Alimta is made by Eli Lilly and Company.
Alimta belongs to a group of medications known as folate antimetabolites, folate antagonists, or antifolates. It works by preventing the conversion of
folic acid into its active form. Cells need that active form of folic acid to make DNA and RNA -- important molecules essential for cell division.
Alimta is somewhat selective for cancer cells, meaning that it is more likely to affect cancer cells instead of healthy cells. However, as with most forms of chemotherapy, some healthy cells will be affected, and this process is likely responsible for many of the
side effects of chemotherapy.
When and How to Take This Medicine
Some general considerations to keep in mind when taking Alimta include the following:
- Alimta comes as an injection. It is injected slowly (infused) into a vein. Each infusion takes about 10 minutes. In most cases, you will receive one infusion every 21 days.
- You must take folic acid (as recommended by your healthcare provider) for at least 5 out of the 7 days before your Alimta infusion and continue until at least 21 days after your last dose.
- You must also receive vitamin B12 injections while taking this medication. You should get your first B12 injection during the week before your first Alimta infusion and then once after every three doses of Alimta (usually about once every nine weeks for most people).
- Your healthcare provider may choose to give you a corticosteroid medication (such as dexamethasone) to help prevent skin rashes due to Alimta. In most cases, the steroid is taken the day before, the day of, and the day after the infusion.
The dose of Alimta your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a few factors, including:
- Your body surface area, which is calculated using your height and weight
- How you respond to this medication, especially if you develop any serious side effects.
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically tells you to do so.
Just like any medicine, Alimta may cause side effects. As with most chemotherapy medications, side effects of this medication can be significant. In many cases, your healthcare provider may recommend strategies or medications to help prevent or treat these side effects.
Some of the most common side effects seen with Alimta include but are not limited to:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite.
(Click Alimta Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking Alimta if you have:
- Kidney disease, such as kidney failure (renal failure)
- Pleural effusion (accumulation of fluid in the lining of the lungs and chest cavity)
- Ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity)
- Any allergies, including to food, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What If I Overdose on Alimta?
A few cases of overdose with this medication have been reported. As would be expected with most chemotherapy medications, anemia, low white blood cells, low platelets, mouth sores, and rashes occurred when people took too much Alimta.
Alimta vials should be stored at room temperature. Once the medication has been prepared (mixed with saline and diluted appropriately), it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Alimta comes in single-dose vials of 100 or 500 mg each.
Can I Buy Generic Alimta?
Currently, this medication is not available in generic form
(see Generic Alimta for more information).
