Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Cabazitaxel for Injection (Marcan Pharmaceuticals)
ABOUT THIS MEDICATION
What the medication is used for:
CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION, in combination with prednisone or prednisolone, is used to treat patients with metastatic prostate cancer who have received prior cancer treatment with docetaxel.
What it does:
Every cell in your body contains a supporting structure (almost like a “skeleton”). If this “skeleton” is damaged, the cell can not grow or divide.
CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION makes the “skeleton” in cells unnaturally stiff, so the cancer cells then can no longer grow or divide.
When it should not be used:
if you experienced severe allergy (hypersensitivity) to:
CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION or any of
the other ingredients in the formulation or components of the container; or
to other medicine containing the same
nonmedicinal ingredients (polysorbate 80).
- if the number of your white blood cells is too low.
- if you have a severe liver disease.
if you have recently received or you are about to receive
a live vaccine such as yellow fever vaccine.
What the medicinal ingredient is:
Cabazitaxel
What the nonmedicinal ingredients are:
Polysorbate 80 (including citric acid) and ethanol.
What dosage forms it comes in:
CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION is a concentrated solution for injection and is available in a vial. Each vial contains 60mg/1.5 ml cabazitaxel. CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION is to be diluted with a diluent provided with the product.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Serious Warnings and Precautions
CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION should only be administered by a qualified healthcare professional experienced in the use of anticancer treatments.
Possible serious side effects with the use of CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION include:
- Serious allergic reactions
- Low white blood cell count that may result in life- threatening infection and death
- Gastrointestinal reactions (such as bleeding and perforation) that may result in death.
BEFORE or WHILE you use CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if:
- You have a fever. A fever is the earliest sign of infection which may be caused by reduced white blood cell count.
- You have any allergies. Antiallergic medicines will be given to you to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction, as CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION may also cause serious allergic reactions (hypersensitivity).
- You have severe or persistent diarrhea, nausea or vomiting which may result in dehydration.
- You have liver or kidney problems.
- You have heart problem or irregular heart rate.
You are going to have any vaccines. CABAZITAXEL
FOR INJECTION should not be used if you have recently received or you are about to receive a live vaccine (such as yellow fever vaccine), since concomitant use may result in serious life- threatening infections.
CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION might be present in your semen. Use a condom every time you have sexual intercourse with a woman who is pregnant or can get pregnant while you are taking CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION and for 6 months after your last dose of CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION.
CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION may cause fatigue or dizziness. If you experience these symptoms, do not drive or use any tools or machines.
INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION
Please tell your doctor or your hospital pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Some medicines may affect the way CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION works or CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION may affect how other medicines work.
These medicines include the following:
medicines used to treat infections, such as:
ketoconazole, rifampicin, clarithromycin, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, voriconazole
medicines used to treat seizures, such as:
carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital.
PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION
Usual dose:
CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION will be given to you as an infusion into the vein (intravenous infusion) by a healthcare professional.
Your doctor will decide the dose that you should receive based on your height and weight.
The infusion will take about 1 hour.
During treatment with CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION you will also need to take prednisone by mouth every day.
Overdose:
If you think you have been given too much CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION, contact your healthcare professional, hospital emergency department or regional poison centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.
Missed Dose:
This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss an appointment, call your doctor or nurse for instructions.
| SIDE EFFETCS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM |
Like all medicines, CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION can cause side effects.
Very common side effects may include:
low white blood cell count, which may cause
infections and fever
low red blood cell count (anemia), which may cause
shortness of breath and fatigue
low blood platelets that may lead to bleeding
- diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain
- decreased appetite
- change in the sense of taste
- blood in the urine (hematuria)
- allergic reactions
- hair loss
- tiredness
- muscle or joint pain
- back pain
- weakness
- cough
- shortness of breath
- fever
Common side effects may include:
- low blood pressure
- decreased amount of urine and swelling of the face, legs or body (kidney failure)
- headache
- dizziness
- numbness, tingling, burning or decreased sensation in the hands and feet
- muscle spasms
- dehydration
- urinary tract infection
Tell your doctor about any side effects that you might have during treatment with CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION.
| SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, HOW OFTEN THEY HAPPEN | |||
| AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM | |||
| Symptom / effect | Talk with your doctor or pharmacist | Stop taking drug and call your doctor or pharmacist | |
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Common | |||
Fever, chills or signs of infection, like redness or swelling at the injection site, a cough that brings up mucus, or a sore throat | √ | ||
Persistent vomiting or diarrhea; abdominal pain, abdominal tenderness, persistent constipation, dark stool or blood in stool. | √ | ||
Kidney symptoms such as blood in the urine, urinary incontinence, decreased amount of urine, pain while urinating, swelling, especially in legs and feet, feeling confused, anxious, restless or sleepy, pain in the back just below the rib cage. | √ | ||
| SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, HOW OFTEN THEY HAPPEN | |||
| AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM | |||
| Symptom / effect | Talk with your doctor or pharmacist | Stop taking drug and call your doctor or pharmacist | |
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Unusual bleeding or bruising, black or tarry stools, blood in the urine | √ | ||
| Extreme weakness or fatigue | √ | ||
Radiation cystitis (inflammation of the bladder in patients that have received radiotherapy) with symptoms such as: persistent urge to urinate; a burning sensation or pain when urinating; passing frequent, small amounts of urine; blood in the urine (hematuria). | √ | ||
| Uncommon | |||
| Allergic reactions such as trouble breathing, tightness in the throat, rash, hives, swelling of the lips or tongue or low blood pressure | √ | ||
| Unknown Frequency | |||
| Respiratory problems with symptoms such as: difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, cough, fatigue. | √ | ||
| Vein thrombosis: blood clot formed in one or more of the veins in your body (usually in the legs or lungs), with symptoms such as: leg pain or swelling; shortness of breath, chest pain, cough; sweating, rapid or irregular heartbeat, dizziness. | √ | ||
This is not a complete list of serious side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
HOW TO STORE IT
The unopened vials should be stored at room temperature between 15°C to 30°C.
Reporting Side Effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
Visiting the Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting
(https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medeffect-canada/adverse-reaction-reporting.html) for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax; or
- Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.
NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.
MORE INFORMATION
If you want more information about CABAZITAXEL FOR INJECTION:
- Talk to your healthcare professional.
- Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Consumer Information by visiting the Health Canada website at https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/index-eng.jsp the manufacturer’s website www.marcanpharma.com, or by calling 1-855-627-2261
Marcan Pharmaceuticals Inc.,
2 Gurdwara Road, Suite # 112, Ottawa,
Ontario, K2E 1A2, Canada.
Last Prepared: August 11, 2020