Irinotecan Lipid Complex Injection
Irinotecan lipid complex can cause a severe decrease in the number of white blood cells made by your bone marrow. A decrease in the number of white blood cells in your body may increase the risk that you will develop a serious infection. Your doctor will order laboratory tests regularly during your treatment to check the number of white blood cells in your blood. You may be at greater risk of experiencing this side effect if you are of Asian descent. If you experience any of the following symptoms of infection, call your doctor immediately: fever, chills, sore throat, ongoing cough and congestion, or other signs of infection.
Irinotecan lipid complex can cause severe and life threatening diarrhea that may lead to dehydration. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a bowel obstruction (blockage in your intestine). You may experience the following symptoms within 24 hours after receiving irinotecan lipid complex: diarrhea (sometimes called “early diarrhea”), runny nose, increased saliva, shrinking pupils (black circles in the middle of the eyes), watery eyes, sweating, flushing, slowed heartbeat, or stomach cramps. Tell your doctor right away if you experience any of these symptoms. You may also experience severe diarrhea more than 24 hours after receiving irinotecan lipid complex (sometimes called “late diarrhea”). If you experience any of the following symptoms of late diarrhea, call your doctor immediately: diarrhea, vomiting that stops you from drinking anything, black or bloody stools, lightheadedness, dizziness, or faintness. Your doctor will probably tell you to take loperamide (Imodium AD) to treat symptoms of late diarrhea.
Talk to your doctor about the risks of receiving irinotecan lipid complex.
🔔 Why is this medication prescribed?
Irinotecan lipid complex is used in combination with other medications to treat pancreatic cancer that has spread to other parts of the body that has worsened after treatment with other chemotherapy medications. Irinotecan lipid complex is in a class of antineoplastic medications called topoisomerase I inhibitors. It works by stopping the growth of cancer cells.
🔔 How should this medicine be used?
Irinotecan lipid complex comes as a liquid to be injected intravenously (into a vein) over 90 minutes by a doctor or nurse in a medical facility. It is usually given once every 2 weeks.
Your doctor may need to delay your treatment and adjust your dose if you experience certain side effects. Be sure to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment with irinotecan lipid complex.
Even with health insurance, patients in the U. S. have a hard time affording their medical care. About one in five working-age Americans with health insurance, and more than half of those without health insurance, reported having trouble paying their medical bills in the last year, according to S. News & World Report.
Your doctor may give you medications to prevent nausea and vomiting before you receive each dose of irinotecan lipid complex. Your doctor may also give you or tell you to take other medication(s) to prevent or treat other side effects.
🔔 Other uses for this medicine
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
