dexrazoxane
What is the most important information I should know about dexrazoxane?
Dexrazoxane can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects if the mother or father is using this medicine. Tell your caregivers if you are pregnant, or if you are a man and your sex partner is able to get pregnant.
You should not receive Zinecard if your chemotherapy does not include doxorubicin or a similar medication (such as daunorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, or mitoxantrone).
Tell your doctor at once if you have signs of infection such as fever, chills, sore throat, easy bruising or bleeding, skin sores, or warmth and redness of any surgical incision.
What is dexrazoxane?
Dexrazoxane is used to protect the heart and other tissues from harmful side effects caused by certain cancer medications.
The Totect brand of dexrazoxane is used in men or women to treat a condition called extravasation (es-TRA-va-ZAY-shun). Extravasation happens when an injected medicine escapes from the blood vessels and circulates into tissues in the body. Serious tissue damage can occur when extravasation happens during injection of certain cancer medications.
Dexrazoxane is also used to help prevent chemotherapy-related heart problems in women who are receiving doxorubicin for metastatic breast cancer. This medicine is given only after you have received enough doxorubicin infusions to amount to a certain total dose.
Dexrazoxane may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my health care provider before receiving dexrazoxane?
You should not receive Zinecard if your chemotherapy does not include doxorubicin or a similar medication such as:
- daunorubicin (Cerubidine, Daunoxome);
- epirubicin (Ellence);
- idarubicin (Idamycin); or
- mitoxantrone (Novantrone).
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- heart problems;
- liver disease; or
- kidney disease.
Dexrazoxane can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects if the mother or the father is receiving this medicine. Women should use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while receiving dexrazoxane and for at least 6 months after the last dose. Men should use birth control during treatment and for at least 3 months after the last dose. Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs during this time.
This medicine may affect fertility (ability to have children) in men. However, it is important to use birth control to prevent pregnancy because dexrazoxane may harm the baby if a pregnancy does occur.
You should not breastfeed while you are using dexrazoxane. Women receiving Totect should continue to not breastfeed for at least 2 weeks after the last dose.
How is dexrazoxane given?
Dexrazoxane is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.
Totect is usually started within 6 hours after extravasation, and continued once daily for 3 days.
Dexrazoxane is usually started 15 minutes before you receive your doxorubicin infusion. This medicine is not given with your first dose of doxorubicin, but only after you've received prior doxorubicin doses up to a certain total amount.
Dexrazoxane can add to bone marrow suppression caused by chemotherapy. You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Your doctor will need to examine you on a regular basis.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since dexrazoxane is given by a healthcare professional as part of your chemotherapy treatment, you are not likely to miss a dose.
Call your doctor for instructions if you miss your chemotherapy appointment.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid after receiving dexrazoxane?
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 dexrazoxane?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; feeling light-headed; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- fever, chills, tiredness, mouth sores, skin sores;
- easy bruising, unusual bleeding;
- sore throat, cough, trouble breathing; or
- bruising, swelling, warmth, redness, oozing, or bleeding of any surgical incision.
Common side effects may include:
- nausea, vomiting;
- fever;
- infection after a surgery; or
- pain where the medicine was injected.
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 dexrazoxane?
Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:
- other cancer medications; or
- dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).
This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect dexrazoxane, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.
Where can I get more information?
Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about dexrazoxane.
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.
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