Etoposide (By injection)

e-TOE-poe-side

Treats cancer of the testicles and small cell lung cancer.

Drug classes

Antineoplastic Agent (About this – PubMed Health)

Uses

Uses of This Medicine

Etoposide injection (also known as VP-16) is used in combination with other cancer medicines to treat cancer of the testicles and small cell lung cancer. It is also sometimes used to treat some other kinds of cancer in both males and females.

Etoposide belongs to the group of medicines known as antineoplastic agents. The exact way that etoposide acts against cancer is not known. However, it seems to interfere with the growth of the cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by etoposide, other effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other effects, like hair loss, may not be serious but may cause concern. Some effects may not occur until months or years after the medicine is used.

Before you begin treatment with etoposide, you and your doctor should talk about the benefits of this medicine as well as the risks of using it.

This medicine is to be given only by or under the supervision of your doctor.

Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, etoposide is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:

Autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)—associated Kaposi’s sarcoma (a type of cancer of the skin and mucous membranes that is more common in patients with AIDS). Cancer in the bone. Cancer of the adrenal cortex (the outside layer of the adrenal gland). Cancer of the endometrium. Cancer of the lung (a certain type of lung cancer usually associated with prior smoking, passive smoking, or radon exposure). Cancer of the lymph system (a part of the body’s immune system) that affects the skin. Cancer of the ovaries (a type of cancer found in the egg-making cells). Cancer of the stomach. Cancer of unknown primary site. Cancers of the blood and lymph system. Cancers of the soft tissues of the body, including the muscles, connective tissues (tendons), vessels that carry blood or lymph, or fat. Ewing’s sarcoma (a type of cancer found in the bone). Gestational trophoblastic tumors (tumors in the uterus or womb). Hepatoblastoma (a certain type of liver cancer that occurs in children). Multiple myeloma (a certain type of cancer of the blood). Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Neuroblastoma (a cancer of the nerves that usually occurs in children). Retinoblastoma (a cancer of the eye that usually occurs in children). Thymoma (a cancer of the thymus, which is a small organ that lies under the breastbone). Tumors in the brain. Wilms’ tumor (a cancer of the kidney that usually occurs in children).

Other uses (PubMed Health)

How To Use

Injectable

Your doctor will prescribe your dose and schedule. This medicine is given through a needle placed in a vein.

You will receive this medicine while you are in a hospital or cancer treatment center. A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine.

Missed dose: This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose, call your doctor, home health caregiver, or treatment clinic for instructions.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Some medicines can affect how etoposide works. Tell your doctor if you are also using any of the following:

Cyclosporine Levamisole Blood thinner (including warfarin) Medicine to treat seizures (including carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, valproic acid)

This medicine may interfere with vaccines. Ask your doctor before you get a flu shot or any other vaccines.

When Not To Use

This medicine is not right for everyone. You should not receive it if you had an allergic reaction to etoposide or etoposide phosphate, or if you are pregnant.

Warnings

It is not safe to take this medicine during pregnancy. It could harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Women should use an effective form of birth control during treatment and for at least 6 months after the last dose. Men should use condoms during sex while they are receiving this medicine and for at least 4 months after the last dose.

This medicine could cause infertility. Talk with your doctor before using this medicine if you plan to have children.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, or a history of low albumin (plasma protein).

Medicines used to treat cancer are very strong and can have many side effects. Before receiving this medicine, make sure you understand all the risks and benefits. It is important for you to work closely with your doctor during your treatment.

Rarely, this medicine may cause leukemia (cancer of the blood or bone marrow). Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about this.

This medicine may make you bleed, bruise, or get infections more easily. Take precautions to prevent illness and injury. Wash your hands often.

Cancer medicine can cause nausea or vomiting, sometimes even after you receive medicine to prevent these effects. Ask your doctor or nurse about other ways to control any nausea or vomiting that might happen.

Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Possible side effects

Summary More details

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing

Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash

Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat

Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, body aches

Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting

Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

Hair loss

Redness, pain, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the needle is placed

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

More side effects of this drug

Brand names include

Dom-Etoposide, Eposin, Etopophos, Etoposide, Etoposide Novaplus, Novaplus Toposar, Pms-Etoposide, Toposar, Vepesid

There may be other brand names for this medicine.