Ellence

Generic Name: epirubicin
Other Brand Names: epirubicin

What is epirubicin?

Epirubicin is a cancer (antineoplastic) medication. Epirubicin interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.

Epirubicin is used to treat breast cancer.

Epirubicin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking epirubicin?

Do not use epirubicin without first talking to your doctor if you have

  • kidney disease;

  • liver disease;

  • heart problems such as heart disease, a history of heart attack, or irregular heartbeats;

  • poor bone marrow function or blood problems;

  • received radiation therapy that encompassed the heart; or

  • previously received treatment with doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Rubex), doxorubicin liposomal (Doxil), daunorubicin (Cerubidine), daunorubicin liposomal (Daunoxome), idarubicin (Idamycin), or mitoxantrone (Novantrone).

The use of epirubicin may be dangerous if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Epirubicin is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that epirubicin is known to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use epirubicin without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant. Discuss with your doctor the appropriate use of birth control during treatment with epirubicin if necessary. Men being treated with epirubicin should also use appropriate contraception during treatment as the medication may cause chromosomal damage to the sperm.

Because of the potential for serious side effects in a nursing infant, breast-feeding should be avoided during treatment with epirubicin.

The safety and effectiveness of epirubicin in children has not been established.

How should I take epirubicin?

Epirubicin 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 epirubicin 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 epirubicin to monitor progress and side effects.

Skin accidentally exposed to epirubicin should be rinsed thoroughly with soap and warm water.

Your healthcare provider will store epirubicin as directed by the manufacturer. If you are storing epirubicin at home, follow the directions provided by your healthcare provider.

What happens if I miss a dose of epirubicin?

Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of epirubicin.

Where can I get more information about epirubicin?
Your pharmacist has information about epirubicin written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of epirubicin?

If you experience any of the following serious side effects from epirubicin, contact your doctor immediately:

  • an allergic reaction (including 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; or fever, chills, or signs of infection);

  • congestive heart failure (difficulty breathing, fluid retention, chest pain);

  • irregular heartbeats;

  • tissue or vein reactions near the site of administration;

  • severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite;

  • inflamation and sores inside the mouth, throat, or intestines; or

  • fever, chills, or other signs of infection.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to use epirubicin and talk to your doctor if you experience:

  • mild to moderate nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite;

  • facial flushing during administration;

  • darkening of the skin or nails;

  • temporary hair loss; or

  • red colored urine for 1 or 2 days following a dose.

Secondary cancers such as leukemia have also been reported during and following treatment with epirubicin. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from treatment with epirubicin.

Other side effects have also been reported. Discuss with your doctor any side effect that occurs during treatment with epirubicin.

What is the most important information I should know about epirubicin?

Epirubicin 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 epirubicin including: allergic reactions (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); heart problems; tissue damage at the injection site; 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); severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or sores in the mouth; and others. Secondary cancers such as leukemia have also been reported during and following treatment with epirubicin. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from treatment with epirubicin.

What should I avoid while taking epirubicin?

Skin accidentally exposed to epirubicin should be rinsed thoroughly with soap and warm water.

Epirubicin can lower the activity of the 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 epirubicin. 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.

What other drugs will affect epirubicin?

Do not use epirubicin without first talking to your doctor if you have had previous treatment with epirubicin (Adriamycin, Rubex), epirubicin liposomal (Doxil), daunorubicin (Cerubidine), daunorubicin liposomal (Daunoxome), idarubicin (Idamycin), or mitoxantrone (Novantrone). There is a maximum amount of these medications that should be administered to an individual.

Before using epirubicin, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines.

  • cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB, others); or

  • a calcium channel blocker such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Diltia XT, Dilacor XR, Tiazac), verapamil (Calan, Covera-HS, Isoptin, Verelan), amlodipine (Norvasc), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), and others.

You may not be able to take epirubicin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Do not receive "live” vaccines during treatment with epirubicin. Administration of a live vaccine may be dangerous during treatment with epirubicin.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with epirubicin. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products, during treatment with epirubicin.

What happens if I have an overdose of epirubicin?

If for any reason an overdose of epirubicin is suspected, seek emergency medical attention or contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Symptoms of a epirubicin overdose tend to be similar to side effects caused by the medication, although often more severe.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every 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 outside 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 should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid 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.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008