What is Floxuridine?
Floxuridine can be used to treat cancers of the digestive system that have spread to the liver. This medication guide does not list all possible uses of floxuridine.
Side effects of Floxuridine
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include difficulty breathing, hives and facial or throat swelling. Seek medical help immediately if this happens to you.
Floxuridine can cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- Chest pain or pressure
- Blisters or ulcers on your lips, red or swollen gingivae, difficulty swallowing
- a fever; a sore throat; feeling light-headed.
- Severe diarrhea or nausea.
- Bloody or tarry stool, vomiting blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- Have you experienced easy bruising, unusual bleeding, or purple or red patches under the skin?
- Any bleeding won't stop.
The side effects of floxuridine include:
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps;
- stomatitis;
- Blood tests that are abnormal
- Redness or irritation at the injection site
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor.Reaching out to the FDA can be done at 1-800-FDA-1088 if any adverse reactions arise from medication use.
Warnings
If you have an infected or suppressed bone marrow, you should avoid using floxuridine.
Before you take this drug
If you are suffering from:
- An infection
- Bone marrow suppression
- if you are malnourished.
Tell your doctor about any of the following:
- liver disease
- Kidney disease
- Radiation of the pelvic area
- Treatment with other chemotherapy drugs
Floxuridine can harm an unborn child.Utilize effective contraception to help avoid pregnancy, and notify your physician as soon as you discover you're pregnant. If you are using floxuridine, it is not recommended that you breastfeed.
How to take Floxuridine?
Your first dose may be administered in a hospital setting or clinic to treat any serious side-effects. Floxuridine can be injected through an infusion device into an arterial artery. This injection will be given by a healthcare provider. While receiving floxuridine, you will be closely monitored to ensure that you don't have a serious reaction. Floxuridine increases your risk of bleeding and infection. You will have to undergo frequent medical tests. The results of your cancer treatment may delay it.
Details on dosage
Adult dose for liver metastasis of adenocarcinoma
The recommended dose is 0.1–0.6 mg/kg/day via continuous arterial infusion. Higher dosages (0.4–0.6 mg) should be used in hepatic artery insertions because the liver will metabolize the drug, reducing systemic toxicity.
Comments:
The therapy can be continued until the adverse reactions are evident. After these side effects subside, the therapy can be resumed.
The patient should continue to receive floxuridine as long as the response continues.
Use: To provide palliative care for gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma that has metastatic spread to the liver. This is done by giving a continuous intra-arterial regional infusion.
What happens if I miss the dose?
You are unlikely to miss a dosage because you will be receiving floxuridine in a clinical environment.
What happens if I overdose?
Overdoses are unlikely because this medication is administered by a health professional in a medical environment.
What should be avoided?
Avoid being around people who are sick. If you notice any signs of an infection, tell your doctor immediately. Avoid coming into contact with someone who has just received a live vaccination. You could contract the virus. Live vaccines are available for measles (chickenpox), rubella (MMR), yellow fever (typhoid), varicella, zoster, and influenza (nasal flu).
Interaction with other drug
Other drugs, such as vitamins and herbal remedies, may also affect floxuridine. Inform your doctor of all the medicines you are currently taking and those that you will begin or stop using.
