Cytarabine, Liposomal (Intrathecal)

Brand Names : DepoCyt

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For liposomal cytarabine, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to cytarabine or liposomal cytarabine. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Liposomal cytarabine has not been studied in humans, but has been found to cause birth defects or other problems in rats and mice.

Be sure that you have discussed this with your doctor before starting treatment with this medicine. It is best to use birth control while you are receiving liposomal cytarabine. Also, tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant during treatment.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether liposomal cytarabine passes into the breast milk. However, liposomal cytarabine is not recommended during breast-feeding because it may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of liposomal cytarabine in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of liposomal cytarabine in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your doctor and pharmacist if your are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of liposomal cytarabine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Active meningitis - Use is not recommended

• Blockage to cerebrospinal fluid flow - Increased risk of neurotoxicity