Pentostatin, Injection

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is given by IV to treat hairy cell leukemia.
• This is a very strong medicine. Keep all appointments for tests to see how this medicine affects you.
• 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); antimetabolite

Generic and brand names: pentostatin, injection; Nipent

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by IV (through a needle into a large vein) to treat hairy cell leukemia when other treatments have not been successful.

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?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine
• Bleeding problems
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease

Tell your provider if you have recently had any kind of infection or fever.

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given during pregnancy because it can harm the baby. Do not become pregnant during this treatment. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while you are receiving these injections. Do not breast-feed while receiving these injections without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

This is a very strong medicine. It should only be given where you can be monitored closely. This medicine is given by your healthcare provider, usually every other week. Keep all your appointments. The length of treatment depends on your response to the medicine and the frequency and severity of any side effects.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may cause severe problems with your kidneys, liver, lungs, or nervous system. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

You may need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

This medicine may cause fever, infection, or anemia, especially during the early stages of treatment. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. Also, do not have any vaccines without getting your healthcare provider's approval first. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you develop a sore throat, bleeding, bruising, fever, or chills.

This medicine may make your mouth sore. Use a soft bristle brush or mouth swab to brush your teeth.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert and thinking clearly.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking 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; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Fever or chills; trouble urinating; chest pain; sore throat; unusual bruising or bleeding; severe nausea or vomiting; unusual tiredness or weakness; severe drowsiness; mouth sores; yellowing of the skin or eyes; dark urine; light-colored bowel movements; black tarry bowel movements; swelling of the feet or lower legs; burning or tingling in the hands or feet; decreased urination; increased thirst; breathing problems; fast heartbeat; severe dizziness or fainting; seizures; confusion; unusual nervousness or anxiety; hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there); numbness or tingling in hands or feet; severe skin redness or rash.

Other: Rash, tiredness, cough, headache, muscle pain, dizziness or drowsiness, trouble sleeping, hair loss, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, gas, constipation, loss of appetite, sweating.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Allopurinol (Aloprim, Zyloprim)
• Cancer medicines such as carmustine (BiCNU, Gliadel), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), etoposide, fludarabine (Fludara), nelarabine (Arranon), and samarium sm 153 lexidronam
• Deferiprone (Ferriprox)
• Fingolimod (Gilenya)
• Medicines to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other immune disorders such as abatacept (Orencia), adalimumab (Humira), anakinra (Kineret), certolizumab (Cimzia), etanercept (Enbrel), golimumab (Simponi), infliximab (Remicade), leflunomide (Arava), rituximab (Rituxan), tocilizumab (Actemra), and tofacitinib (Xeljanz)
• Natalizumab (Tysabri)
• Pegademase (Adagen)
• Teriflunomide (Aubagio)
• Vaccines

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.