Doxorubicin liposome injection is drug of choice for the treatment of both ovarian cancer and Kaposi sarcoma (AIDS patients). It is also used for the treatment of Multiple myeloma when combined with the drug Bortezomib. Hence, doxorubicin liposome is an antineoplastic drug since it is used for the management of cancer.
It has been shown that doxorubicin liposome interferes with the growth of cancer cells which are finally destroyed by the body. The normal body cells may also be affected by the administration of doxorubicin liposome injection. Consequently, this may lead to the formation of unwanted side effects.
All forms of side effects need to be reported to your healthcare professional. The drug is administered only by a trained professional and under the supervision of your doctor. Though not approved for use in other medical problems other than their antineoplastic applications, medical experience has demonstrated that it has other useful medical applications. This uses have not been indicated in the product labeling.
I Doxorubicin liposome injection have been found to be effective in the treatment of patients with AIDs and Multiple Myeloma.
Proper use of the medicine must always be ensured at all times so as to avoid the risks and weighing on the benefits of the treatment to the patient. This is a decision that must be entered by both you and your medical professional. Always inform your medical doctor whether you have any form of allergic reactions to Doxorubicin liposome injection or any other medicine. In addition, inform your doctor whether you have any form of allergic reaction to food, dyes, preservatives, or animals and their products. Moreover, always read the package information by checking on the ingredients carefully.
There are no pediatric studies that have been performed on the association and age to the effects of Doxorubicin liposome injection. There are also no studies on the safety and efficacy of using Doxorubicin liposome injection on children. Similar findings have also not been performed for elderly specific problems that would limit the use and administration of Doxorubicin liposome injection.
On the other hand, the effect of using Doxorubicin liposome injection on breastfeeding mothers and the effect of Doxorubicin liposome injection on infant risk have not been comprehensively done. It is advisable the potential benefits against the risks must be weighed by the doctor before prescribing this medication to breastfeeding mothers.
Drug interactions may also occur when used together with other medicines. However, in some medical conditions, two drugs may be used together even when drug interactions are likely to occur. In such a situation, the doctor will change the dose and ensure that precautions are observed as it may be very necessary.
It is important to inform your healthcare professional if you are taking any of the listed medicines that have potential interaction effects. The natures of interactions for drugs are listed on the basis of potential significance and not all inclusive.
Therefore, use of this medicines with Doxorubicin liposome injection are not allowed. However, your doctor may decide to use it to treat you with this medication or change some of the medicines that you take. These drugs include:
Use of Doxorubicin liposome injection with any of the above drug is not recommended but may be needed in some cases. When both medicines are prescribed at the same time, your doctor may often change the dose or how frequent you will use the drugs or both medicines.
Other drugs with potential possible interactions include:
Use of this medicine produces an increased risk of side effects when used together with Doxorubicin liposome injection. However, using both of these drugs will provide you with the best treatment for your medical condition. When both of the drugs have been prescribed together, the doctor may alter the dose as appropriate, how often you use the Doxorubicin liposome injection or both of the medicines. Moreover, certain medicines must not be used at or around times before eating food, or other types of foods since they may allow for interactions to occur.
Use of alcohols or tobacco with other medicines may cause interactions to occur. Use of medicines with either alcohol or tobacco is always not recommended and always must be avoided in some cases. However, when used together, then the doctor may need to change the dose, how frequent you use the medicine or provide you with special instructions on how to use the food, alcohol or tobacco and even the grape fruit juice.
In case of other medical problems that may influence or affect the use of this medicines, ensure that you inform your doctor about your medical problem. Conditions to be careful when using these drugs include: Congestive heart failure, disease of the heart of blood vessels and their history.
Liver and kidney disease may make this condition worse since they decrease the body’s ability of fighting infection. Hence, this drug needs be used with caution since the effects may be potentiated with the slow removal of the medicine from the body.
