Lapatinib is used in the treatment of breast cancer.
How Lapatinib works Lapatinib is an anti-cancer medication that targets the HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor) and EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) receptors, which are responsible for the over-proliferation of cells. By inhibiting these receptors, Lapatinib disrupts the growth of cancerous cells and interferes with downstream signaling pathways.
Common side effects of Lapatinib include back pain, cough, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, insomnia (difficulty sleeping), nausea, rash, stomatitis (inflammation of the mouth), vomiting, weakness, breathlessness, decreased appetite, dry skin, hair loss, itching, nail disorder, nosebleeds, dyspepsia, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome, pain in extremities, paronychia, increased alanine aminotransferase, and increased aspartate aminotransferase.