BEXAROTENE (TOPICAL)

(beks AIR oh teen) Brand: Targretin Topical

What is the most significant information I must know about bexarotene topical?

• Bexarotene topical can harm an unborn child or reason birth defects. Do not use if you are pregnant, or if you are a man and your sexual partner is pregnant. Use at least 2 dependable forms of birth control while either sexual partner is using bexarotene topical, and for at least 30 days after treatment ends.

• Stop using this medicine and speak your doctor right away if you become pregnant, if you stop using birth control, or if you miss a menstrual period.

What is bexarotene topical?

• Bexarotene topical is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.

• Bexarotene topical (for the skin) is used to treat skin lesions caused by cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Bexarotene is generally given after another cancer medications have been tried without successful treatment.

• Bexarotene topical may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till using bexarotene topical?

• You must not use bexarotene topical if you are allergic to it, or if you are pregnant.

• To create certain bexarotene topical is safety for you, speak your doctor if you have:

· liver malady; or

· kidney disease.

• FDA pregnancy category X. This medicine can harm an unborn child or reason birth defects. Do not use bexarotene topical if you are pregnant, or if you are a man and your sexual partner is pregnant.

· If you are a woman, you should have a negative pregnancy test within 7 days till you start using bexarotene topical. A pregnancy test is also required each month during treatment with bexarotene topical.

· Stop using this medicine and speak your doctor right away if you become pregnant, if you stop using birth control, or if you miss a menstrual period.

· If you are a man, use a condom to prevent pregnancy during your treatment. Continue using a condom for at least 30 days after you stop using bexarotene topical.

· Use at least 2 dependable forms of birth control while either sexual partner is using bexarotene topical. Hold using 2 forms of birth control for at least 30 days after you stop using bexarotene topical.

· Speak your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using bexarotene topical.

• It is not known whether bexarotene topical passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while you are using bexarotene topical.

How must I use bexarotene topical?

• Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medication in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended.

• Bexarotene topical is generally applied once each another day for the first week. Your doctor may gradually magnify your doze every week, before you are applying the medicine 2 or more times each day. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

• Women who use bexarotene topical must start the medicine on the second or third day of a usual menstrual period.

• Wash your hands till and after using bexarotene topical, unless you are using the medicine to treat the skin on your hands.

• Apply satis gel to cover every lesion. Let the gel to dry till covering with clothing. Do not cover the treated skin with a bandage.

• Avoid applying the medicine to unaffected areas. If medicine accidentally gets on areas that do not need treatment, wash it off.

• It may take up to different months till your symptoms improve. Hold using the medicine as directed and speak your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Use the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not use extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• An overdose of bexarotene topical is not expected to be dangerous. Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 if anyone has accidentally swallowed the medication.

What must I avoid while using bexarotene topical?

• Avoid getting this medicine in your eyes, mouth, or nose. If this does happen, rinse with water.

• This medication can pass into body fluids (including urine, feces, vomit, semen, vaginal fluid). For at least 48 hours after you receive a doze, avoid allowing your body fluids to come into contact with your hands or another surfaces. Patients and caregivers must wear rubber gloves while cleaning up body fluids, handling contaminated trash or laundry or changing diapers. Wash hands till and after removing gloves. Wash soiled clothing and linens apart from another laundry.

• Body fluids must not be handled by a woman who is pregnant or who may become pregnant. Use condoms during sexual activity to avoid exposure to body fluids.

• Avoid taking a vitamin A supplement without your doctor's advice. Use only the amount your doctor recommends.

• Avoid using another medications on the areas you treat with bexarotene topical unless your doctor tells you to.

• Do not use insect repellents or another commodity that contain DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) while using bexarotene topical. Bexarotene may magnify DEET toxicity, which could be dangerous.

What are the possible side effects of bexarotene topical?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Stop using bexarotene topical and call your doctor at once if you have:

· severe skin irritation (pain, burning, stinging, itching) after applying this medication;

· severe skin rash or redness; or

· swelling, bleeding, or tearing of treated skin.

• General side effects may include:

· mild burning, stinging, or itching;

· mild pain, redness, or irritation; or

· skin dryness or peeling.

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

What another drugs will affect bexarotene topical?

• It is not likely that another drugs you take orally or inject will have an effect on topically applied bexarotene topical. But much drugs can interact with every another. Speak every of your health care providers about all medicines you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

• Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about bexarotene topical.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum'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 must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum 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.