(jem SYE ta been) Brand: Gemzar
• Gemcitabine 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).
• Gemcitabine can affect your liver, kidneys, or lungs. Speak your doctor if you have stomach pain, dark urine, yellow skin or eyes, few or no urinating, swelling, rapid weight gain, severe shortness of breath, wheezing, or cough with foamy mucus.
• If you receive gemcitabine during or after radiation treatment, speak your doctor right away if you have severe skin redness, swelling, oozing, or peeling.
• Gemcitabine is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.
• Gemcitabine is used to treat cancers of the pancreas, lung, ovary, and breast.
• Gemcitabine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.
• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to gemcitabine.
• To create certain gemcitabine is safety for you, speak your doctor if you have:
· kidney disease;
· liver malady (especially cirrhosis);
· a history of alcoholism; or
· if you are receiving radiation treatment.
• FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use gemcitabine if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn child. Use effective birth control, and speak your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
• It is not known whether gemcitabine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while you are using gemcitabine.
• Gemcitabine is injected into a vein through an IV. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.
• Gemcitabine can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. Your blood will need to be tested often. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results of these tests.
• If any of this medication accidentally gets on your skin, wash the area thoroughly with soap and warm water.
• Contact your doctor if you miss a miss an appointment to receive your gemcitabine infusion.
• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
• Avoid being around people who are sick or have infections. Speak your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.
• Avoid activities that may magnify your risk of bleeding or injury. Use extra care to prevent bleeding while shaving or brushing your teeth.
• 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.
• Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using gemcitabine, and 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.
• 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.
• If you receive gemcitabine during or after radiation treatment, speak your doctor right away if you have severe skin redness, swelling, oozing, or peeling.
• Call your doctor at once if you have:
· pale skin, light bruising, unusual bleeding (nose or mouth), feeling weary or irritable;
· vomiting, blood in your urine or stools;
· few or no urinating, swelling, rapid weight gain;
· fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
· white patches or sores internal your mouth or on your lips;
· nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
· chest pain or hard feeling, sweating, pain spreading to the hand or jaw;
· sudden numbness or weakness, problems with vision or speech;
· anxiety, severe shortness of breath, wheezing, gasping for breath, cough with foamy mucus, quick or uneven heart rate;
· hearing problems, confusion; or
· pain, swelling, or skin changes where the needle was placed.
• General side effects may include:
· vomiting, diarrhea;
· numbness or tingly feeling;
· drowsiness; or
· temporary hair loss.
• 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.
• Another drugs may interact with gemcitabine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal commodity. Speak every of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medication you start or stop using.
• Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about gemcitabine.
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.
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