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| Pronunciation |
|
 (ep
i ROO bi
sin) |
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| Brand Names |
|
| Ellence® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
|
|
Antineoplastic Agent, Anthracycline |
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| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
|
|
This medicine may cause damage to your heart in certain situations. Talk
with healthcare provider. 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. |
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|
| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
|
If you have an allergy to epirubicin or any other part of this
medicine.
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, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
If you have any of the following conditions: Bone marrow disease,
fast heartbeat, or severely weakened heart.
If you have severe liver disease.
If you have received a full treatment with doxorubicin, idarubicin,
epirubicin, or daunorubicin.
If you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
If you are breast-feeding. |
|
|
| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
This medicine is used to treat breast cancer. |
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|
| How does it work? |
|
|
Epirubicin injures cancer cells causing their
death. |
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|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
This medicine is given as a shot into a vein.
Drink plenty of noncaffeine-containing liquid unless told to drink
less liquid by healthcare provider. |
|
|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
Call healthcare provider for appointment. |
|
|
| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
Be careful about taking vaccinations while you are receiving this
medicine.
If you have gallbladder disease, talk with healthcare provider.
If you have a weakened heart, talk with healthcare provider.
If you have had radiation therapy, talk with healthcare provider.
If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.
Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers that you use
this medicine.
You will bleed easily. Be careful. Avoid injury. Use soft toothbrush,
electric razor.
Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix
well with other medicines.
Talk with healthcare provider before using aspirin,
aspirin-containing products, other pain medicines, blood thinners, garlic,
ginseng, ginkgo, or vitamin E.
Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while
taking this medicine.
If you are a male and sexually active, protect your partner from
pregnancy. Use birth control that you can trust. |
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|
| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
Color of urine is red for 1-2 days after getting medicine.
Risk of infection. Avoid crowds and people with infections, colds, or
flu.
Flushing. Wearing layers of clothes or summer clothes and cool
environment may help.
Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care,
sucking hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
Mouth and lip irritation. Frequent mouth care with a soft toothbrush
or cotton swabs and rinsing mouth may help.
Hair loss. Hair usually grows back when medicine is stopped.
Heart damage can rarely occur.
Other forms of cancer can rarely occur later in
life. |
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|
| What should I monitor? |
|
|
Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the
same?
Check blood work regularly. Talk with healthcare provider.
Check weight weekly. Report a weight loss to healthcare provider.
Follow up with healthcare provider. |
|
|
| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center
immediately or dial 911.
Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest
tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of
face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Signs or symptoms of infection. These include a fever of 100.5
degrees or higher, chills, severe sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough,
increased sputum or change in color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that
will not heal, or anal itching or pain.
Severe dizziness or passing out.
Difficulty breathing.
Severe nausea or vomiting.
Severe diarrhea.
Unusual bruising or bleeding.
Feeling extremely tired or weak.
Severe skin irritation.
Any rash.
No improvement in condition or feeling
worse. |
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
This medicine will be given to you in a healthcare setting. You will
not store it at home. |
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|
| General statements |
|
|
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, natural products,
supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare
provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter, natural products, or
vitamins. |
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