Antineoplastic Agent, Camptothecin; Antineoplastic Agent, Natural Source (Plant) Derivative
• This medicine is very strong. It can prevent your bone marrow from making some of the cells that your body needs. You will be closely monitored by healthcare provider. Tell healthcare provider right away about any fever, sore throat, signs of infection, bleeding, shortness of breath, or feeling tired.
• This medicine does not mix well with many medicines. Serious reactions may occur. Check all medicines with healthcare provider.
• If you have an allergy to topotecan or any other part of this medicine.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• If you have a low platelet count or a low white blood cell count.
• If you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
• If you are breast-feeding.
All forms:
• Drink plenty of noncaffeine-containing liquid unless told to drink less liquid by healthcare provider.
Oral:
• Take this medicine with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach.
• Swallow whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
• If you vomit after taking this medicine, do not repeat the dose.
Injection (I.V.):
• This medicine is given as a shot into a vein.
Oral:
• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.
Injection:
• Call healthcare provider for appointment.
• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
• Check blood work regularly. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Follow up with healthcare provider.
• Store capsules in a refrigerator.
• Protect from light.
• Protect capsules from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
• The injection will be given to you in a healthcare setting. You will not store it at home.
Created: 2005-04-07 17:24:10.0
Modified: 2010-03-09 08:29:24.0
Lexi-PALS TM © (1977)-(2007) Lexi-Comp, Inc. All rights reserved.
• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Most medicines can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
• Talk with healthcare provider before receiving any vaccinations. Use with this medicine may either increase the risk of serious infection or make the vaccination less effective.
• Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers that you use this medicine.
• You may bleed more easily. Be careful. Avoid injury. Use soft toothbrush, electric razor.
• Talk with healthcare provider before using aspirin, aspirin-containing products, other pain medicines, blood thinners, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, or vitamin E.
• Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine.
• Risk of infection. Avoid people with infections, colds, or flu.
• Anemia, low white blood cell count, and low platelet count.
• Feeling tired or weak.
• Headache.
• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Belly pain.
• Diarrhea.
• Constipation.
• Hair loss. Hair usually grows back when medicine is stopped.
• Mouth irritation. Frequent mouth care with a soft toothbrush or cotton swabs and rinsing mouth may help.
• Cough.
• Rash.
• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.
• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs or symptoms of infection. These include a fever of 100.5 degrees or higher, chills, severe sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, increased sputum or change in color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, or anal itching or pain.
• Feeling extremely tired or weak.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Persistent cough.
• Severe belly pain.
• Severe nausea or vomiting.
• Severe diarrhea.
• Unusual bruising or bleeding.
• Dark urine or yellow skin or eyes.
• Not able to eat.
• Any rash.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
