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Topotecan ( toe-poe-TEE-kan ) (Hycamtin®) What is this medication used for? Topotecan is used to treat leukemia, brain tumors, neuroblastoma, and sarcomas.
What does it look like? • Liquid • Capsule How is it given? • Into the vein (IV) or venous access device • By mouth (oral or po) What are the common side effects? • Nausea or vomiting • Diarrhea (loose stools) • Low blood counts (white blood cells, red blood cell, and platelets) (pancytopenia) • Fever and increased risk of infection, especially when the white blood cell count is low • Hair loss (alopecia)
Special instructions: • Blood tests will be done regularly to check the blood cell count. • Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medicine because grapefruit can affect the body’s absorption of the medicine, making treatment less effective. • Do not crush, chew, or break the capsules. • Liquid topotecan can be mixed with acidic juice (such as apple, orange, or grape juice) or flavored syrup immediately before it is taken. • Syringes for liquid medicine should be thrown away after each use and not reused. • Liquid topotecan should be stored in the refrigerator and protected from light. • If oral topotecan is vomited, do not take another dose • If IV-administered topotecan causes swelling, redness, or burning where it is being given, notify a healthcare provider immediately. • You should not receive a “colony stimulating factor” medicine (GSC-F, filgrastim [Neuprogen/Granix/Zarxio] or pegfilgrastim [Neulasta]) within 24 hours after your last topotecan injection. • Do not become pregnant, father a child, or breastfeed while taking this medication. It may be important to use birth control while taking this medicine and for several months after treatment is completed.
• Skin irritation if medicine leaks out of vein What are the less common side effects? • Headache • Cough • Skin rash
• Feeling tired (fatigue, malaise) • Shortness of breath (dyspnea) • Stomach (abdominal) pain • Mouth sores (mucositis) • Pain • Damage to unborn child (birth defects) • Neutropenic enterocolitis (a bowel problem that can be life threatening)
Notes from Your Healthcare Team
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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