Etoposide (Systemic)

Brand Names : VePesid, Etopophos, Toposar, VP-16

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 etoposide, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to etoposide.

Pregnancy - There is a good chance that this medicine will cause birth defects if it is being used at the time of conception or during pregnancy. In addition, many cancer medicines may cause sterility, which could be permanent. Although sterility has not been reported with etoposide, the possibility should be kept in mind.

Be sure that you have discussed this with your doctor before receiving this medicine. Before taking etoposide make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you are taking etoposide. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while taking etoposide.

Breast-feeding - Because etoposide may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is generally not recommended while you are receiving it.

Children - Although this medicine has been used in children, there is no specific information comparing use of etoposide in children with use in other age groups. However, children who receive high doses may be more likely to have a serious allergic reaction to this medicine.

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 etoposide 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. When you are taking or receiving etoposide, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Amphotericin B by injection (e.g., Fungizone) or
• Antithyroid agents (medicine for overactive thyroid) or
• Azathioprine (e.g., Imuran) or
• Chloramphenicol (e.g., Chloromycetin) or
• Colchicine or
• Flucytosine (e.g., Ancobon) or
• Ganciclovir (e.g., Cytovene) or
• Interferon (e.g., Intron A, Roferon-A) or
• Plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin) or
• Zidovudine (e.g., AZT, Retrovir)
• If you have ever been treated with radiation or cancer medicines - Etoposide may increase the effects of these medicines or radiation therapy on the blood

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

• Chickenpox (including recent exposure) or
• Herpes zoster (shingles) - Risk of severe disease affecting other parts of the body

• Infection - Etoposide can decrease your body's ability to fight infection

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease - Effects of etoposide may be increased because of slower removal from the body