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Thiotepa ( thye-oh-TEEP-uh ) (TESPA, Thioplex®) What is this medication used for? Thiotepa is used as a conditioning treatment prior to stem cell or bone marrow transplant. Italso can be used to treat certain solid tumors in adults and children.
• Inappropriate behavior • Confusion • Drowsiness • Elevation of certain enzymes in the blood or bilirubin in the liver • Bronze discoloration or darkening of the skin • Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), which can be life threatening and may include shortness of breath, low blood pressure, and a rapid heart rate • Swelling and tightening of the throat, which can cause difficulty breathing • A new cancer or leukemia resulting from treatment • Kidney damage What are the rare but serious side effects? • Severe allergic reaction, which can be life threatening with shortness of breath, low blood pressure, and a rapid heart rate • Swelling and tightening of the throat, which can cause difficulty breathing • A new cancer or leukemia resulting from this treatment Special instructions: • Blood tests will be done to check the blood cell count and liver function. • Fluid intake and urine output will be closely monitored before, during, and after the medication is given. • Kidney function will be tested before the treatment. This medicine may cause kidney damage. • Thiotepa can come through the skin as part of the patient’s sweat. • Before thiotepa is given, all tape and occlusive dressings should be removed from the skin, and no soap, lotion, or tape can be used on the skin during thiotepa infusion and
What does it look like? • Liquid How is it given?
• Into the vein (IV) or venous access device What are the common side effects? • Nausea • Vomiting • Loss of appetite • Extreme feeling of tiredness or weakness • Low blood counts (red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets) • Fever and increased risk of infection, especially when the white blood cell count is low • Absence or decrease in sperm count, which may be temporary or permanent and may decrease the ability to conceive children • Absence of or decrease in ovulation/menstruation, which could affect the ability to become pregnant • Inflammation or sores in the mouth, throat, or esophagus (the passage between the throat and the stomach) with
high doses used before marrow transplants What are the less common side effects? • Headache • Dizziness • Hair loss (alopecia) • Inflammation and reddening of the eye • Blurred vision • Darkening, redness, or peeling of the skin • Hives
• Skin rash • Wheezing • Sudden high fever • Pain in the stomach (abdomen) • Difficulty emptying the bladder of urine • Feeling an urgent need to urinate or feeling pain when urinating • With high doses used before marrow transplants:
for 48 hours afterward. • Bathing instructions:
• Patients need to bathe or shower, with water only, every 6 hours beginning 6 hours after the first dose and continuing until 24 hours after the last dose.
Not all of the possible side effects of this medicine and precautions related to taking it are covered in this information sheet. For a complete list of side effects and precautions, ask your healthcare professional (doctor, nurse, pharmacist) for a manufacturer’s package insert or another reference.
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