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DOXORUBICIN (Adriamycin®, Rubex®) is a type of cancer chemotherapy for treating a number of cancers, including bone, breast, stomach, lung, bladder, thyroid, ovarian, and leukemia, Wilms's tumor and lymphoma. Doxorubicin interferes with the growth of rapidly growing cells, like cancer cells, and eventually causes cell death. Doxorubicin is used alone or in combination with other cancer chemotherapy agents. Generic doxorubicin injections are available.
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
·angina
·bleeding problems
·blood disorders
·hypertension
·heart disease
·having intramuscular injections
·infection (bacterial, viral or fungal)
·liver disease
·gout
·previous chemotherapy with daunorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, or mitoxantrone
·previous radiation therapy
·an unusual or allergic reaction to doxorubicin, other chemotherapy agents, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
·pregnant or trying to get pregnant
·breast-feeding
Doxorubicin is for infusion into a vein. It is usually given in a hospital or clinic setting by a trained health-care professional. If you notice pain, swelling, burning or any unusual feeling around the site of your injection, tell your health care professional immediately. There may be several weeks between doses.
Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
It is important not to miss a dose. Let your prescriber or health care professional know if you are unable to keep an appointment.
·other chemotherapy agents may increase the side effects seen with doxorubicin
·vaccines
Ask your prescriber or health care professional about other medicines which may increase the effect of doxorubicin.
Talk to your prescriber or health care professional before taking any of these medicines:
·aspirin
·acetaminophen
·ibuprofen
·ketoprofen
·naproxen
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including nonprescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also, tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
The side effects you may experience with doxorubicin therapy depend upon the dose, other types of chemotherapy or radiation therapy given, and the disease being treated. Not all of these effects occur in all patients. Discuss any concerns or questions with your prescriber or health care professional.
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
Rare or uncommon:
·chest pain
·difficulty breathing, wheezing
·irregular heart beat
·swelling of ankles or feet
More common:
·low blood counts - doxorubicin may decrease the number of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. You may be at increased risk for infections and bleeding.
·signs of infection - fever or chills, cough, sore throat, pain or difficulty passing urine
·signs of decreased platelets or bleeding - bruising, pinpoint red spots on the skin, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine
·signs of decreased red blood cells - unusual weakness or tiredness, fainting spells, lightheadedness
·irregular heartbeat, palpitations, chest pain
·mouth or throat sores or ulcers
·pain, redness, swelling or irritation at the injection site
·skin rash, itching, peeling skin
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
·diarrhea
·facial flushing
·hair loss
·heartburn
·nail discoloration or damage
·nausea
·red color in urine (may appear for 1 to 2 days after treatment)
·red or watery eyes
Visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. You will need to have regular blood checks.
After treatment with doxorubicin your urine may be a red color. This is different from blood in the urine and will disappear within a few days, with no cause for alarm. If you think you may have blood in the urine call your prescriber or health care professional for advice.
Doxorubicin may make you feel generally unwell. This is not uncommon because doxorubicin affects good cells as well as cancer cells. Report any side effects as above, but continue your course of medicine even though you feel ill, unless your prescriber or health care professional tells you to stop.
Doxorubicin will decrease your body's ability to fight infections. Call your prescriber or health care professional if you have a fever, chills, sore throat or other symptoms of a cold or flu. Do not treat these symptoms yourself. Try to avoid being around people who are sick. Doxorubicin may increase your risk to bruise or bleed. Call your prescriber or health care professional if you notice any unusual bleeding. Be careful not to cut, bruise or injure yourself because you may get an infection and bleed more than usual.
Avoid taking aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol®), ibuprofen (Advil®), naproxen (Aleve®), or ketoprofen (Orudis® KT) products as these may hide a fever, unless instructed to by your prescriber or health care professional.
Call your prescriber or health care professional if you get diarrhea. Do not treat yourself. Some diarrhea medicine will make the diarrhea worse.
Be careful brushing and flossing your teeth or using a toothpick while receiving doxorubicin because you may get an infection or bleed more easily. If you have any dental work done, tell your dentist you have received doxorubicin.
Men and women of childbearing age should use effective birth control methods during doxorubicin treatment. There is a risk of birth defects if a woman becomes pregnant and is being treated with epirubicin. Women should not become pregnant while being treated with doxorubicin or if their partner is being treated with doxorubicin.
Caregivers of patients receiving doxorubicin should take care to prevent contact with the patient's urine and other body fluids by wearing latex gloves for at least 5 days after each treatment.
Keep out of the reach of children. This medicine is given through your vein at a clinic or hospital. You will not have to take this medicine at home.
NOTE: This information is not intended to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions, or adverse effects for this drug. If you have questions about the drug(s) you are taking, check with your health care professional.
[ Revised 12/30/98]
This information was obtained from Clinical Pharmacology 2000 . For more information about this drug or about any other drug, click here.