What is Ixabepilone?
Ixabepilone can be used to treat advanced cancerous breasts. Ixabepilone can be given when other treatments fail. Ixabepilone can be used in other ways not mentioned in this guide.
Side effects of Ixabepilone
If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek emergency medical attention: hives; rash. You may also feel dizzy, faint, warm, or tingly.
Ixabepilone can cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- You may experience numbness or tingling in any part of your body, as well as burning pain and discomfort.
- Pain or burning after urinating;
- Unusual weight gain
- Pain, blisters, bleeding, or severe rash in the soles or palms of the feet or hands
- Chest pain and difficulty breathing
- If you feel your heart pounding or fluttering, then this is a sign that you are experiencing a cardiac arrest.
- Low blood cell counts: fever; chills; tiredness; easy bruising and bleeding; pale or cold skin, hands or feet; or feeling lightheaded or short of breath.
- Signs of blood clots include sudden numbness, weakness or problems with speech or vision as well as redness or swelling on an arm or leg.
Side effects of ixabepilone include:
- Blisters or a severe rash in the soles of the feet or palms;
- Headache;
- Tiredness;
- Joint or muscular pain
- Lip, mouth, and esophageal ulcers
- Hair loss;
- Fever;
- Anaemia decreased platelets
- Vomiting; nausea; stomach pain;
- Diarrhoea, constipation,
- You may have problems with your toenails or fingernails.
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.
Warnings
If you have liver issues, do not take ixabepilone with capecitabine. Ixabepilone may increase your risk of bleeding or infection. If you experience unusual bleeding or bruising (fever, chills, or easy bruising), or if you notice new signs of infection, call your doctor.
Take this medication only if you have been prescribed it.
If you have an allergy to Cremophor, a synthetic castor oil, then ixabepilone should not be used.
You may be unable to receive ixabepilone if:
- If you have liver problems and also take capecitabine,
- Low platelets or white blood cell counts
Tell your doctor about any of the following:
- Liver disease
- Heart disease
- Nerve problems (especially in the hands or feet);
- Diabetes
- A weak immune system or bone marrow suppression can be the cause of a weakened immune system.
Ixabepilone can harm an unborn child. Use effective contraception to avoid pregnancy, and inform your doctor immediately if you fall pregnant. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking ixabepilone.
How to take Ixabepilone?
An ixabepilone infusion is administered into a vein. This injection will be given by a healthcare provider. Ixabepilone can be given up to three times per week. Ixabepilone should be administered slowly. An infusion may last up to three hours.
You may receive other medications about 1 hour prior to receiving ixabepilone in order to prevent certain side effects. Ixabepilone 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 breast cancer:
Recommended dosage: 40 mg/m2 IV every 3 weeks
Calculate the dosage for patients whose body surface area (BSA) exceeds 2.2 m2 based on this BSA.
Comments:
Premedicate all patients approximately one hour before infusion. (See Administration Advice.)
Uses:
In combination with capecitabine in the treatment of metastatic or localised breast cancer that is resistant to anthracycline treatment and taxanes, or for patients whose cancer has become taxane-resistant and further anthracycline treatment is contraindicated,
Anthracycline resistance is defined by progression during therapy or within six months of the adjuvant or metastatic setting.
Taxane resistance can be defined as progression during therapy, within 12 months in an adjuvant setting, or 4 months in a metastatic setting.
As monotherapy in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer or locally advanced disease, when tumours are resistant to or refractory against anthracyclines (taxanes), capecitabine, or both.
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you are unable to attend your scheduled ixabepilone infusion, call your doctor.
What happens if I overdose?
Overdoses are unlikely because ixabepilone will be administered by a healthcare provider in a medical environment.
What should be avoided?
Avoid alcohol consumption. Do not drive or engage in hazardous activities until you have determined how the medicine will affect you. You may be unable to react properly.
Grapefruit can interact with ixabepilone, causing unwanted side effects. Avoid grapefruit products. Avoid being around people who are sick.If you notice any symptoms of infection, notify your physician immediately.
Interaction with other drug
Certain medications should never be taken together as their interactions could alter blood levels of other drugs and increase side effects or render them less effective.
Many drugs can interact with ixabepilone. These include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. This list does not encompass all potential interactions; please notify your physician of all medications you are currently taking as well as those you plan to stop or start taking in order to ensure safe outcomes.
