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| Pronunciation |
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 (doks
oh ROO bi
sin) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Adriamycin PFS™; Adriamycin RDF®;
Rubex® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Antineoplastic Agent, Antibiotic |
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| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
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- This medicine may cause damage to your heart during or after
treatment. The risk increases above a certain dose, with radiation to the chest
area, with cyclophosphamide use, or if you have a history of heart disease.
Children are at a higher risk of heart damage later on in life. Patients with
liver disease need a lower dose. This medicine can have severe effects on the
bone marrow. The bone marrow may not be able to produce the cells found in the
blood as well as it used to. This medicine may cause damage around the area it
is given if it leaks out. This would occur if the I.V. were not working
properly.
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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|
- If you have an allergy to doxorubicin or any other part of the
medicine.
- If you have any of the following conditions: Severely weakened heart
(congestive heart failure), cardiomyopathy, a history of poor bone marrow
function causing low blood cell counts, or abnormal heartbeats called
arrhythmias.
- If you have received a full treatment with doxorubicin, idarubicin,
epirubicin, other anthracyclines, and/or daunorubicin.
- If you are pregnant.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is a type of cancer chemotherapy for treating many
different cancers.
- Doxorubicin may be used alone or in combination with other cancer
medicines.
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| How does it work? |
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- Doxorubicin kills rapidly growing cells like cancer
cells.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- It is given into the vein over 3-5 minutes, as a 15-60 minute infusion
or as a 24-hour infusion. Mixing the doxorubicin with another liquid and giving
it into the vein is a type of infusion.
- Doxorubicin is given in a clinic or hospital setting.
- Continue to drink lots of fluids unless told to drink less liquid by
healthcare provider.
- Given into the abdominal cavity or the bladder as a wash in certain
situations.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- This medicine is given on a specific schedule. It is important not to
miss a dose unless recommended by your healthcare provider.
- Call and reschedule as soon as
possible.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Use caution if you have liver disease. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you have a weakened heart called
congestive heart failure.
- Avoid aspirin, aspirin-containing products, ibuprofen or like
products, other blood thinners (warfarin, ticlopidine, clopidogrel), garlic,
ginseng, ginkgo, vitamin E. Talk with healthcare provider if you are taking any
of these products.
- You will bleed easily. Be careful. Avoid injury. Use soft toothbrush,
electric razor.
- Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers about this
medicine.
- Tell your healthcare provider if you have received or are receiving
radiation therapy.
- Use caution if you have liver, bile system, or gallbladder disease.
Talk with healthcare provider.
- Be cautious about taking vaccinations while you are receiving this
medicine. Certain types of vaccinations may be dangerous. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- 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.
- If you are a sexually active man, protect your partner from pregnancy.
Use birth control you can trust while taking this medicine.
- Do not use in pregnancy and do not get pregnant. Use birth control you
can trust while taking this medicine.
- 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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- Side effects may depend on the dose you receive, other treatments, the
type of cancer you have, and your overall health before getting cancer.
- Risk of infection. Avoid crowds and people with infections, colds, or
flu.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Mouth and lip sores. Frequent mouth care with a soft toothbrush or
cotton swabs and rinsing your mouth may help.
- Rarely, a weakened heart called congestive heart failure.
- Rarely, other forms of cancer may occur later in life.
- Loss of hair. Normal hair growth should restart after medicine is
stopped.
- Reddish urine for 1-2 days after getting medicine.
- Facial flushing.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Temperature. Call healthcare provider if you have a fever.
- Check blood work. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Nutrition. Try to eat as well as possible. Talk with nutritionist if
necessary.
- 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.
- Redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, or pus where medicine is given.
- Signs and symptoms of infection.
- Unusual bleeding or bruising.
- Shortness of breath, decreased ability to walk or exercise, swelling
of feet and lower legs or fast heartbeat.
- Severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Unusual tiredness or weakness.
- Lightheadedness or fainting.
- Any rash.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- This medicine will be given in a clinic or hospital setting. You will
not store it at home.
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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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