Vepesid (Etoposide)

Etoposide Injection (e toe poe' side) Etopophos® Toposar®¶ Vepesid®¶ VP-16 Etoposide injection should be given only under the supervision of a doctor with experience in the use of chemotherapy medications. Etoposide can cause a severe decrease in the number of blood cells in your bone marrow. Your doctor will order laboratory tests regularly before and during your treatment. A decrease in the number of blood cells in your body may cause certain symptoms and may increase the risk that you will develop a serious infection or bleeding. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: fever, sore throat, ongoing cough and congestion, or other signs of infection; unusual bleeding or bruising; bloody or black, tarry stools; bloody vomit; or vomiting blood or brown material that resembles coffee grounds.

Etoposide injection is used in combination with other medications to treat cancer of the testicles that has not improved or that has worsened after treatment with other medications or radiation therapy. Etoposide injection is also used in combination with other medications to treat a certain type of lung cancer (small cell lung cancer; SCLC). Etoposide is in a class of medications known as podophyllotoxin derivatives. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in your body.

Etoposide injection comes as a comes as a solution (liquid) or as a powder to be mixed with liquid to be slowly injected intravenously (into a vein) by a doctor or nurse in a medical facility. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of cancer you have.

Before taking etoposide, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to etoposide, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in etoposide capsules. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients. tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: cisplatin (Platinol), cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with etoposide, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney disease. tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. You should not become pregnant or breast-feed while you are taking etoposide. If you become pregnant while taking etoposide, call your doctor. Etoposide may harm the fetus.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Etoposide may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: nausea vomiting sores in the mouth and throat stomach pain diarrhea constipation loss of appetite or weight unusual tiredness or weakness pale skin fainting dizziness hair loss pain, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet eye pain vision problems Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, stop taking etoposide and call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment: rash hives itching difficulty breathing or swallowing fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat seizures yellowing of the skin or eyes Etopside may increase the risk that you will develop other cancers. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking this medication. Etoposide may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication. If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication in the container it came in, in the refrigerator, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Do not freeze. It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain tests to check your body's response to etoposide. Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. ¶ This branded product is no longer on the market. Generic alternatives may be available.