Pronunciation: IX-ab-EP-i-lone
Generic Name: Ixabepilone
Brand Name: Ixempra
Do not take Ixabepilone if you also take capecitabine and you have high liver enzyme levels. It may increase your risk of toxicity and death caused by low white blood cell levels. Tell your doctor before you use Ixabepilone if you have liver problems.
Ixabepilone is used for:
Treating breast cancer. It may be used alone or with other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Ixabepilone is a microtubule inhibitor. It works by blocking cancer cell growth and reproduction.
Do NOT use Ixabepilone if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Ixabepilone or to products that contain Cremophor EL or castor oil
- you have low white blood cell or platelet levels
- you have high liver enzyme levels and you also take capecitabine
- you are taking certain cephalosporins (eg, cefotetan), disulfiram, or metronidazole
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Ixabepilone:
Some medical conditions may interact with Ixabepilone. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have a history of heart problems (eg, irregular heartbeat, a heart attack), diabetes, liver problems (eg, high liver enzyme levels), nerve problems, or bone marrow problems
- if you have an infection or blood problems (eg, low white blood cell or platelet levels)
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Ixabepilone. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Certain cephalosporins (eg, cefotetan), disulfiram, furazolidone, metronidazole, or sulfonylureas (eg, glyburide) because a reaction, including flushing, headache, fast or irregular heartbeat, difficult or fast breathing, nausea, vomiting, or dizziness, may occur
- Azole antifungals (eg, fluconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole), delavirdine, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, amprenavir, atazanavir, ritonavir), macrolide antibiotics (eg, clarithromycin, erythromycin), nefazodone, telithromycin, trazodone, or verapamil because they may increase the risk of Ixabepilone's side effects
- Barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), carbamazepine, dexamethasone, efavirenz, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), rifabutin, rifampin, or St. John's wort because they may decrease Ixabepilone's effectiveness
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Ixabepilone may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Ixabepilone:
Use Ixabepilone as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- An extra patient leaflet is available with Ixabepilone. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
- Ixabepilone is usually given once every 3 weeks. It is given as an injection at your doctor's office, hospital, or clinic. Each treatment will take about 3 hours.
- You will receive other medicines about 1 hour before each treatment with Ixabepilone to decrease the chance of an allergic reaction. Discuss any questions with your doctor.
- If vomiting or diarrhea occurs, you will need to take care not to become dehydrated. Contact your doctor for instructions.
- Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using Ixabepilone.
- If you miss a dose of Ixabepilone, contact your doctor right away.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Ixabepilone.
Important safety information:
- Ixabepilone may cause drowsiness or dizziness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Ixabepilone with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
- Ixabepilone has alcohol in it and may interact with other medicines (eg, certain cephalosporins, disulfiram, furazolidone, metronidazole, sulfonylureas). Alcohol in drinks or other medicines may increase the effects of Ixabepilone. Before you start any new medicine, check the label to see if it has alcohol in it too. If it does or if you are not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
- Ixabepilone may lower the ability of your body to fight infection. Avoid contact with people who have colds or infections. Tell your doctor if you notice signs of infection like fever, sore throat, rash, or chills.
- Ixabepilone may reduce the number of clot-forming cells (platelets) in your blood. Avoid activities that may cause bruising or injury. Tell your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding. Tell your doctor if you have dark, tarry, or bloody stools.
- Check with your doctor before you receive any vaccine while you are using Ixabepilone.
- Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Ixabepilone before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
- Women who are able to become pregnant should use an effective form of birth control (eg, condoms) while using Ixabepilone. Ask your doctor any questions you may have about effective birth control.
- Lab tests, including complete blood cell counts and liver function, may be performed while you use Ixabepilone. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Use Ixabepilone with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects.
- Ixabepilone should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Ixabepilone has been shown to cause harm to the fetus. Do not become pregnant while you are using it. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Ixabepilone while you are pregnant. It is not known if Ixabepilone is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while using Ixabepilone.
Possible side effects of Ixabepilone:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; fingernail or toenail changes; hair loss; headache; loss of appetite; mild fever; mild joint or muscle pain; mouth sores; nausea; stomach pain or upset; taste changes; tiredness or weakness; trouble sleeping; vomiting.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; flushing; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, throat, or tongue); chest pain or tightness; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; numbness, tingling, or burning of the hands or feet; pain, swelling, redness, or blistering at the injection site; redness, tenderness, or dryness of the palms of hands or soles of feet; severe or persistent dizziness; severe or persistent nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; severe tiredness or weakness; shortness of breath; signs of an infection (eg, fever, chills, cough, sore throat, burning or painful urination); swelling of the arms, hands, legs, or feet; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual weight gain.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Ixabepilone side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include fatigue; loss of appetite; muscle pain or aches; severe burning, numbness, or tingling of the arms, hands, legs, or feet; severe diarrhea, nausea, or stomach pain; swelling or soreness of the mouth or tongue.
Proper storage of Ixabepilone:
Ixabepilone is usually handled and stored by a health care provider. If you are using Ixabepilone at home, store Ixabepilone as directed by your pharmacist or health care provider. Keep Ixabepilone out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Ixabepilone, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Ixabepilone is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Ixabepilone. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Ixabepilone resources
- Ixabepilone Side Effects (in more detail)
- Ixabepilone Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Ixabepilone Drug Interactions
- Ixabepilone Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Ixabepilone - Add your own review/rating
- Ixabepilone Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)
- Ixabepilone Monograph (AHFS DI)
- ixabepilone Intravenous Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Ixempra Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Ixempra Consumer Overview
Compare Ixabepilone with other medications
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Cancer, Metastatic
No comments:
Post a Comment