Doxorubicin medac
Doxorubicin is a cancer medicine that kills cancer cells, including tumor and blood cancer cells.
Form
infuusioneste, liuos
Strength
2 mg/ml
Active Ingredient
Doxorubicin hydrochloride
Manufacturer
Medac Gesellschaft Für Klinische Spezialpräparate mbH
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will decide your dose based on your body size, other cancer medicines, and treatments you receive.
Method
The medicine is usually given into a vein as a drip under specialist supervision, or directly into the bladder for superficial bladder cancer.
Important
Your doctor will determine the maximum dose, considering the total amount you have received before and your individual needs.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Infections
- •Low white blood cells (making you more prone to infections), low platelets (causing unusual bleeding), and low red blood cells (anemia, causing tiredness).
- •Fever when white blood cells are low.
- •Feeling sick and throwing up (nausea and vomiting).
- •Sores and burning in the mouth and throat (mucositis, stomatitis), inflammation of the esophagus, abdominal pain.
- •Diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration.
- •Red, painful, swollen hands and feet (hand-foot syndrome).
- •Hair loss, nail changes.
- •Skin redness, rash, skin damage, increased sensitivity to sunlight, itching, hives, darkening of skin and nails.
- •Chills, fever, weakness, weight gain, loss of appetite, general malaise.
- •Heart problems like fast or slow heartbeat, weaker heart function, abnormal heart test results (e.g., ECG).
- •Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis).
- •Bladder inflammation with painful or frequent urination, or blood in urine.
- •Inflammation of a vein (phlebitis), hardening/stiffening of vein wall, inflammation of a vein due to a blood clot (thrombophlebitis).
- •Bleeding.
RARE
- •Dehydration.
- •Inflammation of the large intestine (colitis), sometimes with severe infections or bleeding.
- •Stomach inflammation with bleeding.
- •Sores and tissue death in the digestive system.
- •Blood poisoning (sepsis) with organ problems and low blood pressure.
- •A new type of blood cancer (secondary leukemia) when used with other cancer medicines.
- •Blood clots in blood vessels.
- •Metabolic issues from fast breakdown of cancer cells (tumor lysis syndrome).
- •Tissue death.
- •Sudden, severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) with rash, itching, fever, chills, and swelling of eyelids/tongue, trouble breathing.
- •Dizziness.
- •Lung inflammation after radiation therapy.
- •Breathing problems, swollen nasal lining, fast breathing, difficulty breathing.
- •Increased tear production.
- •High uric acid in the blood.
- •Specific heart rhythm disorder (e.g., AV block).
- •Low blood pressure and poor blood flow (shock).
- •Liver or kidney problems.
- •Inflammation of the eye (corneal inflammation).
- •Joint pain.
- •General muscle weakness.
- •Male infertility.
- •Hot flashes.
- •Cough or breathing difficulties (bronchospasm).
Important Warnings
- You are allergic to doxorubicin or similar medicines (anthracyclines).
- You have low blood cell counts or your bone marrow is not working well.
- You have or have had heart problems.
- You have received a lot of doxorubicin or similar cancer medicines before.
- You bleed easily.
Show 8 more warnings
- You have an infection.
- You have severe sores in your mouth.
- You have severe liver problems.
- You are breastfeeding. Stop breastfeeding during treatment and for at least 2 weeks after the last dose.
- If the medicine is given into the bladder: you have bladder cancer that has spread, or you have a bladder/urinary tract infection, or problems with a catheter, or blood in your urine.
- You are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or trying to father a child. Women must use birth control during treatment and for 7 months after; men must use birth control for 4 months after.
- If you feel a burning sensation at the injection site, tell your doctor or nurse right away.
- This medicine can make you feel sleepy, sick, or throw up, so do not drive or use machines.