Floxuridine

Floxuridine injection should be given only under the supervision of a doctor who is experienced in giving chemotherapy medications for cancer. You will receive the first dose of medication in a medical facility. Your doctor will monitor you carefully while you are receiving the medication and afterwards.

🔔 Why is this medication prescribed?

Floxuridine is used to treat cancer of gastrointestinal (GI) tract (cancer of the stomach or intestines) that has spread to the liver. Floxuridine is in a class of medications called antimetabolites. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in your body.

🔔 How should this medicine be used?

Floxuridine comes as a powder to be mixed with liquid to be continuously injected intra-arterially (into an artery) that supplies blood to the tumor.

🔔 Other uses for this medicine

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

🔔 What special precautions should I follow?

Before receiving floxuridine,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to floxuridine, fluorouracil, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in floxuridine injection. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: medications that suppress the immune system such as azathioprine (Imuran), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), methotrexate (Rheumatrex), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf). Your doctor may need to monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with floxuridine, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
• tell your doctor if you have an infection or are not able to eat enough or a good balance of food. Your doctor may not want you to receive floxuridine injection.
• tell your doctor if you have previously received radiation (x-ray) therapy or treatment with other chemotherapy medications or if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. You should not become pregnant or breast-feed while you are receiving floxuridine injection. If you become pregnant while receiving floxuridine injection, call your doctor. Floxuridine may harm the fetus.

🔔 What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

🔔 What side effects can this medication cause?

Floxuridine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• nausea
• vomiting
• loss of appetite or weight
• diarrhea
• abdominal pain
• dry, red, and itchy skin
• hair loss
• pain, itching, redness, swelling, blisters, bleeding, or sores in the place where the medication was injected

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:

• sores in the mouth and throat
• extreme tiredness or weakness
• fever, sore throat, ongoing cough and congestion, or other signs of infection
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• bloody or black, tarry stools
• bloody vomit; or vomiting blood or brown material that resembles coffee grounds
• pink, red, or dark brown urine
• chest pain
• hives
• difficulty breathing or swallowing

Floxuridine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

Once you do get to see the doctor, don’t be surprised if you’re rushed out of the exam room before you get all of your questions answered, according to healthcare staffing agency Staff Care. Studies show that 41% of ophthalmologists spend just 9 to 12 minutes with a patient, and 13- to 16-minute appointments are the norm for 40% of cardiologists, 37% of pediatricians, 35% of urologists, 35% of family physicians, 34% of obstetricians and gynecologists and 30% of otolaryngologists.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

🔔 In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• fever, sore throat, ongoing cough and congestion, or other signs of infection
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• bloody or black, tarry stools
• bloody vomit; or vomiting blood or brown material that resembles coffee grounds
• pink, red, or dark brown urine

🔔 What other information should I know?

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain tests to check your body’s response to floxuridine.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.