Lutathera is a prescription drug that’s used to treat certain rare tumors. It’s given as an intravenous (IV) infusion by a healthcare professional.

Lutathera is used in adults and certain children to treat neuroendocrine tumors in the digestive system and pancreas. To learn more about the drug’s uses, see the “What is Lutathera used for?” section.

Lutathera basics

Lutathera contains the active ingredient lutetium Lu 177 dotatate. It belongs to a group of drugs called radiopharmaceuticals. Lutathera is a type of treatment called a peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT).

Lutathera is a brand-name medication. A generic version of the drug isn’t currently available.

Lutathera is used to treat gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) in adults and in children ages 12 years and older.

GEP-NETs are rare tumors that affect hormone-producing cells in the digestive system and pancreas. Doctors prescribe Lutathera when these tumors have attachment sites for a hormone called somatostatin.

GEP-NETs may cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and decreased appetite.

Lutathera works to treat GEP-NETs by attaching to somatostatin sites on tumor cells. Lutathera then enters the tumor cells and releases small amounts of radiation to kill them.

Like most drugs, Lutathera may cause mild to serious side effects. The lists below contain some of the more common side effects Lutathera may cause, but they don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Lutathera. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Lutathera can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or read Lutathera’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Lutathera that have been reported include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Lutathera can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Lutathera, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Lutathera that have been reported include:

ALLERGIC REACTION

For some people, Lutathera can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Lutathera.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Lutathera, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Lutathera.

Is Lutathera chemotherapy?

No, Lutathera is not chemotherapy. It’s a radiopharmaceutical, which means it contains a small amount of radiation that helps treat cancer.

Chemotherapy works by killing cells that grow and divide quickly. It can affect both cancer cells and some healthy cells. But Lutathera works differently. It attaches to certain tumor cells and delivers radiation directly to them.

If you’d like to learn more about how Lutathera compares with chemotherapy, talk with your doctor.

How do Lutathera and Pluvicto compare?

Lutathera and Pluvicto both contain a form of lutetium Lu 177 as the active ingredient. They’re both radiopharmaceuticals, but each is used to treat a different type of cancer.

Lutathera is used to treat certain neuroendocrine tumors in the digestive system and pancreas. Pluvicto is used to treat metastatic prostate cancer in certain situations.

Lutathera is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion, which is an infusion into a vein over a period of time. Pluvicto is given as either an IV infusion or an IV injection (an injection into a vein).

For more information about how Lutathera compares with Pluvicto, talk with your doctor.

What is the success rate of Lutathera?

Lutathera has been shown to be effective for treating certain neuroendocrine tumors in the digestive system and pancreas. In studies, people who received Lutathera experienced longer periods without their cancer getting worse than those who received other treatments.

Keep in mind that treatment results can vary from person to person. Factors such as the stage of your cancer and your overall health may affect how well Lutathera works for you.

To learn more about what to expect with Lutathera treatment, talk with your doctor.

You can also learn more about study results from Lutathera’s prescribing information or the drug manufacturer’s website.

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Lutathera that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but the dosage you receive will be determined by your doctor.

Form and strength

Lutathera is a radiopharmaceutical, which means its active drug releases a small amount of radiation. The drug comes in a vial but is prepared as a liquid solution before use.

Each Lutathera solution contains 370 megabecquerels per milliliter (MBq/mL) of radioactivity. (MBq is a unit used to measure the amount of radiation in a drug.)

A healthcare professional will give Lutathera as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into a vein over a period of time).

Recommended dosages

Lutathera is used in adults and in children ages 12 years and older to treat certain neuroendocrine tumors in the digestive system and pancreas.

For this use, you’ll receive one Lutathera infusion every 8 weeks. Typically, a total of four doses are given as part of the full treatment plan.

How Lutathera is given

Your doctor will explain how Lutathera will be given, including your dosage and how often you’ll receive it.

A healthcare professional will give Lutathera as an IV infusion. You’ll receive each infusion at a treatment facility trained to handle radiopharmaceuticals.

Your doctor may ask you to start or stop taking certain medications before, during, or after your infusion. You might also stay at the facility for a few hours after the infusion to allow your care team to monitor you for any side effects.

After each infusion, your care team will give you instructions for radiation safety. This is because your body will release small amounts of radiation through fluids, such as urine and sweat, for a short time. You may be advised to drink extra fluids, limit close contact with others, and follow hygiene precautions.

For more details about how Lutathera is given, talk with your doctor. You can also visit the drug manufacturer’s website to learn what to expect during treatment and find guidance for radiation safety.

Questions about receiving Lutathera

Below are some common questions about receiving Lutathera.

  • What if I miss a dose of Lutathera? If you miss an appointment to receive an infusion of Lutathera, call the treatment facility as soon as possible to reschedule.
  • Will I need to use Lutathera long term? Lutathera is typically used as a short-term treatment. You’ll likely receive up to four doses of the drug.
  • How long does Lutathera take to work? Lutathera begins to work after your first infusion. But you may not feel the drug working in your body. Your doctor will order tests throughout your treatment to check whether Lutathera is working to treat your condition.

Below is important information you should consider before receiving Lutathera.

Interactions

Taking a drug with certain medications, vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.

Lutathera can interact with several other medications. But the drug is not known to interact with supplements or foods.

Before starting Lutathera treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug interactions

Below is a list of medications that can interact with Lutathera. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Lutathera. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug group or drug nameDrug examples
high doses of corticosteroids• dexamethasone (Hemady)
• prednisone (Rayos)
somatostatin analogs• lanreotide (Somatuline Depot)
• octreotide (Sandostatin, others)

Lutathera and alcohol

Alcohol is not known to interact with Lutathera. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much may be safe to consume during your Lutathera treatment.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Your doctor will likely recommend that you do not receive Lutathera during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Because of the way the drug works, it may not be safe during these times.

Your doctor may advise you to avoid breastfeeding during Lutathera treatment and for at least 2.5 months after your last dose.

Lutathera may also affect fertility (the ability to conceive) in females and males. This effect may be temporary or permanent. (Note: In this article, we use the terms “female” and “male” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. To learn more about this topic, see this article comparing sex and gender.)

If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning for either, talk with your doctor before starting Lutathera treatment. They can help you understand the risks and discuss your options.

Birth control

It’s recommended that females who can become pregnant use birth control during treatment with Lutathera and for at least 7 months after receiving their last dose. Males with partners who can become pregnant should also use birth control during treatment and for at least 4 months after their final dose.

Warnings

Lutathera can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Lutathera is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Lutathera. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Lutathera. What you’ll pay for Lutathera may depend on certain things, such as your treatment plan.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called Novartis Patient Support may also be available.

Other drugs are available that can treat neuroendocrine tumors in the digestive system and pancreas. If you’d like to explore an alternative to Lutathera, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work well for you.

The following drugs may be alternatives to Lutathera:

Disclaimer: MyistyClan has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.