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Etoposide is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.
Etoposide is used to treat small cell lung cancer. It is usually given in combination with other cancer medicines.
Etoposide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Etoposide can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. You may get an infection or bleed more easily. Call your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding, or signs of infection (fever, chills, body aches).
You should not use etoposide if you are allergic to it.
To make sure you can safely take etoposide, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease.
Using etoposide may increase your risk of developing other types of cancer, such as leukemia. Talk with your doctor about your specific risk.
Do not use etoposide if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether etoposide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using etoposide.
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take etoposide in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
Do not break or open the etoposide capsule. Do not use a pill that has been accidentally broken.
The medicine from a broken capsule can be dangerous if it gets in your eyes, mouth, or nose, or on your skin. If this occurs, wash your skin with soap and water or rinse your eyes with water. Wear disposable rubber gloves when you handle a etoposide capsule. Throw the gloves away after one use.
Etoposide can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. Your blood will need to be tested often. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results of these tests.
Store etoposide capsules in the refrigerator, do not freeze.
Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose of etoposide.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
etoposide can pass into body fluids (urine, feces, vomit). Caregivers should wear rubber gloves while cleaning up a patient's body fluids, handling contaminated trash or laundry or changing diapers. Wash hands before and after removing gloves. Wash soiled clothing and linens separately from other laundry.
Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.
Avoid activities that may increase your risk of bleeding or injury. Use extra care to prevent bleeding while shaving or brushing your teeth.
Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using etoposide. The vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: fever, chills, sweating, fast heartbeats, fainting; hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
sudden chest pain or discomfort, wheezing, dry cough or hack;
easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;
vision problems;
seizure (convulsions);
liver problems--nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
low red blood cells (anemia)--pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating;
low white blood cell counts--fever, swollen gums, painful mouth sores, pain when swallowing, skin sores, cold or flu symptoms, cough, trouble breathing; or
severe skin reaction--fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
Common side effects may include:
nausea, vomiting; or
temporary hair loss.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Usual Adult Dose for Testicular Cancer:
In combination with other approved chemotherapeutic agents:
50 to 100 mg/m2 IV over 30 to 60 minutes once a day on days 1 through 5 every 3 to 4 weeks to 100 mg/m2 IV over 30 to 60 minutes once a day on days 1, 3, and 5 every 3 to 4 weeks
Comments:
-A longer duration of IV administration may be used if the volume of fluid to be infused is a concern.
-The dosage should be modified to consider the myelosuppressive effects of other drugs in the combination or the effects of prior x-ray therapy or chemotherapy which may have compromised bone marrow reserve.
Use: In combination therapy with other approved chemotherapeutic agents in patients with refractory testicular tumors who have already received appropriate surgical, chemotherapeutic, and radiotherapeutic therapy
Usual Adult Dose for Small Cell Lung Cancer:
IV:
In combination with other approved chemotherapeutic agents:
35 mg/m2 IV over 30 to 60 minutes once a day for 4 days to 50 mg/m2 IV over 30 to 60 minutes once a day for 5 days every 3 to 4 weeks
Oral:
In combination with other approved chemotherapeutic agents:
The recommended dose is 2 times the IV dose rounded to the nearest 50 mg (i.e., 2 times 35 mg/m2 IV once a day for 4 days to 50 mg/m2 IV once a day for 5 days equaling 70 mg/m2 orally once a day for 4 days to 100 mg/m2 orally once a day for 5 days)
Comments:
-A longer duration of IV administration may be used if the volume of fluid to be infused is a concern.
-The dosage should be modified to consider the myelosuppressive effects of other drugs in the combination or the effects of prior x-ray therapy or chemotherapy which may have compromised bone marrow reserve.
Use: In combination with other approved chemotherapeutic agents as first line treatment in patients with small cell lung cancer
Other drugs may interact with etoposide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/1/2020.
Source: Drugs.com Etoposide (www.drugs.com/mtm/etoposide.html).
Applies to etoposide: oral capsule liquid filled
Other dosage forms:
Oral route (Capsule, Liquid Filled)
Severe myelosuppression with resulting infection or bleeding may occur with etoposide.
Along with its needed effects, etoposide may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking etoposide:
More common
Less common
Rare
Incidence not known
Some side effects of etoposide may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Incidence not known
Applies to etoposide: intravenous powder for injection, intravenous solution, oral capsule
Very common (10% or more): Myelosuppression (sometimes fatal), leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, anemia
Very common (10% or more): Abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, mucositis (including stomatitis and esophagitis)
Common (1% to 10%): Diarrhea
Rare (less than 0.1%): Dysphagia, dysgeusia
Common (1% to 10%): Myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, transient systolic hypotension (following rapid IV administration), hypertension
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cyanosis
Rare (less than 0.1%): Heart failure
Common (1% to 10%): Anaphylaxis (sometimes fatal)
Very common (10% or more): Alopecia, pigmentation
Common (1% to 10%): Rash, urticaria, pruritus
Rare (less than 0.1%): Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, radiation recall dermatitis, maculopapular rash
Common (1% to 10%): Hepatotoxicity
Very common (10% or more): Asthenia, malaise
Frequency not reported: Fever
Rare (less than 0.1%): Pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial pneumonitis, bronchospasm, dyspnea
Frequency not reported: Infectious complications
Frequency not reported: Tumor lysis syndrome (sometimes fatal) has been reported following the use of this drug in association with other chemotherapeutic drugs
Very common (10% or more: Neurotoxicity (e.g., somnolence, fatigue)
Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Peripheral neuropathy
Rare (less than 0.1%): Seizure (occasionally associated with allergic reactions), optic neuritis, cortical blindness transient, neurotoxicity (e.g., somnolence, fatigue)
Frequency not reported: Aftertaste
Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Optic neuritis, transient cortical blindness
Common (1% to 10%): Extravasation (e.g., local soft tissue toxicity, swelling, pain, cellulitis, necrosis including skin necrosis), phlebitis
Common (1% to 10%): Acute leukemia
Frequency not reported: Acute promyelocytic leukemia
Medically reviewed by USARx EDITORIAL TEAM Last updated on 1/1/2020.
Source: Drugs.com Etoposide (www.drugs.com/mtm/etoposide.html).
March 28, 2020
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