Do not use teniposide without first talking to your doctor if you have
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Down’s Syndrome;
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bone marrow suppression;
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liver disease; or
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low albumin levels.
The use of teniposide may be dangerous if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Teniposide is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that teniposide is known to
be harmful to an unborn baby.
It is not known whether teniposide passes into breast milk. Do not take teniposide without first talking to your doctor if you are breast feeding a baby.
The safety and effectiveness of teniposide in children has not been established.
Teniposide should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Your doctor will determine the correct amount and frequency of treatment with teniposide depending upon the type of cancer being treated and other factors. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns regarding the treatment schedule.
Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests and other medical evaluations during treatment with teniposide to monitor progress and side effects.
Skin accidentally exposed to teniposide should be rinsed thoroughly with soap and warm water.
Your healthcare provider will store teniposide as directed by the manufacturer. If you are storing teniposide at home, follow the directions provided by your healthcare provider.
Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of teniposide.
If you experience any of the following serious side effects from teniposide, seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
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an allergic reaction (including difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); or
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decreased bone marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; or fever, chills, or signs of infection).
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue taking teniposide and talk to your doctor if you experience:
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nausea or vomiting;
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drowsiness or dizziness; or
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temporary hair loss.
Other side effects have also been reported. Discuss with your doctor any side effect that occurs during treatment with teniposide.
Teniposide should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Serious side effects have been reported with the use of teniposide including: allergic reactions (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); decreased bone marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; fever or chills; or signs of infection); and others. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from treatment with teniposide.
Teniposide can lower the activity of your immune system making you susceptible to infections. Avoid contact with people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses and do not receive vaccines that contain live strains of a virus (e.g., live oral polio vaccine) during treatment with teniposide. In addition, avoid contact with individuals who have recently been vaccinated with a live vaccine. There is a chance that the virus can be passed on to you.
Skin accidentally exposed to teniposide should be rinsed thoroughly with soap and warm water.
Do not receive "live” vaccines during treatment with teniposide. Administration of a live vaccine may be dangerous during treatment with teniposide.
Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products, during treatment with teniposide.
If for any reason an overdose of teniposide is suspected, seek emergency medical attention or contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Symptoms of a teniposide overdose tend to be similar to side effects caused by the medication, although often more severe.