liposomal irinotecan
Other Name: Onivyde®
mixed into larger bags of fluids
- For treating pancreatic cancer in combination with other medications.
- Tell your health care team if you have or had significant medical condition(s) such as:
- liver, heart or lung problems,
- if you are taking other medications,
- or if you have 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 for at least 1 month (women) or 4 months (men) after your last dose unless your health care team told you differently. Talk to your health care team to figure out the best method(s) for you and/or your partner.
- Do not breastfeed while using this drug or for 1 month after the last dose.
- This medication may affect fertility (ability to get pregnant).
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This drug is given by injection into a vein.
- Your healthcare team may tell you to use loperamide (Imodium®) for delayed diarrhea.
- Make sure you have a supply of loperamide available, as diarrhea needs to be treated as soon as possible.
- Your healthcare team may ask you to follow these instructions for loperamide (Imodium®):
- For delayed diarrhea (starts 1 or more days after your infusion), at the first sign of loose bowel movements (poo) or when bowel movements are more frequent than usual, take 2 tablets (4mg) right away, then take 1 tablet (2mg) every 2 hours.
- During the night you may take 2 tablets (4mg) every 4 hours.
- Continue taking loperamide (Imodium®) until you have no more diarrhea for 12 hours.
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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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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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For mild aches and pain:
- 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.
- If you feel unwell, take your temperature before taking any of these medications. They may hide a fever.
- 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.
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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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Diarrhea (early onset) and other early side effects of liposomal irinotecan:
Diarrhea (delayed onset, may be severe):
See the Diarrhea pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe
If diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours while taking anti-diarrhea drugs or if you have fever, get emergency medical help right away. |
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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 | ||||
Abnormal liver lab tests
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
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Salt imbalances It may cause muscle twitching, severe weakness or cramping, confusion and irregular heartbeat. |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
Low appetite
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Fatigue (tiredness)
See our Fatigue pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
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Hair thinning or loss
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Unusual bleeding or bruising (may be severe) You may have black stools, cough up blood, blood in your urine, purple or red dots on your skin or bleeding that will not stop. 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 | ||||
Blood clot Blood clots can cause pain, swelling and hardening of the vein in the affected body part. The blood clot may be more severe and block an artery or vein (blood vessels) and cause :
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Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
Mouth sores You may have round, painful, white or gray sores inside your mouth. They can occur on the tongue, lips, gums, or inside your cheeks. In more severe cases they may make it hard swallow, eat or to brush your teeth. They usually last 1 to 2 weeks. To help prevent mouth sores:
If you have mouth sores:
See the Mouth Care pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team as soon as possible |
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:
- Trouble breathing or coughing up blood
- Lower back pain, swelling, pee less than usual and have unusual weight gain
- Signs of an allergy such as fever, flushing, itchiness, rash, swollen lips, face or tongue, wheezing, chest and throat tightness
For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/symptom-management.
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.