Apacross
Apacross is a cancer medicine containing paclitaxel that helps kill cancer cells by stopping them from dividing.
Form
infuusiokuiva-aine, dispersiota varten
Strength
5 mg/ml
Active Ingredient
Paclitaxel
Manufacturer
Seacross Pharma (Europe) Limited
How to Use
Dosage
The dose depends on your cancer type and body surface area, given as an infusion. For breast cancer, it's usually 260 mg/m²; for advanced pancreatic cancer, 125 mg/m²; and for non-small cell lung cancer, 100 mg/m².
Method
This medicine is given as an infusion directly into your vein by a doctor or nurse, usually over 30 minutes.
Important
This medicine is given according to a scheduled cycle, not daily. Your doctor will determine the appropriate treatment frequency.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Hair loss (often significant, usually starting within one month of treatment)
- •Skin rash
- •Abnormally low counts of certain white blood cells (neutrophils, lymphocytes, or leukocytes)
- •Low red blood cell count
- •Low platelet count
- •Nerve problems (pain, numbness, tingling, or loss of feeling)
- •Joint pain
- •Muscle pain
- •Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, sore mouth, loss of appetite
- •Vomiting
- •Weakness and tiredness, fever
- •Dehydration, taste changes, weight loss
- •Low potassium in blood
- •Depression, sleep problems
- •Headache
- •Chills
- •Breathing difficulties
- •Dizziness
- •Swelling of mucous membranes and soft tissues
- •Increased liver function test results
- •Pain in arms and legs
- •Cough
- •Abdominal pain
- •Nosebleed
- •Itching, dry skin, nail changes
- •Infection, fever with low neutrophils, redness, thrush, severe blood infection due to low white blood cells
- •Low count of all blood cells
- •Chest or throat pain
- •Indigestion, stomach discomfort
- •Stuffy nose
- •Back pain, bone pain
- •Poor muscle coordination or difficulty reading, increased or decreased tear production, loss of eyelashes
- •Changes in heart rate or rhythm, heart failure
- •Low or high blood pressure
- •Redness or swelling at the injection site
- •Anxiety
- •Lung infection
- •Urinary tract infection
- •Bowel obstruction, colon inflammation, bile duct inflammation
- •Acute kidney failure
- •Increased bilirubin levels in blood
- •Coughing up blood
- •Dry mouth, difficulty swallowing
- •Muscle weakness
- •Blurred vision
RARE
- •Weight gain, increased lactate dehydrogenase in blood, impaired kidney function, high blood sugar, increased phosphorus in blood
- •Reduced or absent reflexes, involuntary movements, nerve pain, fainting, dizziness when standing up, tremors, facial nerve paralysis
- •Eye irritation, eye pain, red eyes, itchy eyes, double vision, reduced vision or flashing lights in eyes, blurred vision due to retinal swelling (cystic macular edema)
- •Ear pain, ringing in ears
- •Cough with mucus, shortness of breath when walking or climbing stairs, runny or dry nose, reduced breath sounds, fluid in lungs, loss of voice, blood clot in lungs, dry throat
- •Gas, abdominal cramps, sore or tender gums, rectal bleeding
- •Painful urination, frequent urge to urinate, blood in urine, inability to hold urine
- •Fingernail pain, nail problems or loss of nails, hives, skin pain, red skin from sunlight, skin discoloration, increased sweating, night sweats, white skin patches, wounds, facial swelling
- •Low phosphorus in blood, fluid retention, low albumin in blood, increased thirst, low calcium in blood, low blood sugar, low sodium in blood
- •Nose pain and swelling, skin inflammation, catheter-related infection
- •Bruises
- •Pain at tumor site, tumor necrosis
- •Low blood pressure when standing, cold hands and feet
- •Difficulty walking, swelling
- •Allergic reaction
- •Impaired liver function, enlarged liver
- •Chest pain
- •Restlessness
- •Small skin bleeding caused by blood clots
- •Condition involving red blood cell destruction and acute kidney failure
- •Skin reaction to another substance or lung inflammation after radiation therapy
- •Blood clot
- •Very low pulse, heart attack
- •Leakage of medicine outside the vein
- •Heart electrical activity disorder (atrioventricular block)
- •Severe inflammation/skin and mucous membrane symptoms (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis)
- •Hardening/thickening of skin (scleroderma)
Important Warnings
- Do not use if you are allergic to paclitaxel or any other ingredient in Apacross.
- Do not use if you are breastfeeding.
- Do not use if your white blood cell count is too low (your doctor will tell you if this is the case).
- Talk to your doctor if you have kidney, liver, or heart problems.
- Tell your doctor if you have unusual bruising, bleeding, or signs of infection like a sore throat or fever.
Show 5 more warnings
- Tell your doctor if you experience numbness, tingling, stinging, sensitivity to touch, or muscle weakness.
- Tell your doctor if you have breathing difficulties, such as shortness of breath or a dry cough.
- Women who can become pregnant must use effective contraception during treatment and for at least 6 months after.
- Men should use effective contraception and avoid fathering children during treatment and for at least 3 months after. Discuss sperm storage with your doctor before treatment.
- This medicine may cause tiredness or dizziness. If this happens, do not drive or use tools/machines.