Thiotepa, Injection

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is given by IV to treat Hodgkin's disease, breast, ovarian, bladder, or other forms of cancer.
• This medicine may make you sterile (unable to have children) whether you are a man or a woman. This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby.
• You may get infections more easily when you are taking this 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)

Generic and brand names: thiotepa, injection

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shots) or infusions to treat breast, ovarian, and bladder cancer. It may also be used for Hodgkin's disease and other forms of cancer.

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
• Bone marrow problems
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease

Also tell your provider if you have recently had any kind of infection or if you are taking radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

This medicine may make you sterile (unable to have children) whether you are a man or a woman. If you plan to have children someday, talk with your healthcare provider before you start treatment.

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?

These shots or infusions are given by your healthcare provider. Keep all your appointments.

What should I watch out for?

You will need frequent blood tests during this treatment to find out how the medicine affects you. Keep all your appointments for blood tests.

This medicine may cause birth defects. Males and females should use birth control while receiving this medicine. Your healthcare provider may also instruct you to use effective birth control for a certain period of time after treatment is complete.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.

This medicine may lower the number of certain types of blood cells in your body. You may get infections or bleed more easily when you are taking this medicine. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. Do not have any vaccines without getting your healthcare provider's approval first. If you develop a fever or other signs of infection, or have any unusual bruising or bleeding, contact your healthcare provider right away. This medicine may make your mouth sore. Use a soft bristle brush or mouth swab to brush your teeth.

Do not drink alcohol, or take aspirin while receiving this medicine. It may increase the risk of bleeding. Report any unusual bruising or bleeding to your healthcare provider.

Do not take any other medicines without your healthcare provider’s approval.

This medicine may cause nausea and vomiting. Your healthcare provider may give you medicine to help with this side effect. Contact your healthcare provider if the medicine does not help, and you continue to feel sick and throw up.

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

This medicine may increase the risk of other cancers. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

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).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Unexplained fever, sore throat, cough, trouble breathing, unusual bruising or bleeding, coughing up blood, blood in urine, black or tarry stools, severe stomach pain, unusual tiredness or weakness, vision changes, problems urinating or decreased urination, nausea and vomiting that you cannot control, severe joint pain, numbness or tingling, irregular menstrual periods or no periods.

Other: Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, headache, pain where the shot was given, dizziness, tiredness, hair loss.

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:

• Bupropion (Aplenzin, Forfivo, Wellbutrin, Buproban, Zyban)
• Clozapine (Clozaril, FazaClo)
• Echinacea
• Efavirenz (Sustiva)
• Immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), pimecrolimus (Elidel), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Astagraf, Prograf, Protopic)
• Methadone (Dolophine, Methadose)
• Natalizumab (Tysabri)
• Other cancer medicines
• Promethazine
• Selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar)
• 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.