doxorubicin

Liposomal doxorubicin is an anthracycline-type chemotherapy drug that is used alone or with other treatments/medications to treat certain types of cancer (e.g., ovarian cancer, AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma, multiple myeloma). It works by slowing or stopping cancer cell growth.

For the best possible benefit, it is important to receive each scheduled dose of this medication as directed. If you miss a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately to establish a new dosing schedule.

This medication is given by injection into a vein over 30-60 minutes or longer by a health care professional. The dosage is based on your medical condition, body size, and response to therapy. Notify your doctor immediately if redness, pain, or swelling occur at or near the injection site. If this medication touches your skin, immediately and completely wash skin with soap and water. If this medication gets in your eye, open the eyelids and flush with plenty of water for 15 minutes. Seek immediate medical attention. Family members and caregivers should take precautions (e.g., wear gloves) to prevent contact with the patient's urine or other body fluid for at least 5 days after treatment. Learn how to store and discard needles, medical supplies and medical waste safely. Consult your pharmacist.

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval. Some products that may interact with this drug include: calcium channel blockers (e.g., verapamil, nifedipine), cyclosporine, digoxin, progesterone, phenobarbital, phenytoin, streptozocin, stavudine, zidovudine. Avoid eating foods or products containing turmeric (curcumin) while being treated with liposomal doxorubicin. It may decrease this medication's effects. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For enrollment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA), or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).

Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., complete blood counts, heart studies, liver function tests) should be performed regularly to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details. Keep all your medical and laboratory appointments.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Symptoms of overdose may include: unexplained bleeding.

Before using liposomal doxorubicin, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to doxorubicin; or to other drugs containing polyethylene glycol; or to lincomycin; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: a history of receiving your total maximum dose of any anthracycline-type drug (e.g., doxorubicin, idarubicin, daunorubicin, mitoxantrone). Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: anemia, gout, heart problems, infection, liver problems, radiation treatment (especially to the chest area), kidney problems, a certain immune system problem (neutropenia), low platelet count (thrombocytopenia). Do not have immunizations/vaccinations without the consent of your doctor, and avoid contact with people who have recently received oral polio vaccine. To lower the chance of getting cut, bruised or injured, use caution with sharp objects like safety razors and nail cutters, and avoid activities such as contact sports. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush to lower the risk of bleeding gums. Wash your hands well to prevent the spread of infections. This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Caution is advised if using liposomal doxorubicin in children because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially on the heart. This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm an unborn baby. It is recommended that men and women use two effective forms of birth control (e.g., condoms and birth control pills) while being treated with this medication and for some time afterward. Consult your doctor for more details and to discuss reliable forms of birth control. It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. Because of the potential risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Not applicable. This medication is given in a clinic and will not be stored at home.

Body aches/pains, headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, stomach upset, and loss of appetite may occur. Nausea and vomiting can be severe. In some cases, drug therapy may be needed to prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting. Not eating before your treatment may help relieve vomiting. Changes in diet and lifestyle, such as eating several small meals and limiting activity, may help lessen some of these effects. If any of these effects continue or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. This medication may give a reddish-orange color to your urine, tears, and sweat. This is a normal effect of the drug and should not be mistaken for blood in your urine. Treatment with this drug may sometimes cause your hands/feet to develop a skin reaction called hand-foot syndrome (palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia). Notify your doctor promptly if you experience swelling, pain, redness, dryness, peeling, blisters, or tingling/burning of the hands/feet. The symptoms can be made worse by heat/pressure on your hands/feet. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths, and sunlamps, as well as unnecessary exposure to heat (e.g., hot dishwater, long hot baths). Avoid pressure on elbows, knees, and soles of feet (e.g., leaning on elbows, kneeling, long walks). Wear loose clothing. Depending on how severe your hand-foot syndrome is, your doctor may give you something to reduce the symptoms, or decrease or delay your next dose of liposomal doxorubicin. Temporary hair loss may occur. Normal hair growth should return several months after treatment has ended. Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: drowsiness, trouble sleeping, mental/mood changes (e.g., anxiety, confusion, depression), cough/hoarseness, redness/pain/swelling of arms/legs, eye redness/itching, unusual tiredness, swelling of ankles/feet, painful/difficult urination, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin/eyes, dark urine, black/tarry stools, bloody mucus or discharge in stools, vision changes (e.g., blindness), fast/irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath. Painful swelling or sores on the lips, mouth and throat may occur. To decrease the risk, limit hot foods and drinks, brush your teeth carefully, avoid using mouthwash that contains alcohol, and rinse your mouth frequently with cool water. Get medical help right away if this rare but very serious side effect occurs: chest pain. Within days to weeks after doxorubicin treatment, a serious skin reaction that looks likes a severe sunburn (radiation recall) may develop on any area of skin that has been previously treated with radiation. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop skin redness, pain, tenderness, swelling, peeling, or blisters. Your doctor may prescribe medication to help your skin heal faster and reduce the swelling. Sunlight may worsen any skin reactions that may occur while you are using this drug. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths and sunlamps. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors. In children, radiation recall may occur in the lungs. Tell the doctor immediately if you notice wheezing or trouble breathing in the child. Very rarely, people with cancer who are treated with this type of medication have developed other cancers (e.g., secondary leukemia). Your risk is greater if you have received certain types of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Consult your doctor for more details. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but fatal reactions have rarely occurred. Get medical help right away if you notice symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, which may include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional. This medication may also be used to treat breast cancer.

Liposomal doxorubicin may cause heart problems, including possibly fatal heart failure. Heart problems may occur during liposomal doxorubicin therapy or months to years after receiving this medication. Your risk of developing heart problems depends on your dose, medical history (including previous heart disease, radiation therapy in the chest area), and previous use of this and other drugs (including daunorubicin and cyclophosphamide). Children are at higher risk and should be monitored later in life for delayed heart problems. See also Side Effects section. This medication may cause certain severe blood disorders (bone marrow suppression leading to low red blood cells/white blood cells /platelets). This can lower your body's ability to fight infection and stop bleeding. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop any signs of infection (e.g., fever, chills, persistent sore throat), unusual tiredness, or easy bleeding/bruising. While this drug is first being given into your vein, this medication may cause severe (rarely fatal) reactions, including allergic reactions. Tell your doctor immediately if you experience flushing, trouble breathing, swelling of the face, tightness in the chest/throat, chills, back pain, severe dizziness, or fast heartbeat. See also Side Effects section. Tell your doctor if you have liver problems because the dose may need to be decreased. Your doctor will closely monitor you while you are being treated with this medication. Different types of this medication work in different ways. Do not switch types of this medication without your doctor's permission.