carfilzomib
Other Name: Kyprolis®
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For treating a type of blood cancer called multiple myeloma.
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Carfilzomib is usually given together with other medication(s).
Tell your health care team if you have or had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have / had:
- liver, lung, kidney or heart problems,
- high blood pressure,
- bleeding problems or blood clots, or
- any allergies.
Tell your health care team if you have any signs of dehydration before starting carfilzomib. For example, being more thirsty than usual, having a dry mouth, dark yellow pee or not peeing as often as normal. Your health care team may ask you to drink more fluids before starting treatment.
If you are on controlled sodium (salt) diet, talk to your health care team before getting this medication.
Remember to:
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Tell your health care team about all of the other medications you are taking.
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Keep taking other medications that have been prescribed for you, unless you have been told not to by your health care team.
You will have a blood test to check for hepatitis B before starting treatment. See the Hepatitis B and Cancer Medications pamphlet for more information.
Talk to your health care team about:
- How this medication may affect your sexual health.
- How this medication may affect your ability to have a baby, if this applies to you.
This medication may harm an unborn baby. Tell your health care team if you or your partner are pregnant, become pregnant during treatment, or are breastfeeding.
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If there is any chance you may become pregnant, you and your partner together must use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time until 30 days after your last dose. Talk to your health care team about which birth control options are best for you.
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If you are a patient that can get somebody pregnant, you and your partner together must use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time until 90 days after your last dose. Talk to your health care team about which birth control options are best for you.
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This medication may make hormonal birth control, such as birth control pills, less effective (not work as well). If you choose to use a hormonal birth control, make sure you also use a barrier or non-hormonal birth control method (such as condoms). Talk to your health care team about the best birth control options for you.
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Do not breastfeed while on this medication.
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This drug is given by infusion into a vein. Talk to your health care team about your treatment schedule.
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If you missed your treatment appointment, talk to your health care team to find out what to do.
To Prevent Allergic Reaction
- One of the medications in your treatment, dexamethasone, can also be used to help prevent allergic reactions before they start.
- Talk to your health care team about when to take your dexamethasone dose on the days you receive carfilzomib.
To Prevent Hepatitis B Flare Ups
If you have ever been infected with hepatitis B, there is a risk that this treatment can cause it to flare up (come back). Tell your health care team if you have had hepatitis B. You may need to take medication to prevent a hepatitis B flare-up.
To Prevent Infection from Herpes Zoster Virus (Shingles)
You may be given medication to take before your treatment to prevent infection from the Herpes Zoster virus.
- These are called anti-virals (such as acyclovir or valacyclovir).
To Prevent Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS)
TLS can happen when a large number of cancer cells die quickly and your body cannot get rid of them fast enough. TLS can make you very sick. Ask your health care team if you are at risk for TLS.
If you are at risk for TLS, you may be given medications before your carfilzomib treatment to help prevent it.
- These are called anti-uricemics (such as allopurinol), or others.
Will this medication interact with other medications or natural health products?
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This medication can interact with other medications, vitamins, foods and natural health products. Interactions can make the treatment not work as well or cause severe side effects.
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Tell your health care team about all of your:
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prescription and over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications and all other drugs, such as marijuana (medical or recreational)
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natural health products such as vitamins, herbal teas, homeopathic medicines, and other supplements
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Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
What should I do if I feel unwell, have pain, a headache or a fever?
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Always check your temperature to see if you have a fever before taking any medications for fever or pain (such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®)).
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Fever can be a sign of infection that may need treatment right away.
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If you take these medications before you check for fever, they may lower your temperature and you may not know you have an infection.
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How to check for fever:
Keep a digital (electronic) thermometer at home and take your temperature if you feel hot or unwell (for example, chills, headache, mild pain).
- You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
- 38.3°C (100.9°F) or higher at any time
OR
- 38.0°C (100.4°F) or higher for at least one hour.
- 38.3°C (100.9°F) or higher at any time
If you do have a fever:
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Try to contact your health care team. If you are not able to talk to them for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away.
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Ask your health care team for the Fever pamphlet for more information.
If you do not have a fever but have mild symptoms such as headache or mild pain:
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Ask your health care team about the right medication for you. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is a safe choice for most people.
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Talk to your health care team before you start taking Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or ASA (Aspirin®), as they may increase your chance of bleeding or interact with your cancer treatment.
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Talk to your health care team if you already take low dose aspirin for a medical condition (such as a heart problem). It may still be safe to take.
What to DO while on this medication:
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DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures.
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DO ask your health care team if you need to drink more liquids than you normally do to prevent kidney problems.
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DO tell your health care team about any serious infections that you have now or have had in the past.
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DO consider asking someone to drive you to and from the hospital on your treatment days. You may feel tired or dizzy after your treatment.
What NOT to DO while on this medication:
- DO NOT smoke or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.
The following table lists side effects that you may have when getting carfilzomib. The table is set up to list the most common side effects first and the least common last. It is unlikely that you will have all of the side effects listed and you may have some that are not listed.
Read over the side effect table so that you know what to look for and when to get help. Refer to this table if you experience any side effects while on carfilzomib.
Common Side Effects (25 to 49 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Diarrhea (May be severe) What to look for?
What to do? If you have diarrhea:
Ask your health care team for the Diarrhea pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if no improvement after 24 hours of taking diarrhea medication or if severe (more than 7 times in one day). |
Allergic reaction What to look for?
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Get emergency medical help right away for severe symptoms. |
High blood pressure (May be severe) What to look for?
What to do?
If you have a severe headache get emergency help right away as it may be a sign your blood pressure is too high. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
Fatigue (May be severe) What to look for?
What to do?
Ask your health care team for the Fatigue pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
Cough and feeling short of breath What to look for?
What to do?
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Talk to your health care team. If you are not able to talk to your health care team for advice, and you have a fever or severe symptoms, you MUST get emergency medical help right away. |
Low neutrophils (white blood cells) in the blood (neutropenia) (May be severe) When neutrophils are low, you are at risk of getting an infection more easily. Ask your health care team for the Neutropenia (Low white blood cell count) pamphlet for more information. What to look for?
You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
What to do? If your health care team has told you that you have low neutrophils:
If you have a fever: If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you must get emergency medical help right away.
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If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away. |
Low platelets in the blood (May be severe) When your platelets are low, you are at risk for bleeding and bruising. Ask your health care team for the Low Platelet Count pamphlet for more information. What to look for?
What to do? If your health care team has told you that you have low platelets:
If you have signs of bleeding:
If you have bleeding that does not stop or is severe (very heavy), you must get emergency medical help right away. |
Talk to your health care team if you have any signs of bleeding. If you have bleeding that doesn’t stop or is severe (very heavy), you MUST get emergency help right away. |
Trouble Sleeping Your medications may cause trouble sleeping. It may get better once your body gets used to the medication or when your treatment ends. What to look for?
What to do? Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
Mild swelling What to look for?
What to do?
If you have swelling:
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
Less Common Side Effects (10 to 24 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Nausea and vomiting (Generally mild) What to look for?
What to do? To help prevent nausea:
If you have nausea or vomiting:
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Talk to your healthcare team if nausea lasts more than 48 hours or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours or if it is severe. |
Headache; Mild joint, muscle pain or cramps What to look for?
What to do?
Ask your health care team for the Pain pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
Constipation What to look for?
What to do? To help prevent constipation:
To help treat constipation:
Ask your health care team for the Constipation Pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
Neuropathy (tingling, numb toes or fingers) What to look for?
What to do?
In rare cases, it may continue long after treatment ends. If you continue to have bothersome symptoms, talk to your health care team for advice. |
Talk to your health care team, especially if you have trouble doing tasks like doing up buttons, writing, moving, or if you have severe pain or numbness. |
Too much or too little salt in your body What to look for?
What to do? Get emergency medical help right away for severe symptoms. |
Get emergency medical help right away for severe symptoms. |
Blood clots What to look for?
A blood clot in your lungs can cause: coughing, problems breathing, pain in your chest or coughing up blood. A blood clot in you brain (stroke) can cause: trouble seeing, speaking, or using your arms and legs. A blood clot in your heart (heart attack) can cause: chest pain, shortness of breath and pain in your belly or arms. What to do? Get emergency medical help right away.
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Get emergency medical help right away. |
High blood sugar What to look for?
What to do?
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Talk to your health care team as soon as possible. |
Pains or cramps in the belly What to look for?
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
Kidney problems (May be severe) Your health care team may check your kidney function regularly with a blood test. You may have blood in your urine. What to look for?
What to do?
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Get emergency medical help right away. |
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:
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Irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting spells or swelling in your legs, ankles and belly
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Severe belly cramps or tenderness, severe constipation, pain in the centre of your belly that may spread to your back
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Yellowish skin or eyes, unusually dark pee or pain on the right side of your belly
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Trouble seeing, floaters (seeing spots that move when you look at them) or flashes in the eye
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Trouble speaking or walking, weakness in an arm or leg, memory loss, confusion, seizures, severe headache
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Red dots on skin, unusual bruising, bleeding, pale skin and/or severe tiredness, passing little or no pee or dark-coloured pee
Who do I contact if I have questions or need help?My cancer health care provider is: ______________________________________________ During the day I should contact:________________________________________________ Evenings, weekends and holidays:______________________________________________
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Other Notes:
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January 2024 Updated/Revised information sheet
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.