Opdivo is an immunotherapeutic remedy used to treat two different types of cancer diseases, melanoma, which is aggressive skin cancer, and lung cancer.
This medicine helps strengthen the immune system, improving the body’s response to cancer cells, with fewer side effects than traditional treatment methods such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
- The active ingredient in Opdivo is Nivolumab and is manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb Laboratories.
- Generally.
- This medicine is not usually purchased because it is purchased and applied in the hospitals themselves.
- But can be purchased from pharmacies with the strictest medical indication.
In Brazil, the value of Opdivo costs on average 4,000 reais per bottle of 40 mg / 4 ml, or 10,000 reais per bottle of 100 mg / 10 ml, which may vary depending on the pharmacy sold.
Nivolumab is indicated for the treatment of advanced lung cancer that has spread and has not been successfully treated with chemotherapy. In addition, it can also be used to treat melanoma in cases where the cancer has spread widely and can no longer be eliminated by surgery.
The mode of use of this drug should be defined by the doctor according to each case, type of cancer, in addition to the body weight of each person, but Opdivo is usually administered to the hospital directly in a vein, diluted in a saline solution. glucose, in sessions of 60 minutes a day.
In general, the recommended dose is 3 mg nivolumab per kilogram of weight, every 2 weeks, which may vary depending on medical indication.
The main side effects of Opdivo include persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, diarrhea, blood stools, stomach pain, yellowing skin or eyes, nausea, vomiting, excessive fatigue, itching and redness of the skin, fever, headache. pain and blurred vision.
The doctor should be informed and monitor any new symptoms observed, as an adverse reaction with Nivolumab may occur at any time during or after treatment, and patients should be continuously monitored during use to avoid the development of possible complications, such as pneumonia, colitis. , hepatitis or nephritis, for example.
This medicine is indicated in case of allergy to the drug or any of the excipients of the formulation.
ANVISA does not describe any other contraindications for this medicine, however, it should be used with caution in pregnant women and patients with pneumonia, colitis, hepatitis, endocrine diseases, nephritis, kidney problems or encephalitis.