Cyclophosphamide, Oral/Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antineoplastic (anticancer)

Generic and brand names: cyclophosphamide, injection; cyclophosphamide, oral; Cytoxan; Cytoxan Lyophilized; Neosar

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is used to treat certain types of cancer. It is also used to treat kidney disease in children. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider. This medicine may be taken by mouth (tablets) or given by injection (shots).

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• a blood or bone marrow disorder
• liver or kidney disease
• surgery on your adrenal gland
• X-ray treatments for cancer

Also tell your provider if you have any kind of infection or if you are scheduled to have any kind of surgery in the near future.

This medicine may make you sterile (unable to have children) whether you are a man or a woman. If you plan to have children someday, talk with your healthcare provider before you start treatment.

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.

How do I use it?

Shots of this medicine are usually given by your healthcare provider.

You may take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with meals may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach. It is best to take the tablets early in the day rather than near bedtime. Do not break, crush, or chew tablets. Swallow them whole with a full glass of water. Drink extra liquid while you are taking this medicine. Ask your healthcare provider how much you need to drink.

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less or take this medicine longer than prescribed. Taking too much increases the risk of side effects. If you take too little, the medicine may not be effective.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: sore throat, trouble breathing, chest pain.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may cause nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. However, do not stop taking it unless your healthcare provider tells you to. Ask your healthcare provider how you can lessen these effects. If you vomit right after taking the medicine, ask your healthcare provider what to do.

Stop taking the medicine and contact your healthcare provider right away if you notice blood in your urine or if urinating is painful. These effects may occur with large doses or long-term treatment.

You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. Also, do not have any vaccines without getting your healthcare provider's approval first.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

You may lose your hair during this treatment. Your hair will grow back when you stop taking this medicine.

Men should use effective birth control because this medicine may affect the sperm and lead to birth defects.

Diabetics: this medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your health care provider right away. If you cannot reach your health care provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Fever, chills, unusual bleeding or bruising, yellowing of your skin or eyes, black tarry stools, sore throat, trouble breathing, blood in your urine, painful urination.

Other: Dizziness, confusion, missed menstrual periods, cough, white patches or sores inside mouth or on lips, joint pain, hair loss, rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, headache.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• allopurinol (Zyloprim)
• anti-infectives such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (Ery-tab), doxycycline (Vibramycin), isoniazid, and rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• antidepressants such as paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), nefazodone, and desipramine (Norpramin)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol) and phenobarbital
• medicine that reduces the chance of blood clots forming such as warfarin (Coumadin)
• bupropion (Wellbutrin)
• chloramphenicol
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• diuretics such as chlorothiazide (Diuril), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide, Oretic), methyclothiazide (Enduron), hydroflumethiazide (Diucardin, Saluron), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), and quinethazone (Hydromox)
• medicines to treat HIV/AIDS such as nevirapine (Viramune), saquinavir (Invirase), and ritonavir (Norvir)
• other medicines to treat cancer such as methotrexate, asparaginase (Elspar), busulfan (Myleran), trastuzumab (Herceptin), and doxorubicin (Rubex, Adriamycin)
• quinidine
• verapamil (Calan, Isoptin)

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

____________________________________________________

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicines in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.

Developed by RelayHealth
Published by RelayHealth.
© 2009 RelayHealth and/or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.