Topotecan oral/injection

Generic name: Topotecan (oral/injection)
Brand names: Hycamtin
Drug class: Miscellaneous antineoplastics

Usage of Topotecan oral/injection

Topotecan is used to treat ovarian cancer, small cell lung cancer, and certain types of cervical cancer.

Topotecan is usually given after other treatments have failed.

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

Topotecan oral/injection 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.

Topotecan may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

new or worsening cough, fever, trouble breathing;

diarrhea with fever and stomach cramps;

pain or burning when you urinate;

signs of pneumonia--fever, chills, cough with mucus, chest pain, feeling short of breath; or

low blood cell counts--fever, chills, flu-like symptoms, mouth sores, skin sores, pale skin, cold hands and feet, bruising or bleeding, feeling light-headed.

Your cancer treatments may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects.

Common side effects of topotecan may include:

low blood cell counts;

trouble breathing, pneumonia

nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain;

loss of appetite;

hair loss; or

feeling weak or tired.

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 Topotecan oral/injection

You should not use topotecan if you are allergic to it.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

severe diarrhea;

kidney disease;

lung problems; or

a chest X-ray or radiation treatment of your chest area.

Topotecan can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects if the mother or the father is using topotecan.

If you are a woman, do not use topotecan if you are pregnant. You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 6 months after your last dose.

If you are a man, use effective birth control if your sex partner is able to get pregnant. Keep using birth control for at least 3 months after your last dose.

Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using topotecan.

This medicine may affect fertility (ability to have children) in both men and women. However, it is important to use birth control to prevent pregnancy because topotecan may harm the baby if a pregnancy does occur.

You should not breastfeed while using topotecan, and for at least 1 week after your last dose.

Relate drugs

How to use Topotecan oral/injection

Usual Adult Dose for Ovarian Cancer:

1.5 mg/m(2) IV over 30 minutes once a day for 5 consecutive days, starting on day 1 of a 21 day courseComments:-In the absence of tumor progression, a minimum of 4 courses is recommended because tumor response may be delayed.-The median time to response was 9 to 12 weeks.-Recommended dosage should generally not exceed 4 mg.Use: Metastatic carcinoma of the ovary after failure of initial or subsequent chemotherapy.

Usual Adult Dose for Cervical Cancer:

0.75 mg/m(2) IV over 30 minutes on days 1, 2, and 3 of each 21 day cycleComments:-Administer cisplatin 50 mg/m(2) IV on day 1 of each 21 day cycle.-Consult cisplatin manufacturer product information for administration and hydration guidelines, and for dose adjustments.-Recommended dosage should generally not exceed 4 mg.Use: In combination with cisplatin, treatment of stage IVB, recurrent or persistent carcinoma of the cervix which is not amenable to curative treatment with surgery and/or radiation therapy.

Usual Adult Dose for Small Cell Lung Cancer:

IV formulation: 1.5 mg/m(2) IV over 30 minutes once a day for 5 consecutive days, starting on day 1 of a 21 day courseOral capsules: 2.3 mg/m(2) orally once a day for 5 consecutive days, starting on day 1 of a 21 day course (round dose to nearest 0.25 mg)Duration of therapy: Until disease progressionComments:-In the absence of tumor progression, a minimum of 4 courses is recommended because tumor response may be delayed.-The median time to response was 5 to 7 weeks.-Recommended IV dosage should generally not exceed 4 mg.-Do not prescribe a replacement oral capsule dose for emesis.Uses: IV formulation: Small cell lung cancer sensitive disease after failure of first-line chemotherapy. Sensitive disease was defined as disease responding to chemotherapy but subsequently progressing at least 60 to 90 days after chemotherapy.Capsule formulation: Treatment of relapsed small cell lung cancer in patients with a prior complete or partial response and who are at least 45 days from the end of first-line chemotherapy.

Warnings

Topotecan affects your immune system. You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Call your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding, or signs of infection (fever, chills, cough, diarrhea, stomach cramps, pain or burning when you urinate).

What other drugs will affect Topotecan oral/injection

You should not receive a "colony stimulating factor" medicine within 24 hours after your last topotecan injection. This includes:

filgrastim (Neupogen, Granix, Zarxio);

pegfilgrastim (Neulasta); or

sargramostim (Leukine).

Other drugs may affect topotecan, 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.