How long does it take to stop taking Gefitinib?

The duration of Gefitinib (Gefitinib) in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) depends on the patient's specific condition and disease progression. Typically, gefitinib is used as part of long-term treatment aimed at controlling tumor growth and slowing disease progression. The following are some important considerations regarding the duration of gefitinib treatment:

1.Gene mutation type: Gefitinib is mainly used to treat NSCLC patients carrying EGFRgene mutations. For these patients, gefitinib is often an effective treatment option and can prolong progression-free survival (PFS). However, once disease progresses or drug resistance develops, treatment plans may need to be re-evaluated.

2.Treatment response: The efficacy of gefitinib will vary between different patients. Some patients may achieve good disease control early in treatment, while others may take longer to see significant results. Doctors usually decide whether to continue gefitinib based on the patient's response to treatment.

3.Drug resistance: Over time, some patients may develop resistance to gefitinib. This may lead to disease progression. In this case, the doctor may re-evaluate the treatment plan and consider whether to switch to other treatment options, such as Osimertinib (Osimertinib).

4.Maintenance therapy: For some patients, gefitinib may be used as maintenance therapy, designed to keep the disease stable rather than to cure the disease. In this case, gefitinib may need to be taken long-term until disease progression or intolerable side effects occur.

Gefitinib was launched in China in 2005. At that time, the price of a box was about 5,000 yuan. In 2017 it entered the domestic medical insurance. After the medical insurance, the price dropped a lot. There are domestically produced drugs in the country. For the specific price after the medical insurance, please consult the local hospital pharmacy or the medical insurance bureau. Other versions include original drugs and cost-effective generic drugs. Generic drugs include Indian, Bangladeshi and Laotian generic drugs, with different specifications and different prices, about200~800RMB, and the ingredients of generic drugs are basically the same as domestic drugs.