Complete adverse effect profile including incidence rates and management
Important Safety Information
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any unexpected symptoms. For serious or life-threatening side effects, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
ADVERSE REACTIONS The following data on adverse reactions are based on intravenous administration of etoposide Injection USP as a single agent, using several different dose schedules for treatment of a wide variety of malignancies.
Hematologic Toxicity Myelosuppression is dose-related and dose-limiting, with granulocyte nadirs occurring 7 to 14 days after drug administration and platelet nadirs occurring 9 to 16 days after drug administration.
Bone marrow recovery is usually complete by day 20, and no cumulative toxicity has been reported.
Fever and infection have also been reported in patients with neutropenia.
Death associated with myelosuppression has been reported.
The occurrence of acute leukemia with or without a preleukemic phase has been reported rarely in patients treated with etoposide Injection USP in association with other antineoplastic agents.
(See WARNINGS .) Gastrointestinal Toxicity Nausea and vomiting are the major gastrointestinal toxicities.
The severity of such nausea and vomiting is generally mild to moderate with treatment discontinuation required in 1% of patients.
Nausea and vomiting can usually be controlled with standard antiemetic therapy.
Mild to severe mucositis/esophagitis may occur.
WARNINGS Patients being treated with etoposide Injection USP must be frequently observed for myelosuppression both during and after therapy.
Myelosuppression resulting in death has been reported.
Dose-limiting bone marrow suppression is the most significant toxicity associated with etoposide Injection USP therapy.
Therefore, the following studies should be obtained at the start of therapy and prior to each subsequent cycle of etoposide Injection USP: platelet count, hemoglobin, white blood cell count, and differential.
The occurrence of a platelet count below 50,000/mm 3 or an absolute neutrophil count below 500/mm 3 is an indication to withhold further therapy until the blood counts have sufficiently recovered.
Like all medications, Etoposide can cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes this medication will experience them. Many side effects are dose-dependent and may improve as your body adjusts to the medication. Others may require dose adjustment or medical attention.
Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you experience:
Seek immediate emergency medical care if you experience signs of: