Oral anti-cancer pills raise risks for adverse side effects, interactions

Oral anti-cancer pills raise risks for adverse side effects, interactions

Pressure on dental offices to identify dangerous drug interactions ratcheted up this week when an article in the April 14 New York Times spotlighted the rising popularity of oral anti-cancer medications used in certain cancer treatment regimens.

The article pointed raising eyebrows in medical offices where reimbursements are eroded for intravenous drugs administered in-clinic by simple prescriptions for oral medications covered by many drug plans. The new pills can bring welcome relief to patients who might otherwise face the discomforts of conventional chemotherapy but for the physician who writes a prescription for a bottle of pills with no profit a financial challenge is created.

A wave of oral anti-cancer medications began to emerge in dental offices throughout 2006 when Medicare revised its drug coverage plans and cleared 11 new oral anti-cancer treatments for use. Brand name drugs such as Gleevec, Targretin, Aromasin and others were introduced to treat a range of cancers including leukemia, lymphoma, breast cancer and others.

The pills can heighten the complexity of patient care if patients fail to take them due to forgetfulness or the expense of the prescription. Patients who take too many pills risk toxic reactions. The side effects of oral anti-cancer drugs can be missed without direct supervision by a physician. The most commonly adverse side effects are reported as nausea and vomiting, fatigue and hot flashes. Loss of libido and other sexual side effect are also reported for some drugs.