Herceptin Dosage

The first dose of Herceptin for treating breast cancer is about 1.8 mg per pound of body weight, given intravenously over 90 minutes. After the first dose, the Herceptin dosage is about half as much (about 0.9 mg per pound), given intravenously over 30 minutes. The Herceptin dose is administered at your healthcare provider's office, a hospital, or an infusion center every seven days.

 

Herceptin Dosage: An Introduction

The dose of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
 
As is always the case, do not adjust your Herceptin dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
Herceptin Dosage for Breast Cancer
For your first dose of Herceptin, the recommended dose is Herceptin 4 mg per kg of body weight (about 1.8 mg per pound), given intravenously (by IV) over 90 minutes. After that, the recommended dose is half as much, about 0.9 mg per pound, given intravenously over 30 minutes.
 
For preventing cancer from returning after breast cancer surgery, Herceptin is given once a week for 52 weeks (one year). For treating metastatic breast cancer (that has spread to other parts of the body), Herceptin is given once a week until the cancer worsens.
 

General Herceptin Dosage Information

Considerations for people taking Herceptin include the following:
 
  • Herceptin is given intravenously (by IV) every seven days.
     
  • Your first Herceptin infusion will last 90 minutes, and subsequent infusions will last 30 minutes.
     
  • Most people receive their Herceptin infusion at their healthcare provider's office, a hospital, or at an "infusion center."
     
  • For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Herceptin will not work as well if you stop taking it before your healthcare provider recommends.
     
  • If you are unsure about anything related to Herceptin or your Herceptin dosage, talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;