Topotecan capsules

What are Topotecan capsules?

TOPOTECAN is a chemotherapy drug. It is used to treat small cell lung cancer.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

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

• immune system problems

• infection (especially a virus infection such as chickenpox, cold sores, or herpes)

• kidney disease

• low blood counts, like low white cell, platelet, or red cell counts

• an unusual or allergic reaction to topotecan, gelatin, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?

Take this medicine by mouth with a glass of water. You can take it with or without food. Do not cut, crush, or chew this medicine. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Take your medicine at regular intervals. Do not take it more often than directed. Do not stop taking except on your doctor's advice.

A patient information sheet for the product will be given with each prescription and refill. Read this sheet carefully each time. The sheet may change frequently.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

What drug(s) may interact with Topotecan?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

• cyclosporine

• tacrolimus

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• amiodarone

• antiviral medicines for HIV or AIDS

• clarithromycin

• diltiazem

• erythromycin

• grapefruit or grapefruit juice

• medicines for fungal infections like ketoconazole and itraconazole

• mefloquine

• mifepristone, RU-486

• nicardipine

• propafenone

• quinidine

• sirolimus

• tamoxifen

• testosterone

• verapamil

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription 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 Topotecan?

Tell your doctor or healthcare professional if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse.

This medicine may cause constipation. Try to have a bowel movement at least every 2 to 3 days. If you do not have a bowel movement for 3 days, call your doctor or health care professional.

This drug may make you feel generally unwell. This is not uncommon, as chemotherapy can affect healthy cells as well as cancer cells. Report any side effects. Continue your course of treatment even though you feel ill unless your doctor tells you to stop.

Call your doctor or health care professional for advice if you get a fever, chills or sore throat, or other symptoms of a cold or flu. Do not treat yourself. This drug decreases your body's ability to fight infections. Try to avoid being around people who are sick.

This medicine may increase your risk to bruise or bleed. Call your doctor or health care professional if you notice any unusual bleeding.

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

Avoid taking products that contain aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen unless instructed by your doctor. These medicines may hide a fever.

Women should inform their doctor if they wish to become pregnant or think they might be pregnant. There is a potential for serious side effects to an unborn child. Talk to your health care professional or pharmacist for more information. Do not breast-feed an infant while taking this medicine.

What side effects may I notice from receiving Topotecan?

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

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue

• breathing difficulties

• diarrhea

• dizziness

• fever or chills, sore throat

• mouth sores or pain

• pain, tingling, numbness in the hands or feet

• unusual bleeding or bruising

• unusually weak or tired

• yellowing of the eyes or skin

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

• hair loss

• headache

• loss of appetite

• nausea, vomiting

• stomach pain

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Keep this medicine in the original container. Protect from light. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

Topotecan injection

What is topotecan injection?

TOPOTECAN (Hycamtin®) is a chemotherapy agent used to treat lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and many other types of cancer. Topotecan interferes with the growth of rapidly dividing cells, like cancer cells, and eventually causes these cells to die. Generic topotecan injections are not available.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

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

• blood disorders

• dehydration

• dental disease

• diarrhea

• infection (especially viral infections such as chickenpox or herpes)

• kidney disease

• recent radiation therapy

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

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?

Topotecan is for infusion into a vein. It is usually administered in a hospital or clinic setting by a health care professional.

What if I miss a dose?

It is important not to miss a dose if you require regular therapy. Let your prescriber or health care professional know if you are unable to keep an appointment.

What drug(s) may interact with topotecan?

• amiodarone

• antiviral medicines for HIV or AIDS

• cisplatin

• clarithromycin

• cyclosporine

• diltiazem

• erythromycin

• grapefruit or grapefruit juice

• medicines for fungal infections like ketoconazole and itraconazole

• mefloquine

• mifepristone, RU-486

• nicardipine

• phenytoin

• propafenone

• quinidine

• tacrolimus

• tamoxifen

• testosterone

• vaccines

• verapamil

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

• aspirin

• acetaminophen

• ibuprofen

• naproxen

• ketoprofen

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 topotecan?

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

Topotecan may make you feel generally unwell. This is not uncommon because topotecan 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.

Topotecan 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. Topotecan 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®), naproxen (Aleve®), or ketoprofen (Orudis® KT) products as they 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 topotecan because you may get an infection or bleed more easily. If you have any dental work done, tell your dentist you are receiving topotecan.

There is a possibility that topotecan could cause harm to an unborn child. If you are pregnant or considering getting pregnant, talk to your health care provider about the risks of topotecan therapy. Women who may have children should use appropriate birth control methods while receiving topotecan. Discuss possible methods of birth control with your health care provider.

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

What side effects may I notice from receiving topotecan?

The side effects you may experience with topotecan therapy depend upon the dose, other types of chemotherapy or radiation therapy given, and the disease being treated. Not all of these effects occur in all patients. Discuss any concerns or questions 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 - topotecan 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

• difficulty breathing

• mouth sores

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

• constipation

• diarrhea

• hair loss

• headache

• loss of appetite

• nausea, vomiting

• skin rash, itching

• stomach pain

Where can I keep my medicine?

This does not apply. You will only receive this medicine in a hospital or clinic setting and will not need to store it at home.