trabectedin
Other Name: Yondelis®
- For treating ovarian cancer (in combination with another drug) and some types of sarcoma
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you have or had:
- a history of low blood cells,
- problems with your heart (including irregular heartbeat),
- kidney or liver problems,
- active infections, or any allergies.
- People with cancer have a higher risk of getting other cancers or developing blood clots. Some cancer medications may increase these risks, especially if used for a long period of time. Discuss any concerns about this medication with your health care team.
- The use of this medication in men or women may cause harm to the unborn baby if pregnancy occurs. Let your health care team know if you or your partner is pregnant, becomes pregnant during treatment, or if you are breastfeeding.
- If there is ANY chance that you or your partner may become pregnant, you and your partner together must: ►Use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time while taking this drug: Keep using birth control until 3 months after the last dose (for females), and for 5 months after the last dose (for males).
- Tell your doctor right away if you or your partner becomes pregnant.
- Do not breastfeed while on trabectedin treatment and for 3 months after treatment ends.
- The medication may affect fertility (ability to get pregnant)
- Trabectedin is given by injection through a large vein.
- You will be given a corticosteroid (dexamethasone, for example) 30 minutes before trabectedin to prevent nausea or vomiting
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Do not eat or drink grapefruit, starfruit, Seville oranges or their juices (or products that contain these) while on this treatment. They may increase side effects.
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This medication can interact with other medications and can result in the treatment not working as well or cause severe side effects.
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Make sure your health care team knows about all your medications (prescription, over-the-counter, herbals and supplements). Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
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For mild aches and pain or fever:
- If you feel unwell, take your temperature before taking any medications for pain or fever. They may hide a fever.
- You may take acetaminophen (Tylenol®) tablets. Ask your health care team about the right dose for you.
- Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA), including low dose aspirin for heart conditions, may increase your chance of bleeding. Talk to your health care team before you start or stop these medications.
- Talk to your health care team or go to the closest emergency room right away if you have a fever. See the Fever pamphlet for more information.
- If you feel unwell, take your temperature before taking any medications for pain or fever. They may hide a fever.
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Drinking alcohol and smoking during your treatment may increase some side effects and make your medication less effective. Speak to your health care team about smoking and drinking alcohol while on treatment.
You may not have all of the side effects below. You may have side effects that are not listed.
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Nausea and vomiting May occur in hours to days after your treatment. It is easier to prevent nausea than to treat it if it happens. To help prevent nausea:
If you have nausea or vomiting:
Also see Nausea & Vomiting pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your healthcare team if nausea lasts more than 48 hours or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours | ||||
Fatigue (tiredness)
See our Fatigue pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
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Abnormal liver lab tests (may be severe)
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Low platelets in the blood
See the Low Platelet Count pamphlet for more information. Fever, chills, infection You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
While you are getting treatment:
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Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
Breakdown of muscle cells (may be severe)
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Get emergency medical help right away |
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Low appetite
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Constipation To help prevent constipation :
To help treat constipation :
See the Constipation Pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Diarrhea May happen days to weeks after you get your treatment. If you have diarrhea :
See the Diarrhea pamphlet for more information.
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Headache; mild joint, muscle pain or cramps
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Inflammation of blood vessels You may have pain, redness and swelling of a vein or have red or purple patches on your skin or a rash that does not turn white when pressed. |
Contact your health care team as soon as possible (office hours) |
Other rare, but serious side effects are possible.
If you experience ANY of the following, speak to your cancer health care provider or get emergency medical help right away:
- pain, swelling and hardening of the vein in your arm or leg
- trouble breathing, pain in your chest or coughing up blood
- irregular heartbeat, dizziness, fainting spells, or swelling in your legs, ankles and belly; weight gain
- rash, swollen lips, face or tongue, chest and throat tightness or trouble breathing; may happen during or shortly after your treatment
- lower back pain, peeing less than usual
For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.