Irinotecan Fresenius Kabi
Irinotecan Fresenius Kabi is a cancer medicine that stops cancer cells from growing and spreading, used for advanced colon or rectal cancer.
Form
infuusiokonsentraatti, liuosta varten
Strength
20 mg/ml
Active Ingredient
Irinotecan hydrochloride trihydric
Manufacturer
Fresenius Kabi AB
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will determine your exact dose based on your body size, health, and cancer type.
Method
This medicine is given as a slow drip into a vein (intravenous infusion) at a clinic or hospital, usually taking 30 to 90 minutes.
Important
Your doctor will decide your maximum dose for each treatment cycle.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Low white blood cell count, increasing infection risk
- •Low red blood cell count, causing fatigue and shortness of breath
- •Decreased appetite
- •Cholinergic syndrome (runny nose, increased saliva, watery eyes, sweating, flushing, stomach cramps, early diarrhea)
- •Vomiting
- •Nausea
- •Abdominal pain
- •Hair loss (reversible)
- •Mucositis (inflammation of mucous membranes)
- •Fever
- •Feeling weak and lack of energy
- •Low platelet count, leading to bruising or bleeding
- •Abnormal liver function test results
- •Infection
- •Low white blood cell count and fever
- •Constipation
- •Abnormal kidney function test results
- •Diarrhea
RARE
- •Severe, persistent, or bloody diarrhea caused by bacteria (Clostridium difficile)
- •Blood infection (sepsis)
- •Dehydration (due to diarrhea and vomiting)
- •Dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and pale skin due to low blood volume
- •Allergic reaction (e.g., hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat)
- •Temporary speech disturbances during or immediately after treatment
- •Tingling and numbness
- •High blood pressure (during or after infusion)
- •Heart problems
- •Lung disease causing wheezing or shortness of breath
- •Hiccups
- •Bowel obstruction
- •Enlarged colon
- •Gastrointestinal bleeding
- •Colitis (inflammation of the colon)
- •Hole in the bowel wall (perforation)
- •Fatty liver
- •Skin reactions
- •Reactions at the injection site
- •Low potassium in blood
- •Low sodium in blood (mainly due to diarrhea and vomiting)
- •Muscle cramps
- •Kidney problems
- •Low blood pressure
- •Fungal infections
- •Viral infections
Important Warnings
- Do not use if you have chronic inflammatory bowel disease or bowel obstruction.
- Do not use if you are allergic to irinotecan hydrochloride trihydrate or any other ingredients in this medicine.
- Do not breastfeed while using this medicine.
- Do not use if your bilirubin levels are more than three times the upper limit of normal.
- Do not use if you have severe bone marrow failure.
Show 15 more warnings
- Do not use if your general health is poor (WHO performance status above 2).
- Do not use if you are currently taking or have recently taken St. John's Wort.
- Do not use if you are about to receive or have recently received a live attenuated vaccine (e.g., yellow fever, chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella).
- Irinotecan Fresenius Kabi can cause severe diarrhea. Untreated diarrhea can lead to serious dehydration and chemical imbalance, which can be life-threatening. Always take anti-diarrhea medication as prescribed by your doctor and drink plenty of fluids. Call your doctor if diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours or if you feel dizzy or faint.
- This medicine can lower your white blood cell count, increasing your risk of infection. Tell your doctor immediately if you have signs of infection like fever (38°C or higher), chills, pain when urinating, new cough, or mucus.
- Your doctor will do blood tests before and during treatment to check your blood cell counts and chemical levels. These tests help adjust your dose and manage side effects.
- This medicine may reduce your platelet count, increasing your risk of bleeding. Tell your doctor if you experience unusual bruising or bleeding like nosebleeds or black, tarry stools.
- You may experience nausea and vomiting. Your doctor can prescribe medication to help prevent or manage these symptoms. Take anti-nausea medicine as prescribed.
- This medicine can cause an acute cholinergic syndrome with symptoms like runny nose, increased saliva, watery eyes, sweating, flushing, stomach cramps, and early diarrhea. Report these to your healthcare team immediately as there are medicines to treat them.
- In rare cases, serious lung problems can occur. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop new or worsening cough, difficulty breathing, or fever.
- This medicine may increase the risk of serious blood clots in your legs or lungs. Seek immediate medical help if you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or swelling, pain, redness, or warmth in an arm or leg.
- Call your doctor if you have stomach pain and cannot have a bowel movement, especially with bloating and loss of appetite.
- This medicine can cause sores in your mouth or on your lips. Your healthcare team can give you advice on how to manage this, and your doctor may prescribe pain medicine.
- This medicine may cause dizziness and/or vision problems for up to 24 hours after your dose. Do not drive or operate machinery if you experience these effects.
- This medicine contains sorbitol, which is a source of fructose. If you or your child have hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI), you should not take this medicine.