Emcyt

Generic name: Estramustine

Usage of Emcyt

Emcyt is used to treat metastatic or progressive prostate cancer.

Emcyt may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Emcyt side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Emcyt may cause serious side effects. Stop using Emcyt and call your doctor at once if you have:

heart problems--shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain, chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating;

signs of a stroke--sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), severe headache, slurred speech, balance problems;

signs of a blood clot in the lung--chest pain, sudden cough, wheezing, rapid breathing, coughing up blood; or

signs of a blood clot deep in the body--swelling, warmth, or redness in an arm or leg.

Common side effects of Emcyt may include:

breast swelling or tenderness;

impotence;

nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach;

swelling, trouble breathing;

leg cramps; or

abnormal liver function tests.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Emcyt

You should not use Emcyt if you are allergic to estradiol or to nitrogen mustard.

You may not be able to use this medicine if you have a blood clot or swelling of a vein caused by a blood clot.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

a blood clot, stroke, or heart attack;

diabetes;

high blood pressure (hypertension);

heart disease or coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis);

congestive heart failure;

migraine headaches;

epilepsy or other seizure disorder;

low or high levels of calcium in your blood;

liver disease;

kidney disease; or

a bone disorder such as osteoporosis or Paget's disease.

If a man fathers a baby while using Emcyt, the baby may have birth defects. Use condoms to prevent pregnancy during your treatment. Ask your doctor how long you should continue using condoms after you stop taking this medicine.

How to use Emcyt

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Take Emcyt on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

Take Emcyt with water, not with milk or other dairy products.

Emcyt doses are based on weight (especially in children and teenagers). Your dose needs may change if you gain or lose weight.

It may take up to 90 days before you receive the full benefit of taking Emcyt. Your doctor will determine how long to treat you.

You may need frequent blood tests. Your blood pressure will also need to be checked often.

This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using Emcyt.

Store in the refrigerator, do not freeze.

Warnings

You should not use Emcyt if you have a blood clot, swelling of a vein caused by a blood clot, or if you have ever had an allergic reaction to estradiol or nitrogen mustard.

What other drugs will affect Emcyt

Other drugs may affect Emcyt, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.