Detailed instructions for your doctor or your nurse on how to prepare the Erbitux infusion are includedat the end of this package leaflet (see 'Handling instructions').

Duration of treatment

Erbitux is usually infused once a week. The duration of treatment may vary depending on your diseaseas well as from person to person and your doctor will therefore discuss with you how long you willreceive Erbitux.

Combination with other anticancer treatments

If you receive Erbitux in combination with other anticancer medicines, these medicines must beadministered at least 1 hour after the end of the Erbitux infusion.

If you receive Erbitux in combination with radiation therapy, treatment with Erbitux is usually startedone week before radiation therapy.

What are possible side effects?
Like all medicines, Erbitux can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

The main side effects of Erbitux are infusion-related side effects and side effects concerning the skin:

Infusion-related side effects

More than 10 out of 100 patients are likely to experience infusion-related side effects; in more than 1out of 100 patients these side effects are likely to be severe. Such reactions may be allergic in nature.They normally occur during the infusion, within 1 hour afterwards, or sometimes also after this period.

Mild or moderate infusion-related side effects include:

Severe infusion-related side effects include:

Side effects concerning the skin

More than 80 out of 100 patients are likely to experience side effects involving the skin. In about15 out of 100 patients these skin reactions are likely to be severe. Most of these side effects developwithin the first three weeks of treatment. They usually disappear over time after the end of Erbituxtherapy.

Main side effects concerning the skin include:

If you notice extensive skin alterations, please inform your doctor as soon as possible because theErbitux dose or the time between infusions may need to be changed. Your doctor will decide whethertreatment has to be stopped if skin reactions reappear after several dose reductions.

If you notice that already affected areas of your skin get worse, speak to a doctor immediately,especially if you also experience general signs of infection such as fever and tiredness. These signsmay indicate a skin infection, which may have serious consequences including life-threateningconditions.

Other side effects

Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 user in 10)

Common side effects (may affect 1 to 10 users in 100)

Uncommon side effects (may affect 1 to 10 users in 1,000)

Side effects of which the frequency is not known

Side effects in combination with other anticancer treatments

If you receive Erbitux in combination with other anticancer medicines, some of the side effects youmay experience can also be related to the combination or the other medicines. Therefore, please makesure that you also read the package leaflet for the other medicines.

If you receive Erbitux in combination with anticancer medicines including platinum, it is more likelythat your white blood cell count may be reduced. This may lead to infectious complications includinglife-threatening conditions, esp