Health Center
GEMCITABINE (Gemzar®) is a type of chemotherapy for treating many types of cancers including lung cancer and pancreatic
cancer. Gemcitabine can interfere with the growth of rapidly growing cells, like cancer cells, and eventually causes cell death.
Gemcitabine is used alone or in combination with other chemotherapy agents. Generic gemcitabine injections are not yet available.
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
·bleeding problems
·blood disorders
·dental disease
·having intramuscular injections
·infection (especially virus infection such as chickenpox or herpes)
·kidney disease
·recent radiation therapy
·an unusual or allergic reaction to gemcitabine, other chemotherapy, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
·pregnant or trying to get pregnant
·breast-feeding
Gemcitabine is for infusion into a vein. It is usually administered in a hospital or clinic setting by a health care professional.
It is important not to miss your dose. Notify your prescriber or health care professional if you are unable to keep an appointment.
·other chemotherapy agents
·vaccines
Talk to your prescriber or health care professional before taking any of these medicines:
·aspirin
·acetaminophen
·ibuprofen
·ketoprofen
·naproxen
Tell your prescriber or other 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 before
stopping or starting any of your medications.
Gemcitabine may cause different side effects depending upon the dose and other chemotherapy agents given. Not all of these
effects occur in all patients. Discuss the possible side effects of your therapy with your prescriber or health care professional.
Other side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
·low blood counts - gemcitabine may decrease the number of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. You may be at
increased risk for infections and bleeding.
·pain, swelling, redness or irritation at the injection site
·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
·vomiting
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are
bothersome):
·skin rash, itching
·nausea
·constipation
Visit your prescriber or health care professional for checks on your progress. You will need to have regular blood checks. The side
effects of gemcitabine can continue after you finish your treatment; report side effects promptly.
Gemcitabine may make you feel generally unwell. This is not uncommon because gemcitabine 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.
Gemcitabine 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. Gemcitabine 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®), ketoprofen (Orudis KT®), or naproxen (Aleve®) products as
these may mask a fever, unless instructed to by your prescriber or health care professional.
Be careful brushing and flossing your teeth or using a toothpick while receiving gemcitabine because you may get an infection or
bleed more easily. If you have any dental work done, tell your dentist you received gemcitabine.
If you are going to have surgery or any dental procedures, tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are receiving
gemcitabine.
This medicine is given through your vein at a clinic or hospital. You will not need 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 5/31/00]
This information was obtained from Clinical Pharmacology 2000 . For more information about this drug or about any other drug, click here.