Cytarabine Liposomal, Injection

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is given by injections to treat cancer that affects the brain or spinal cord.
• Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have nausea, vomiting, neck pain or stiffness, headache, and fever after receiving this medicine.
• You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antineoplastic (anticancer)

Generic and brand names: cytarabine liposomal, injection; DepoCyt

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shot). It is used to treat lymphomatous meningitis (cancer that affects the spinal cord or brain tissues).

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

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

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine
• Problems with your blood or bone marrow

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?

This medicine is given by healthcare providers experienced in providing chemotherapy. It is given by injection (shots) directly into the fluid around your spinal cord. After each shot you must lie flat for 1 hour. You may have these shots regularly for several months.

Your healthcare provider will prescribe another medicine, dexamethasone, to be taken by mouth to reduce the risk of serious side effects of this medicine. Take it exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes.

What should I watch out for?

This is strong medicine that may cause inflammation of the membranes around the brain or spinal cord. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have nausea, vomiting, neck pain or stiffness, headache, and fever.

This medicine usually affects your bone marrow and your blood cells, depending on how much medicine you receive. Your healthcare provider will want you to have blood tests often to detect any problems. Keep all your appointments for blood tests.

This medicine may make you drowsy or lightheaded. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

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, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are receiving this medicine.

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 healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare 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); seizures; sudden weakness, numbness, or tingling, especially on one side of your body; sudden or severe headache; sudden trouble with vision, speech, balance, or walking.

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Stiff neck; neck pain; severe nausea vomiting, headache, and fever; sore throat; cough; unusual tiredness or weakness; shortness of breath; severe lightheadedness or fainting; back pain; unusual bruising or bleeding; swelling of hands or feet; vision or hearing changes; confusion; numbness or tingling in hands or feet; bladder or bowel control problems; increased thirst; increased or decreased urination; fast or irregular heartbeat.

Other: Mild drowsiness, mild dizziness, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, constipation, diarrhea, mild nausea, tremors.

What products might interact with this medicine?

No significant drug interactions have been reported. However, do not have any vaccinations with live virus vaccines unless your healthcare provider approves.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. 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.

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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.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.