pegylated liposomal DOXOrubicin
Other Name: Caelyx®
mixed into larger bags of fluids
- For treating breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and HIV-positive Kaposi’s sarcoma.
- Tell your doctor if you have/had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have / had heart disease, or have any allergies.
- Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin may harm the unborn baby.
- Let your doctor know if you are breastfeeding, pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
- People who have cancer or leukemia are at a higher risk of developing other cancers/leukemias (usually some years later) or blood clots. Some cancer medications, such as pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, may increase these risks, especially if used for a prolonged period of time. You should discuss any concerns with your doctor.
- Do not use this drug if you are pregnant. 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. Do not take birth control pills if you have breast cancer. 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 taking this drug.
- Effects on Fertility: Probable
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This drug is given by injection into a vein.
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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.
The following side effects have been seen in people using pegylated liposomal DOXOrubicin with other chemotherapy drugs, so some of these effects may also be related to chemotherapy.
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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Hand-foot syndrome
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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 | ||||
Mouth sores
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Contact your health care team as soon as possible | ||||
Hair thinning or loss
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Tiredness
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Poor Appetite; don't feel like eating; weight loss
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Rash (rarely severe); dry, itchy skin
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Sensitivity reaction (usually the first injection only)
Allergic reaction is less common |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
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:
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Get emergency medical help right away |
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Blockage of an artery (blood vessel) in your heart, brain, chest, belly, or limbs; this may result in stroke (sudden loss of vision, speech, or the use of your limb(s)) or heart attack (chest pain, shortness of breath), or pain in chest, belly or limb | Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Heart problems |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Pain, burning, redness, or swelling on skin where drug was injected
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Blood clot (limb pain or swelling, hardened vein in limb), may occur in lungs (sudden start of coughing, breathing problems, chest pain, coughing blood) | Get emergency medical help right away |
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.