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| Pronunciation |
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 (beks
AR oh
teen) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Targretin® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Antineoplastic Agent, Miscellaneous |
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| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
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- Do not take if you are pregnant. This medicine can cause birth
defects.
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to bexarotene or any other part of the
medicine.
- If you are pregnant or
breast-feeding.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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|
- This medicine is used to treat a certain type of cancer called
lymphoma.
- There is a gel used to treat skin problems from cutaneous T-cell
lymphoma. It may take up to a year to see the full effects. Some patients
respond as early as 4 weeks.
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| How does it work? |
|
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- Bexarotene prevents the growth of certain types of cancers and may
help certain growths shrink in size.
- The gel's exact action in treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is
unknown.
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| How is it best taken? |
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|
- Take with a meal. This helps more of the medicine get into your
system.
- Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
- This medicine must be taken exactly as directed. If you have any
question check with your healthcare provider.
- Swallow capsule whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
- Take at a similar time everyday.
- The gel is used on the skin only. Start using every other day for the
first week. It is increased weekly depending on how you tolerate the gel.
- Do not take by mouth. Keep out of mouth, nose, and eyes (may burn).
- Wash hands before and after use.
- Allow gel to dry before covering with clothing.
- Avoid applying to normal skin.
- Do not cover with dressings.
- If you apply after bathing then wait 20 minutes before
applying.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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|
- Do not take extra vitamin A (in a vitamin pill) if taking the oral
medicine unless you ask your healthcare provider. Bexarotene is a type of
vitamin A. Too much vitamin A can cause liver problems. If using the gel then
you can take 4000 to 5000 units of vitamin A orally.
- Use caution if you have liver disease. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Use caution if you have diabetes. Talk with healthcare provider. Keep
hard candies, liquid glucose, or milk on hand for low blood sugars.
- Tell healthcare provider if you have high cholesterol or lipids or if
you are on a lipid or cholesterol lowering agent. This medicine usually causes
an increase in cholesterol and triglycerides.
- You can burn. Avoid lots of sun. Use sunscreen; wear protective
clothing and eyewear.
- Avoid aspirin, aspirin-containing products, ibuprofen or like
products, other blood thinners (warfarin, ticlopidine, clopidogrel), garlic,
ginseng, ginkgo, vitamin E.
- If using the gel, do not use insect repellents containing DEET.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Do not use in pregnancy and do not get pregnant. Use 2 forms of birth
control that you can trust. Start birth control one month before, use during,
and for at least one month after stopping medicine.
- If you are male and sexually active, protect your partner from
pregnancy. Use a condom. Use during treatment and for 1 month after treatment.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Headache. Mild pain medicine may help. Avoid aspirin-containing
products.
- Risk of infection. Avoid crowds and people with infections, colds, or
flu.
- High cholesterol and/or triglycerides.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Belly pain and diarrhea.
- Hair loss. Hair usually grows back when medicine is stopped.
- Weakness.
- Rash, dry skin.
- Swelling of the feet and hands.
- Side effects of the gel include redness, burning, irritation of the
area.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Watch for change in temperature or worsening of infection.
- If you are diabetic, check blood sugar as ordered by healthcare
provider. Check blood work (lipid panel, liver function, complete blood count,
thyroid function). Talk with healthcare provider.
- Must get a pregnancy test within 1 week before you start therapy and
monthly while using medicine.
- Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare
provider.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat.
- Fever and/or chills. Other signs of infection.
- Severe headache.
- Severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Severe belly pain, feeling tired, dark urine, yellow eyes/skin, not
hungry. Unusual bruising or bleeding.
- Any rash.
- For the gel, severe rash, itching, irritation and
redness.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in tight, light-resistant container at room temperature. Avoid
high temperatures and humidity.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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