siltuximab
Other Name: Sylvant
mixed into larger bags of fluids
- For treating multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD) in patients who do not have HIV (virus that causes AIDS) or HHV-8 (human herpes virus-8).
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you have or had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have or had:
- infections, including a history of hepatitis B, HIV or herpes,
- if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol,
- or if you have any allergies.
- 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 receiving this drug. Birth control pills may be less effective when taken with siltuximab. Consider using a different method of birth control like condoms. Keep using birth control until at least 3 months after the last dose. Discuss with your healthcare team.
- Do not breastfeed while using this drug.
- This medication does not normally affect fertility (ability to get pregnant)
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This drug is given by injection into a vein.
- You may be given drug(s) before siltuximab to prevent a reaction.
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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.
- Make sure your doctor and pharmacist know about all your medicines (prescription, over-the-counter, herbals and supplements), especially cyclosporine, tacrolimus or warfarin. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting or stopping any of them.
- For mild aches and pain:
- You may take acetaminophen (Tylenol®) tablets. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the right dose for you.
- Talk to your doctor first before starting ibuprofen (Advil®), naproxen (Aleve®) or aspirin, since these may increase your chance of bleeding.
- If you are already taking aspirin regularly, such as for heart conditions, talk to your doctor.
- If you feel unwell, take your temperature before using any of these drugs, since they may hide a fever.
- 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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Fever, chills, infection (may be severe) 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 | ||||
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 | ||||
Mild swelling in arms and legs; puffiness To help prevent swelling :
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
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Rash; dry or itchy skin Rash may be severe in some rare cases and cause your skin to blister or peel. If this happens, get emergency medical help right away. To prevent and treat dry skin,
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Tingling, numb fingers and toes
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Nausea and vomiting (generally mild) May occur in hours to days after your treatment. It is easier to prevent nausea than to treat it if it happens. If you have nausea or vomiting:
Also see Nausea & Vomiting pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your healthcare team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Night sweats
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Pains or cramps in the belly
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Rapid killing of cells when you start treatment
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Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
Abnormal cholesterol or fat levels in the blood Your doctor may check your cholesterol levels regularly with a blood test. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Salt imbalances It may cause muscle twitching, severe weakness or cramping, confusion and irregular heartbeat. |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
High blood pressure
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
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. |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
Constipation To help treat constipation :
See the Constipation Pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Abnormal kidney lab tests
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Headache, dizziness; mild joint or muscle pain
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Abnormal liver lab tests
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
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:
- Signs of an allergic reaction like fever, itchiness, rash, swollen lips, face or tongue, chest and throat tightness
- Shortness of breath
- Sudden, severe pain or feeling of fullness in your belly
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.