Doxorubicin Accord
Doxorubicin Accord is a medicine that kills cancer cells and is used to treat various types of cancer.
Form
infuusiokonsentraatti, liuosta varten
Strength
2 mg/ml
Active Ingredient
Doxorubicin hydrochloride
Manufacturer
Accord Healthcare B.V.
How to Use
Dosage
The dose is typically calculated based on your body surface area. When used alone, the dose is usually 60-75 mg per square meter every three weeks. When used with other cancer medicines, the dose may be reduced to 30-60 mg per square meter every 3-4 weeks, or 15-20 mg per square meter weekly.
Method
The medicine is given into a vein (intravenously) as an infusion. For superficial bladder cancer, it may be given directly into the bladder.
Important
Your doctor will determine the maximum daily dose, which depends on your treatment plan and body surface area. Typically, a dose is 60-75 mg per square meter every three weeks, or 15-20 mg per square meter weekly.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Infection, fever, chills, or blood poisoning (sepsis)
- •Loss of appetite, mouth sores, inflammation of the gut lining, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain
- •Lower numbers of red blood cells (anemia), white blood cells (leukopenia, neutropenia), or platelets (thrombocytopenia)
- •Redness, swelling, numbness, pain, or tingling in hands and feet; hair and beard loss; itchy rash; skin and nail discoloration
- •Abnormal heart electrical activity (ECG), changes in heart function (e.g., fast heartbeat) or heart muscle damage (cardiotoxicity)
- •Redness and swelling at the injection site; local side effects like bladder inflammation if given into the bladder
- •Weakness, changes in liver enzyme values, weight gain (in some breast cancer patients), inflammation of the conjunctiva
RARE
- •Blood clot in a blood vessel
- •Secondary blood cancer (leukemia) if used with other DNA-damaging cancer drugs
- •Tumor lysis syndrome (complications from breakdown of cancer cells, affecting blood and kidneys)
- •Dehydration, shock, general malaise
- •Increased urea in blood, acute kidney failure, liver toxicity
- •Corneal inflammation, increased tear production
- •Fast or irregular heartbeat (tachyarrhythmia), loss of nerve signals from the heart
- •Vein inflammation (phlebitis), complete vein blockage (thrombophlebitis), flushing, bleeding problems
- •Irritation or bleeding in the small intestine, soreness or ulcers in the mouth that appear later, mouth discoloration, colon inflammation (colitis), stomach lining inflammation
- •Increased skin sensitivity to sunlight, itchy skin, other skin problems, radiation recall phenomenon (skin reaction after radiation)
- •Missed menstrual periods (amenorrhea) that should return to normal, early menopause, lack or decrease of sperm (azoospermia, oligospermia) that should recover
- •Shortness of breath due to muscle spasms in airways (bronchospasm)
Important Warnings
- Do not use if you are allergic to doxorubicin or similar medicines (anthracyclines).
- Tell your doctor if your bone marrow cannot make enough blood cells.
- Tell your doctor if you have had doxorubicin or similar cancer treatments before, as this may increase side effects.
- Tell your doctor if you have an infection, or problems with your liver, kidneys, or heart (heart attack, heart failure, abnormal heartbeats).
- Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you plan to become pregnant soon. Use effective birth control during and after treatment.
Show 5 more warnings
- Tell the nurse immediately if you feel a burning sensation during the injection, as the medicine may leak out and harm tissues.
- Avoid live vaccines and contact with people recently vaccinated against polio.
- Do not drive or operate machines, as this medicine can cause drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting.
- Your doctor will monitor your blood counts, heart, liver, and kidney function closely during treatment.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you have a high fever, as this could indicate a life-threatening infection.