What is Irinotecan?
Irinotecan can be used to treat cancers in the colon or rectum. It is often given along with other cancer medications.
Irinotecan can be used in other ways not mentioned in this guide.
Side effects of Irinotecan
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat.
Irinotecan can cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- Severe or persistent diarrhea or nausea.
- Black or bloody stools
- Nausea or vomiting, which prevents you from drinking enough fluids.
- Sores or white patches around or in your mouth
- New or worsening cough, or shortness of breath.
- Dehydration symptoms—feeling thirsty, hot, or unable to urinate. Heavy sweating or hot and dried skin.
- Low blood cell counts: fever; tiredness; skin sores and bruising easily; unusual bleeding or bruising of the skin; pale skin on hands and feet.
- Severe sleepiness can cause confusion, a high fever, rapid heartbeats, and rapid breathing.
Older adults are more susceptible to severe diarrhea.
Irinotecan side effects may include:
- Other signs of infection include fever, mouth sores, or pain.
- Low blood cell count and abnormal liver function tests
- Diarrhea, constipation;
- Nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain;
- Loss of appetite Weight loss
- A weakness
- Hair loss.
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.
Similar/related drugs
Keytruda, Avastin, Fluorouracil, Capecitabine, Xeloda, and Betaseron
Warnings
Irinotecan may cause severe diarrhea that can be fatal. If you experience diarrhea while taking irinotecan, call your doctor immediately.
Before you take this drug
If you have an allergy to irinotecan, then it is best not to use it.
Tell your doctor about any of the following:
- Liver or kidney disease
- Lung disease;
- An intestinal obstruction or disorder;
- Gilbert's syndrome;
- Fructose Intolerance. (Irinotecan contains sorbitol.)
- Radiation treatment for your abdomen or pelvic region;
- If you are taking a "water pill" or diuretic,
Irinotecan may harm an unborn child if either the mother or father uses it.
- You may need a negative pregnancy check if you are female. Use birth control while taking this medication and for 6 months following your last dose.
- Use effective birth control if you're a man and your partner can get pregnant. Continue to use birth control at least three months after your last dose.
- If you become pregnant while using irinotecan, tell your doctor immediately.
This medicine may reduce the likelihood of pregnancy for either the mother or father. Men and women both should use birth control to avoid pregnancy, as the medicine can harm a baby. Do not breastfeed for 7 days after taking this medication.
How does irinotecan work?
Before your first dose, your doctor may suggest a DNA test. Irinotecan can cause certain side effects in some people. Irinotecan can be infused into a vein. This injection will be given by a healthcare provider. The infusion may take 90 minutes. If you experience any pain or swelling near the IV needle, tell your carers. If you get any of the medicine on your skin, wash it immediately with soap and warm water.
Irinotecan may cause severe diarrhea that can lead to dehydration and even death. You may be advised by your doctor to keep anti-diarrhoea medication on hand (such as Loperamide or Imodium). This medicine should be taken at the first sign that you have loose stools or a lot of bowel movements. Do not take the medication for more than two full days, without consulting your doctor.
If you experience diarrhea while taking irinotecan, call your doctor immediately. It may be necessary to have frequent medical tests in order to ensure that this medication does not have any harmful side effects. The results may delay your cancer treatment.
Details on dosage
Adult dose for colorectal cancer:
COMBINATION REGIMEN I:
On Days 1, 8, 15, and 22, LV 20 mg/m2iv bolus is given, followed by 5-FU 500 mg/m2iv bolus every 6 weeks.
COMBINATION REGIMEN 2
Then, on Days 1, 2, 15, 16, 29, and 30, administer LV 200 mg/m2 over 2 hours, followed by a 5-FU 400 mg/m2iv bolus, and then 5-FU 600 mg/m2iv over 22 hours.
SINGLE AGENT REGIMEN I:
Day 1, 8, 15, and 22, then 2 weeks of rest
SINGLE AGENT REGIMEN 2.
Every 3 weeks, 350 mg/m2 IV for 90 minutes at Day 1.
Comments:
It is recommended that premedication be given with antiemetics. (e.g., 10 mg dexamethasone in conjunction with a 5-HT3 blocker, such as ondansetron or granisetron).
Antiemetic drugs should be administered at least 30 minutes prior to this drug.
Physicians should consider prescribing an antiemetic (e.g., prochlorperazine), which can be used as required.
Combination therapy should use an antiemetic regime similar to that used for single-agent therapy.
Patients with cholinergic symptoms should consider atropine as a prophylactic therapy.
Uses:
Patients with metastatic cancer in the colon or rectum should receive a combination of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin as a first-line treatment.
Patients with metastatic cancer of the colon or rectum who have recurred after initial fluorouracil therapy or whose disease has progressed
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you are unable to attend your appointment, call your doctor and ask for instructions.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.
What should be avoided?
Avoid using laxatives or stool softeners. Avoid being around people who are ill or infected. If you notice any signs of an infection, tell your doctor immediately.
Irinotecan can affect your reactions. Avoid driving and other hazardous activities until you are sure of how they will affect you. You could have impaired reactions.
Interaction with other drug
It is sometimes not safe to take certain medications together. Some drugs may affect the blood levels of drugs that you are taking, causing side effects or making them less effective.
Irinotecan can be affected by many drugs. These include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. This list does not include all possible interactions. Inform your doctor of all medications you are currently taking and those that you will stop or start using.
