Key takeaways
- Keytruda is a brand-name biologic drug prescribed to treat certain cancers in adults and some children.
- Keytruda is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion, which is an injection given into a vein over a period of time. Keytruda infusions last about 30 minutes.
- You’ll receive a dose of Keytruda every 3 or 6 weeks, depending on your type of cancer.
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) belongs to a class of drugs called monoclonal antibodies. Specifically, it’s a type of monoclonal antibody called a PD-1 inhibitor. Keytruda isn’t available in a biosimilar form.
For information about the dosages of Keytruda, including its strength and how the drug is given, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Keytruda, including details about its uses, see this Keytruda overview.
The information that follows describes typically recommended dosages for Keytruda.
Keytruda form
Keytruda comes as a liquid solution you’ll receive by IV infusion. This is an injection into a vein given over a period of time. (For details, see the “How Keytruda is given” section later in this article.)
Keytruda strength
Keytruda is available in one strength: 100 milligrams (mg) per 4 milliliters (mL).
Typical dosages
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, your doctor will prescribe the Keytruda dosage that’s right for you.
Dosage for certain cancers in adults
Keytruda is used to treat several types of cancer in adults. The recommended dosage for all Keytruda’s uses is a total of 400 mg every 6 weeks. To achieve this dosage, your doctor may give you 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks. Your doctor will determine the dosing schedule that’s best for you.
Depending on your condition, your doctor may recommend you take Keytruda by itself or with other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy.
Children’s dosage
Keytruda is approved to treat certain cancers in children.* The recommended dosage in children is 2 mg per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg) every 3 weeks. For reference, 1 kg equals about 2.2 pounds (lb).
Your child’s doctor will calculate the correct Keytruda dose for your child based on their weight. For example, if your child weighs 18 kg (about 40 lb), they’ll receive 36 mg every 3 weeks.
The maximum dosage for children is 200 mg every 3 weeks.
* Keytruda is used to treat melanoma in children ages 12 years and older. For other cancers that Keytruda is used to treat in children, a clinical trial found the drug safe for use in children ages 6 months and older. To learn more about Keytruda’s approved uses in children, see this Keytruda overview.
Long-term treatment
The length of time you’ll receive Keytruda depends on certain factors. These include how your body responds to the drug and your condition.
For some cancers, Keytruda may be given for up to 1 year. Typically, Keytruda is not given for more than 2 years. This is because clinical trials haven’t looked at whether the drug is safe or effective if it’s used for longer than 2 years. However, you and your doctor will determine how long you should keep taking Keytruda.
If you develop bothersome or serious side effects from Keytruda, your doctor will likely either pause treatment until your symptoms ease or stop treatment permanently.
To find out how long you can expect to take Keytruda, talk with your doctor.
Here are answers to some common questions about Keytruda’s dosage.
Is one dosage of Keytruda more effective than the other? What are the signs Keytruda is working?
No, one dosage of Keytruda is not more effective than the other.
The recommended Keytruda dosage in adults is 200 milligrams (mg) every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks. (To learn more, refer to the “Keytruda dosage” section earlier in this article.) Both dosages are effective at treating cancer.
The choice of dosing every 3 weeks or every 6 weeks depends on your specific situation. It may be a matter of scheduling convenience.
Your doctor will monitor your condition for signs that Keytruda is working. These signs vary by the type of cancer but can include a smaller tumor size or certain blood test results.
If you have questions about Keytruda dosages or effectiveness, talk with your doctor. You can ask them how they’ll know that Keytruda is working for your condition. For details about how effective the drug is at treating different types of cancer, you can refer to the drug’s prescribing information.
Does Keytruda have a recommended dosing schedule?
Yes, Keytruda has a recommended dosing schedule. Adults receive the drug every 3 weeks or every 6 weeks, while children receive the drug every 3 weeks. Your schedule can depend on the dose your doctor prescribes. To learn more, refer to the “Keytruda dosage” section earlier in this article.
If you have questions about your Keytruda dosing schedule, talk with your doctor.
Keytruda comes as a liquid solution for IV infusion. Your doctor or another healthcare professional will give you the drug at an infusion center or a hospital. The infusion takes about 30 minutes.
If you have questions about how Keytruda is given, talk with your doctor.
If you miss an appointment for your Keytruda dose, call your doctor’s office right away. They can reschedule your appointment and adjust your dosing schedule if necessary.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Keytruda for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.
If you have questions about the dosage of Keytruda that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Keytruda. These additional articles might be helpful:
- More about Keytruda: For information about other aspects of Keytruda, refer to this Keytruda overview.
- Side effects: To learn about side effects of Keytruda, see this Keytruda side effects article. You can also look at the Keytruda prescribing information.
- Drug comparison: Find out how Keytruda compares with similar drugs in these Opdivo vs. Keytruda and Imfinzi vs. Keytruda comparisons.
- Cost: For information about the price of Keytruda, see this Keytruda cost article.
- Interactions: For details about what Keytruda interacts with, refer to this Keytruda interactions article.
- How it works: Learn about Keytruda’s mechanism of action in this how Keytruda works article.
- Details about your condition: For details about certain cancers, see our cancer hub.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.
