Gemcitabine Side Effects and Warnings

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• 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.

• Talk with healthcare provider before using other: aspirin, aspirin-containing products, blood thinners, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, ibuprofen or like products, pain medicines, or vitamin E.

• 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.

• Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• Risk of infection. Avoid people with infections, colds, or flu.

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Diarrhea.

• Anemia, low white blood cell count, and low platelet count.

• Risk of bleeding.

• Swelling.

• Mouth irritation. Frequent mouth care with a soft toothbrush or cotton swabs and rinsing mouth may help.

• Fever.

• Constipation.

• Liver damage can rarely occur.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• 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.

• Severe dizziness or passing out.

• Severe nausea or vomiting.

• Unusual bruising or bleeding.

• Feeling extremely tired or weak.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.