrine hormone crisis), which may appear within the
first 24 hours after LUTATHERA treatment.
facial/throat swelling and/or difficulty breathing (signs and symptoms of angioedema).
tiredness, loss of appetite, changes in your heartbeat, trouble thinking clearly (signs
and symptoms of metabolic acidosis).
Remind any doctor, dentist, pharmacist or healthcare professional you visit that you
are using LUTATHERA.
Things you should not do
Do not stop using effective birth control during LUTATHERA treatment and for 7 months
after completing the treatment for females and for 4 months after completing the treatment
for males.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how LUTATHERA
affects you.
LUTATHERA may cause dizziness and tiredness in some people.
Drinking alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.
Looking after your medicine
You will not have to store this medicine. This medicine is stored under the responsibility
of the specialist where you were treated. Storage of radiopharmaceuticals will be
in accordance with Australian regulations on radioactive materials.
The storage instructions are for the specialist. They are: Store below 25°C. Do not
freeze LUTATHERA. Store in the original package to protect from ionising radiation
(lead shielding).
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
LUTATHERA is only given in special facilities by appropriately qualified staff. They
will be required to dispose of the medicine following treatment in accordance with
Australian laws.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor, pharmacist or healthcare
professional if you have any further questions about side effects.
Less serious side effects
Serious side effects
Tell your doctor, pharmacist or healthcare professional if you notice anything else
that may be making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at
www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
What LUTATHERA contains
|
Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
|
lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide
|
|
Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
|
Acetic acid
Sodium acetate
Gentisic acid
Ascorbic acid
Pentetic acid
Sodium chloride
Sodium hydroxide
Water for injections
|
Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What LUTATHERA looks like
LUTATHERA is supplied in a clear, colourless type I glass vial, closed with a bromobutyl
rubber stopper and aluminium cap.
Each vial contains a volume that ranges from 20.5 to 25.0 mL of solution, corresponding
to a radioactivity of 7400 MBq ± 10% at the date and time of infusion.
The vial is enclosed within a lead shielded container and placed in a plastic sealed
container.
(Aust R 455452).
Who distributes LUTATHERA
LUTATHERA is supplied in Australia by:
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Limited
ABN 18 004 244 160
54 Waterloo Road
Macquarie Park NSW 2113
Telephone 1 800 671 203
This leaflet was prepared in November 2025.
Registered trademark of Novartis.
© Copyright Novartis 2025
Internal document code: (lut141125c) based on PI (lut141125i)