mitotane
Other Name: Lysodren®
- Tell your doctor if you have/had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have / had recent shock, trauma or infection, kidney or liver problems, will be having surgery or other procedures, or if you have any allergies.
- People who have cancer are at a higher risk of developing other cancers. Also, some cancer medications may increase this risk. You should discuss this with your doctor.
- Mitotane may harm the unborn baby and should not be used by pregnant women.
- 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 6 months after the last dose (general recommendation). Discuss with your healthcare team.
- Tell your doctor right away if you or your partner becomes pregnant.
- Do not breastfeed while on mitotane treatment.
- Effects on Fertility: Probable
- Effects on Fertility: Probable
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Take it exactly as directed by your doctor. Make sure you understand the instructions.
- Swallow whole with a glass of water, with or without food. Do not crush or chew the tablets.
- Take the dose at about the same times each day. Ensure timing of the doses relative to meals is consistent.
- If you miss a dose, take your next dose as scheduled. Do not double the dose to make up for the forgotten one.
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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:
- 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.
- Your doctor may give you steroid supplements while you are taking mitotane. Make sure you understand and follow the instructions.
- Since your adrenal glands will not produce cortisol (a hormone) in reaction to severe stress, infections or injuries, you MUST tell any medical personnel that you are taking mitotane, as extra cortisol may need to be given to you.
- Wear a medical bracelet or carry a card to let health care providers know that you are taking mitotane, and may need extra steroids.
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Keep this medication in the original packaging at room temperature in a dry place, away from heat and light. Keep out of sight and reach of children and pets.
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Do not throw out any unused medications at home. Bring them to your pharmacy to be thrown away safely.
The following side effects are common or severe. You may not have all of the side effects, while others may occur. Discuss with your doctor if you have any unusual or bothersome symptoms.
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Poor Appetite; don't feel like eating
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Diarrhea
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Nausea and vomiting
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Tiredness
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Dizziness, drowsiness
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Rash
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Unusual bleeding or bruising 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 chemotherapy treatments:
If you have a fever, talk to your health care team or go to the closest emergency room. |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
Abnormal liver lab tests (may be severe)
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Inactive adrenal gland (muscle weakness, tiredness, darkening of skin, weight loss, not feel like eating)
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Contact your health care team as soon as possible (office hours) | ||||
Abnormal cholesterol or fat levels in the blood
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
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Kidney problems (lower back pain, body swelling, also look for passing little or no urine, or recent unusual weight gain) Irritation of the bladder wall (blood in urine, pain when passing urine, bladder pain) |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Prolonged bleeding time
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Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Eye problems |
Contact your health care team as soon as possible (office hours) |
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.