(EYE ri noe TEE kan) Brand: Camptosar
• Irinotecan 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).
• Irinotecan can reason severe diarrhea, which can be life-threatening if it leads to dehydration. You may be given medications to prevent or quickly treat diarrhea. Call your doctor whenever you have diarrhea during your treatment with irinotecan.
• Irinotecan is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.
• Irinotecan is used to treat cancers of the colon and rectum. It is generally given with another cancer medicines in a combination chemotherapy.
• Irinotecan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.
• You must not use irinotecan if you are allergic to it.
• To create certain you can safely receive irinotecan, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:
· liver or kidney disease;
· diabetes;
· asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary malady (COPD), sleep apnea, or another breathing disorder;
· an intestinal mess or obstruction;
· Gilbert's syndrome;
· fructose intolerance (irinotecan contains sorbitol); or
· if you are receiving radiation treatment to your abdomen or pelvic area.
• FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use irinotecan 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 irinotecan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while you are using irinotecan.
• Your doctor may recommend a DNA test till your first doze of irinotecan. Some people are genetically more likely to have determined side effects from irinotecan.
• Irinotecan is injected into a vein through an IV. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting. Irinotecan should be given slowly, and the IV infusion can take up to 90 minutes to complete.
• You may be given another medications to prevent nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and another side effects while you are receiving irinotecan. You may need to hold using these medications for at least a day after your irinotecan injection.
• Speak your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling near the IV needle when irinotecan is injected.
• If any of the medication gets on your skin, wash right away with soap and water.
• Irinotecan can reason severe diarrhea, which can be life-threatening if it leads to dehydration. You may be given medications to prevent or quickly treat diarrhea.
• Your doctor may recommend you have an anti-diarrhea medication such as loperamide (Imodium) accessible at all times while you are receiving irinotecan. Take the anti-diarrhea medicine at the first sign of loose or frequent bowel movements. Do not take loperamide for longer than 2 full days without your doctor's advice.
• To be certain this medicine is not causing deleterious effects, your blood may need to be tested often. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.
• If you need surgery, speak the surgeon onward of time that you are using irinotecan.
• Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your irinotecan injection.
• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
• Overdose symptoms may include some of the serious side effects listed in this medicine guide.
• Avoid using a laxative or stool softener during treatment with irinotecan.
• Avoid being around people who are sick or have infections. Speak your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.
• 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 irinotecan, 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), oral polio, typhoid, chickenpox (varicella), BCG (Bacillus Calmette and Guérin), and nasal flu vaccine.
• Irinotecan may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
• 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 whenever you have diarrhea during your treatment with irinotecan.
• Also call your doctor at once if you have:
· severe stomach pain, fever, painful mouth sores, pain when swallowing, skin sores, cool or flu symptoms, trouble breathing;
· wheezing, feeling short of breath;
· chest pain, dry cough;
· pale skin, feeling light-headed, rapid heart course, trouble concentrating;
· runny nose, watery eyes, heighten sweating, stomach cramps, and flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);
· black, bloody, or tarry stools;
· nausea or vomiting that keeps you from drinking satis fluids;
· burning, pain, or swelling near the IV needle;
· sudden numbness or weakness, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
· swelling, rapid weight gain; or
· feeling very thirsty or hot, being unable to urinate, hard sweating, feeling light-headed, or hot and dry skin.
• Smaller serious side effects may include:
· dizziness;
· temporary hair loss.
· loss of appetite, constipation;
· mild skin rash; or
· redness or peeling of the skin on your hands and feet.
• 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.
• Till you are treated with irinotecan, speak your doctor about all another cancer medicines you have recently used.
• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:
· atazanavir;
· a diuretic;
· ketoconazole;
· rifabutin;
· rifampin;
· St. John's wort; or
· seizure medication such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, or phenytoin.
• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with irinotecan. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.
• Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about irinotecan.
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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