Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Teva-Topotecan
ABOUT THIS MEDICATION
What the medication is used for:
TEVA-Topotecan (topotecan hydrochloride) is used for the treatment of:
ovarian cancer (metastatic) after failure of initial or
subsequent therapy.
sensitive small cell lung cancer after failure of first line
chemotherapy (defined as recurrence at least 60 days after first line chemotherapy).
What it does:
TEVA-Topotecan helps destroy tumours. It acts on an enzyme (topoisomerase-I) to prevent growth of tumour cells.
When it should not be used:
Do not take TEVA-Topotecan if:
you are hypersensitive (allergic) to topotecan or any of
the other ingredients of TEVA-Topotecan.
you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
- you have severe kidney disease.
results of your last blood test show that you are not able
to receive TEVA-Topotecan (severe bone marrow depression). Your doctor will tell you.
What the medicinal ingredient is:
The medicinal ingredient is topotecan hydrochloride.
What the nonmedicinal ingredients are:
The nonmedicinal ingredients consist of mannitol, tartaric acid, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide.
What dosage forms it comes in:
TEVA-Topotecan (topotecan hydrochloride) for injection is supplied as sterile powder in single-dose vials. Each vial contains
either 1 mg or 4 mg of topotecan. Before infusion the powder needs to be reconstituted and diluted.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Serious Warnings and Precautions
TEVA-Topotecan should be administered under the supervision of a physician experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Possible serious side effect includes:
- a decrease in the number of cells produced in your bone marrow (bone marrow suppression), especially a type of white blood cells called neutrophils (neutropenia).
- Bowel inflammation which may cause severe pain in your abdomen, with fever and a decrease in white blood cells which can potentially be fatal (neutropenic colitis).
- Lung inflammation which may cause severe coughing, shortness of breath and fever which can potentially be fatal (interstitial lung disease).
BEFORE you use TEVA-Topotecan talk to your doctor or pharmacist if:
- you are hypersensitive (allergic) to topotecan or any of the other ingredients of TEVA-Topotecan.
- you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
- results of your last blood test show that you are not able to receive TEVA-Topotecan, your doctor will tell you.
- you have kidney disease.
Use of this medicine during Pregnancy and Breast Feeding You should not be given TEVA-Topotecan if you are pregnant or think you are pregnant.
Nursing Mothers
Do not breast-feed if you are receiving TEVA-Topotecan. You should not restart breast-feeding until the doctor tells you it is safe.
Use in Children
Use in children is not recommended as safety and effectiveness have not been established.
Effect on ability to drive and use machinery
TEVA-Topotecan may make you feel tired. Do not drive or operate any tools or machines if you feel tired or weak.
INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION
It is important that your doctor know about all your medications so that you get the best possible treatment. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking including those you have bought without a prescription.
PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION
Usual dose:
The dose of TEVA-Topotecan which you will receive will be based on your body size (surface area) and the results of blood tests carried out before treatment.
The recommended dose of TEVA-Topotecan is 1.5 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion over 30 minutes daily for 5 consecutive days, starting on day one of a 21-day course. Prior to administration, TEVA-Topotecan powder must be dissolved with water. The TEVA-Topotecan solution will be diluted further using either Sodium Chloride solution or Dextrose solution. A minimum of four courses of TEVA-Topotecan is recommended.
Insufficient data are available in children to provide a dosage recommendation.
Remember: This medicine is for you. Only a doctor can prescribe it for you. Never give it to someone else. It may harm them even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
Overdose:
If you think you have been given too much TEVA- Topotecan, contact your healthcare professional, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre right away, even if you do not have any symptoms.
Accidental overdosage may result in low blood pressure, fast heart rate and bleeding of the bowel.
SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM
Like all medicines, TEVA-Topotecan can have side effects. The most common side effects with TEVA-Topotecan are:
a temporary reduction in the amount of new blood cells
produced by your body, particularly of a type of white blood cell which is important for your body to prevent and fight off an infection. In approximately 1 in 20 patients a serious infection is caught during treatment which can be fatal. If at any time during treatment you feel unwell or develop a temperature you should contact your doctor immediately.
you may become temporarily anemic and tired or take
longer for a minor injury to stop bleeding. The reduction in the amount of blood cells (lasts for only a few days), starting from approximately day 8 of each treatment cycle and lasting for about a week. In most cases the level of blood cells return to normal in time for the next cycle of treatment.
Gastrointestinal perforations (including life-threatening
and fatal cases) have been reported with topotecan hydrochloride-treated patients. Your doctor will monitor you for the possibility of GI perforation if you experience
symptoms of severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and/or bloody stool and will discontinue TEVA-Topotecan if you have an intestinal perforation.
Other possible side effects are:
- nausea (feeling sick or queasy or having the urge to throw up)
- vomiting (throwing up)
- diarrhea (frequent and watery bowel movements)
- fever
- hair loss
- stomach pain
- constipation
- swelling and pain of the mouth, tongue or gums
- fatigue (tiredness)
- weakness
- anorexia (weight loss and loss of appetite)
- feeling unwell
- headache
- coughing
- shortness of breath
- yellow skin (jaundice)
- rash
- itching sensation
mild pain and inflammation at the site of injection.
Severe allergic reactions have been reported rarely.
- lung inflammation (interstitial lung disease) has been reported rarely. Signs include difficulty in breathing, severe cough and fever.
Several of these effects may occur during your treatment. If you notice any of these, or any other effects not mentioned in this leaflet between courses or when you leave hospital/after treatment has finished, tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
| SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, HOW OFTEN THEY HAPPEN | ||
| AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM | ||
| Frequency | Side Effect/Symptom | Talk with your Doctor immediately |
| Very Common | Any sign of fever or infection, or any unexpected bruising or bleeding. | X |
| Common | Serious infection; local symptoms such as sore throat or urinary problems (for example, a burning sensation when urinating, which may be caused by a urinary infection) | X |
| SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, HOW OFTEN THEY HAPPEN | ||
| AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM | ||
| Frequency | Side Effect/Symptom | Talk with your Doctor immediately |
| Uncommon | Severe allergic reaction and symptoms such as swelling of the mouth, throat, difficulty in breathing, rash, hives, increased heart rate, and collapse. | X |
| Rare | Severe bleeding | X |
Severe abdominal pain, fever and diarrhoea (rarely with blood). These could be signs of bowel inflammation (colitis) | X | |
Severe cough, shortness of breath, fever (interstitial lung disease). You are at increased risk if you have had radiation treatment to your lungs, or have previously taken medicines that caused lung damage. | X | |
Frequency not known events (from spontaneous reports) | Severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting of blood, black or bloody stools. (Possible symptoms of gastrointestinal perforation). | X |
Mouth sores, difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, bloody stool which could be signs and symptoms of inflammation of the inner lining of the mouth, stomach and / or gut (mucosal inflammation). | X | |
This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking TEVA-Topotecan, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
HOW TO STORE IT
Unopened vials of TEVA-Topotecan are stable until the date indicated on the package when stored between 15ºC and 30ºC (59ºF and 86ºF) and protected from light. Keep in the original carton until ready to use.
Reconstituted Solutions
Vials which have been reconstituted with Water for Injection are stable for up to 24 hours when refrigerated at 5ºC (41ºF) or stored at 30ºC (86ºF).
However, since the vials contain no preservative, it is recommended that the product should be used immediately after reconstitution. If not used immediately, the reconstituted solution should be stored in a refrigerator and discarded after 24 hours.
Diluted solutions
Reconstituted vials of TEVA-Topotecan diluted for infusion are stable for up to 24 hours at approximately 20ºC to 25ºC (68ºF to 77ºF) and ambient lighting conditions. If not used immediately, the diluted solution should be stored in a refrigerator in line with good pharmaceutical practice.
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 TEVA-TOPOTECAN:
- 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 (https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/index-eng.jsp); the manufacturer's website (tevacanada.com), or by calling 1-800-268-4127 ext. 3.
Teva Canada Limited
30 Novopharm Court
Toronto, Ontario, M1B 2K9