CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE (ORAL AND INJECTION)
(sye kloe FOSS fa mide) Brand: Cytoxan, Neosar
What is the most significant information I must know about cyclophosphamide?
• You must not use cyclophosphamide if you have severe bone marrow suppression.
• Cyclophosphamide can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. You may get an infection or bleed more easily. Call your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding, or signs of infection (fever, chills, body aches).
• Drink plenty of liquids while you are using cyclophosphamide, to prevent deleterious effects on your bladder. Speak your doctor if you have blood in your urine, or pain or burning when you urinate.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to safely handle this medicine. Cyclophosphamide can be deleterious if it gets on your skin. If this occurs, wash thoroughly with soap and water.
What is cyclophosphamide?
• Cyclophosphamide is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.
• Cyclophosphamide is used to treat different types of cancer. Cyclophosphamide is also used to treat determined cases of nephrotic syndrome (kidney disease) in children.
• Cyclophosphamide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.
What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking cyclophosphamide?
• You must not use cyclophosphamide if you are allergic to it, or if you have severe bone marrow suppression.
• To create certain cyclophosphamide is safety for you, speak your doctor if you have any of these conditions:
· an active or last infection;
· a weak immune system (caused by malady or by using determined medicines);
· kidney disease;
· liver malady;
· if you are receiving another cancer treatments; or
· if you have ever received radiation treatment.
• Using cyclophosphamide may magnify your risk of developing another types of cancer, such as bladder cancer. Conversation with your doctor about your specific risk.
• FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use cyclophosphamide if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn child. Use effective birth control, and speak your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
• This medicine may affect fertility (your capacity to have children), whether you are a man or a woman.
• Cyclophosphamide can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while you are using this medication.
How is cyclophosphamide given?
• Follow the directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medication in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended.
• Cyclophosphamide is sometimes given as a pill or liquid. Cyclophosphamide may also be given as an injection into a vein through an IV. You will receive the injection in a clinic or hospital setting.
• Drink plenty of liquids while you are using cyclophosphamide, to prevent deleterious effects on your bladder.
• Measure liquid medication with a particular dose-measuring spoon or medication cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
• Cyclophosphamide can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. This can create it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being near others who are ill. Your blood may need to be tested often.
• If you need surgery, speak the surgeon onward of time that you are using cyclophosphamide. You may need to stop using the medication for a short time.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to safely handle this medication. Cyclophosphamide can be deleterious if it gets on your skin. If this occurs, wash thoroughly with soap and water.
• Store cyclophosphamide tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
• Store the liquid medication in the refrigerator, do not freeze. Throw away any unused liquid after 14 days.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed oral dose as soon as you remember. If it is nearly time for the following doze, skip the doze you missed and take only the following regularly scheduled doze as directed. Do not take a double doze of this medication.
• Contact your doctor if you miss a doze of cyclophosphamide injection.
What happens if I overdose?
• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What must I avoid while taking cyclophosphamide?
• 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 being around people who are sick or have infections. Speak your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.
• Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using cyclophosphamide, and for at least 3 months after your treatment ends. Also avoid coming into contact with anyone who has recently received a live vaccine. There is a chance that the virus could be passed on to you. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.
What are the possible side effects of cyclophosphamide?
• 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.
• Call your doctor at once if you have:
· blood in your urine or stools, pain or burning when you urinate;
· pale skin, feeling light-headed, rapid heart course, trouble concentrating;
· sudden chest pain or discomfort, wheezing, dry cough or hack, feeling short of breath on exertion;
· fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat;
· light bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;
· extreme thirst with headache, vomiting, and weakness;
· jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
· severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your person or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the person or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
• General side effects may include:
· nausea, loss of appetite, stomach pain or upset, diarrhea;
· temporary hair loss;
· a wound that will not heal;
· missed menstrual periods;
· changes in skin color; or
· changes in nails.
• 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 cyclophosphamide?
• Speak your doctor about all medications you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with cyclophosphamide, especially:
· phenobarbital (Solfoton); or
· drugs that weaken the immune system such as medicines to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or another autoimmune disorders.
• This list is not complete. Another drugs may interact with cyclophosphamide, including prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medicine manual.
Where can I get more information?
• Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about cyclophosphamide.
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.