3 Proper Usage
This is strictly, a prescription drug which can only be administered by a health professional in a hospital and more specifically in a cancer treatment center. The medicine is administered through a needle that is placed in your vein.
Doxorubicin liposome injection should never be substituted with any other drug including Doxil. This drug often causes nausea and vomiting after administration of the medicine.
4 Precautions to Take
Proper check- ups needs to be done on every visit while receiving the medicine to ensure that the drugs are working as required. Blood tests may also be evaluated to evaluate for unwanted effects.
This drug is contraindicated for pregnant mothers since it may cause harm to the fetus or unborn baby. It is advisable for the women to use the appropriate birth controls for duration of about 6 months after receiving the treatment to avoid getting pregnant. When you believe that either you or your partners are pregnant, it is important for one to inform the doctor immediately. Inform your doctor when using this medicine or before using this medicine if your plan to have children. It is also indicated that some of the men and women that use this medicine also become infertile.
Inform your doctor if you have chest pain or have any form of discomfort, fast heartbeat, swelling of the limbs, trouble breathing. This may be a sign of a problem with heart.
The medicine may sometimes cause a problem with infusion of drugs leading to infusion reactions. This can be a life threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
In case of chest tightness, cough, dizziness, fast heartbeat, difficulty in breathing, and swallowing, swelling on the face or hands, fever, chills or lightheadedness or faintness when receiving medicine. Both the hand and foot syndrome may be caused after using Doxorubicin liposome injection. Inform your doctor immediately when you see signs of tingling or burning, redness, swelling, blistering, small sores on the palm of your hands or sole of your feet.
Doxorubicin liposome may also affect the density of the white blood cells in blood temporarily. This heightens the chance of getting an infection. It also lowers the number of the platelets which are responsible for blood clotting. When this happens, precautions may be required since the blood count will be very low so as to lower the number of infections and reduce the risk of excessive bleeding. To be safe, avoid people with infections.
Inform and check on your doctor immediately when you feel you have an infection or you feel you are developing chills or fever, cough, or hoarseness, lower back pain, or pain during urination. In case of unusual bleeding, or bruising, black or tarry stools, blood in urine or stool, red spots on the skin.
Avoid using a regular toothbrush, dental floss or toothpick. Inform your medical doctor and request for alternative of cleaning your teeth or dental cavity. Your doctor or nurse may recommend other better ways of cleaning your teeth or gums. In addition, always check with your medical doctor before any of the dental works can be done.
Clean your hands after using this drugs and never touch the inside of your nose or eyes before they have been washed. Do not touch anything until they have been cleaned. Avoid cutting yourself with sharp objects such as a razor or fingernail or toenail cutters. Avoid touching places of the body where bruising or injury may occur.
After using this medicine for a year; inform your doctor if you are experiencing any discomfort, pain, sores or ulcers in the mouth. This may be an indication of oral cancer. Any signs of redness, pain, swelling at the site of injection must be reported to the doctor right away.
Sometimes, Doxorubicin liposome injection may leak out of the vein at the place that is injected. This may cause damage to the skin and cause scars. This medicine may cause the urine color to change to orange for about 1 or 2 days after receiving the injection.
Side effects may present after administration of doxorubicin liposome injection. When they present, they will require medical attention. Always check with a nurse or medical doctor in case any of the the side present immediately. Some of the most common side effects may appear as:
Black tarry stool
Blistering
Peeling
Redness
Swelling of the palms of the hand or bottoms of the feet
However, some side effect may not need medical attention. They may disappear in the course of treatment when your body adjusts to the medicine. The healthcare professional may also be able to inform you of better ways of reducing some of the side effects. Always inform your healthcare professional when the side effects persist for some time and become bothersome or if you have any question about them.
Some of the side effects listed in patients may also not occur in other patients. However, when one notices any other effects, always check with your healthcare professional. Inform your doctor and seek medical active on how to manage the side effects. You may also report the side effects directly to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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