etoposide
Etoposide oral is an anticancer medication used in combination with other chemotherapy medications to treat small cell lung cancer. It’s also commonly known as VP-16. Etoposide oral is taken by mouth, usually daily for a few days during each chemotherapy cycle. This medication can raise your risk for infections and bleeds.
What is Etoposide oral?
What is Etoposide oral used for?
Small cell lung cancer
How Etoposide oral works
Etoposide oral is a type of anticancer medication called a topoisomerase II inhibitor. It prevents cancer cells from growing by damaging the cancer cells’ genetic material.
Drug Facts
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What are the side effects of Etoposide oral?
Common Side Effects
- Low white blood cell count (60-91%)
- Hair loss (8-66%)
- Nausea and vomiting (31-43%)
- Low platelet count (22-41%)
- Low red blood cell count (up to 33%)
Other Side Effects
- Stomach pain
- Lack of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Mouth or throat sores
Serious Side Effects
- Infections: fevers, chills, cough, trouble breathing, severe diarrhea, vomiting, painful or frequent urination
- Serious bleeds: bleeding or bruising that doesn’t stop or go away, large amount of bleeding, blood in the urine, throwing up blood, bloody or black and tarry stool
- Serious skin problems: mouth sores, redness of the eyes, rash, blisters, fever, cough, tiredness
Source: DailyMed
The following side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Infection—fever, chills, cough, sore throat, wounds that don't heal, pain or trouble when passing urine, general feeling of discomfort or being unwell
- Low red blood cell level—unusual weakness or fatigue, dizziness, headache, trouble breathing
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Pros and cons of Etoposide oral
Pros
Taken by mouth
Available as a lower-cost generic
Recommended treatment option for small cell lung cancer, in combination with other anticancer medications
Cons
Raises your risk for infections, bleeding, or bruising
Slightly more nausea and vomiting compared to etoposide injection
Can cause hair loss
Pharmacist tips for Etoposide oral
Swallow etoposide oral capsules whole. Don’t open, dissolve, or chew the capsules.
Store etoposide oral capsules in the refrigerator at 36° to 46°F (2° to 8°C), in its original container. If you live with other people, make sure they're aware of where your medication is stored and don't accidentally take it or touch it. Ask your provider or pharmacist if there are any other storage safety instructions for etoposide oral.
You’ll need to get labs done regularly during etoposide treatment. This is so your provider can monitor your blood cell counts and liver health. Etoposide oral can lower your blood cell counts and put you at risk for bleeding or developing infections. Liver problems can also put you at higher risk of the medication’s side effects. Follow the lab schedule your provider gives you. Tell your care team if you develop a fever.
Etoposide oral can cause hair loss. Talk to your provider if this is a concern and ask about ways to manage it.
Etoposide oral can cause harm to an unborn baby. If you’re a female who can get pregnant, use birth control while taking this medication. Discuss with your provider to see which birth control option is best for you.
Tell your provider if you are taking a medication called cyclosporine modified (Neoral). Depending on your dose, it can interact with etoposide oral and change the levels of etoposide oral in your body and raise your risk of side effects. Tell your provider and pharmacist about all the medications you take, including supplements and over-the-counter medications. Before starting any new medications, make sure your provider knows you're taking etoposide oral.
Ask your provider or pharmacist about the best way to handle and throw away etoposide oral safely. You or your caregiver should wear gloves when handling this medication. Make sure to wash hands before and after handling. Anticancer medications can be very harmful to people who handle or come into contact with them.
Frequently asked questions about Etoposide oral
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What are the risks and warnings for Etoposide oral?
Etoposide oral can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Must be given by a trained healthcare provider
Etoposide oral must be given by or under the supervision of your healthcare provider who's trained in caring for people taking chemotherapy medications.
Low blood cell counts
Etoposide oral can cause your white blood cell, red blood cell, and platelet counts to drop. This can happen within a couple of weeks after you start this medication. When the number of these cells are lower than normal, you’re at risk of developing infections, anemia, and bleeding or bruising. Your provider will closely monitor your blood counts through regular lab work while you're taking etoposide oral. If your blood counts are low, your dose might need to be lowered or you might stop taking the medication altogether. Typically, your blood cell counts should recover about 3 weeks after you stop this medication. Let your provider know as soon as possible if you experience fevers, chills, or bleeding and bruising that doesn’t stop or go away, because you might need to stop this medication.
Nausea, vomiting, and mouth sores
Etoposide oral can cause you to experience mild to moderate nausea and vomiting. Let your provider know if you do have these side effects because they can prescribe anti-nausea medications to ease those symptoms.
Etoposide oral can sometimes cause mouth sores. These sores can be painful and make it difficult for you to eat and drink. Make sure to brush your teeth and floss gently to protect your oral health. Let your provider know if you develop mouth sores, they might be able to recommend a mouthwash or other methods to ease your symptoms.
Harm to unborn baby
You’re recommended to avoid etoposide oral during pregnancy. Based on animal studies, etoposide oral can cause harm to an unborn baby. Because of these risks, you should use birth control during treatment with etoposide oral to prevent pregnancy. Let your provider know right away if you or your partner becomes pregnant during this time.
Etoposide oral dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50mg | 16 capsules | $206.38 | $12.90 |
Typical dosing for Etoposide oral
Your provider will calculate your dose of etoposide oral using your body surface area (BSA, in units of m2), which takes into account your body weight and height. Your dose of etoposide oral will be rounded to the nearest 50 mg.
Typically, the dose of oral etoposide oral is twice the dose of the intravenous (IV) etoposide injection that you’ve been receiving. The dosing can differ depending on the treatment regimen.
How much does Etoposide oral cost?
What are alternatives to Etoposide oral?
Advanced small cell lung cancer (SCLC) that continued to spread after other chemotherapy
Testicular cancer that's hard to treat (refractory)
Small cell lung cancer
Etoposide oral images
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