ifosfamide

What is the most important information I should know about ifosfamide?

What is ifosfamide?

Ifosfamide is used with other medicines to treat testicular cancer in men.

Ifosfamide is usually given after other treatments have failed.

Ifosfamide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving ifosfamide?

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• kidney disease;
• heart disease;
• a bladder infection;
• treatment with busulfan; or
• radiation treatment of your bladder.

Using ifosfamide may increase your risk of developing other cancers, such as leukemia. Ask your doctor about this risk.

Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy, whether you are a man or a woman. Ifosfamide use by either parent may cause birth defects. Keep using birth control for at least 6 months after treatment.

This medication may affect fertility (your ability to have children), whether you are a man or a woman. Some women using ifosfamide have stopped having periods, or started having symptoms of early menopause.

How is ifosfamide given?

Your doctor will perform blood and urine tests to make sure you do not have conditions that would prevent you from safely using this medicine.

Ifosfamide is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Ifosfamide is given in a 21-day treatment cycle, but you will receive the medicine only during the first 5 days of each cycle. Your doctor will determine how many cycles you should receive.

Your blood will need to be tested often. Your heart, kidney function, liver function, or nerve and muscle function may also need to be checked. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results.

What happens if I miss a dose?

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while receiving ifosfamide?

Grapefruit may interact with ifosfamide and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using ifosfamide, or you could develop a serious infection. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

What are the possible side effects of ifosfamide?

• fever, chills, flu symptoms;
• mouth and throat ulcers;
• skin sores, pale skin, cold hands and feet;
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding;
• rapid heart rate, shallow breathing; or
• feeling light-headed or short of breath.

• confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior, hallucinations, seizure (convulsions);
• little or no urination, painful or difficult urination, blood in your urine;
• loss of bladder control;
• a seizure;
• muscle movements you cannot control;
• problems with your hearing or vision, ringing in your ears;
• sudden chest pain, wheezing, dry cough;
• dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• a wound that will not heal.

Common side effects may include:

• nausea and vomiting;
• confusion, vision problems, thinking problems;
• numbness, tingling, burning pain;
• infections;
• urination problems; or
• hair loss.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect ifosfamide?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Many drugs can affect ifosfamide. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about ifosfamide.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 3.03. Revision date: 5/14/2020.