Floxuridine injection

What is floxuridine injection?

FLOXURIDINE (FUDR®) is a type of chemotherapy for treating cancer. Floxuridine interferes with the growth of cancer cells. It is used to treat cancer that has spread to the liver. Generic floxuridine injections are available.

What should my health care professional know before I receive floxuridine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• bleeding problems

• blood disorders

• dental disease

• hepatitis

• infection (especially viral infections such as chickenpox or cold sores)

• kidney disease

• liver disease

• recent radiation therapy

• an unusual or allergic reaction to floxuridine, other chemotherapy, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?

Floxuridine is for infusion into the liver, usually through a special pump that is placed under the skin in the stomach. Treatment usually occurs in a hospital or clinic setting by a health care professional.

What if I miss a dose?

This does not apply.

What drug(s) may interact with floxuridine?

Other chemotherapy agents or radiation therapy may increase some of the side effects due to floxuridine

• allopurinol

• cimetidine

• digoxin

• dipyridamole

• hydroxyurea

• leucovorin

• methotrexate

• metronidazole

• phenytoin

• vaccines

Talk to your prescriber or health care professional before taking any of these medicines:

• aspirin

• acetaminophen

• ibuprofen

• ketoprofen

• naproxen

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including nonprescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking floxuridine?

Visit your prescriber or health care professional for checks on your progress. You will need to have regular blood checks. The side effects of floxuridine can continue after you finish your treatment; report side effects promptly.

Floxuridine may make you feel generally unwell. This is not uncommon because floxuridine affects good cells as well as cancer cells. Report any side effects as above, but continue your course of medicine even though you feel ill, unless your prescriber or health care professional tells you to stop.

Floxuridine may decrease your body's ability to fight infections. Call your prescriber or health care professional if you have a fever, chills, sore throat or other symptoms of a cold or flu. Do not treat these symptoms yourself. Try to avoid being around people who are sick. Floxuridine may increase your risk to bruise or bleed. Call your prescriber or health care professional if you notice any unusual bleeding. Be careful not to cut, bruise or injure yourself because you may get an infection and bleed more than usual.

Avoid taking aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol®), ibuprofen (Advil®), ketoprofen (Orudis KT®), or naproxen (Aleve®) products as these may mask a fever, unless instructed to by your prescriber or health care professional.

Be careful brushing and flossing your teeth or using a toothpick while receiving floxuridine because you may get an infection or bleed more easily. If you have any dental work done, tell your dentist you received floxuridine.

If you are going to have surgery, tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are using floxuridine.

Try to keep out of the sun, or wear protective clothing and use a sunscreen when you are outdoors. Do not use sun lamps or sun tanning beds or booths. Flouridine makes your skin more sensitive to the sun and you may get a sunburn more easily. Your eyes may become more senstive to the sun, too.

What side effects may I notice from receiving floxuridine?

Floxuridine may cause different side effects depending upon the dose, how it is given, other chemotherapy agents, or if radition therapy is given. Not all of these effects occur in all patients. Discuss the possible side effects of your therapy with your prescriber or health care professional.

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

• low blood counts - floxuridine may decrease the number of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. You may be at increased risk for infections and bleeding.

• signs of infection - fever or chills, cough, sore throat, pain or difficulty passing urine

• signs of decreased platelets or bleeding - bruising, pinpoint red spots on the skin, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine

• signs of decreased red blood cells - unusual weakness or tiredness, fainting spells, lightheadedness

• chest pain

• confusion

• dark yellow or brown urine

• difficulty breathing

• drowsiness

• lower back pain

• mouth sores

• nausea, vomiting

• pain or difficulty passing urine

• pain, swelling, redness or irritation at the injection site

• stomach pain

• yellowing of the eyes or skin

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• dark colored skin

• diarrhea

• hair loss

• increased sensitivity of the skin to sun and ultraviolet light

• indigestion

• loss of appetite

• skin rash, itching

Where can I keep my medicine?

You will receive floxuridine therapy in a hospital or clinic setting. You will not have to keep this medication at home.