SUMMARY CMI
ETOPOSIDE EBEWE®
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
1. Why am I using Etoposide Ebewe?
Etoposide Ebewe contains the active ingredient etoposide phosphate. Etoposide Ebewe is used to treat lung cancer, leukaemia (blood cancer) and cancer of the lymph glands.
For more information, see Section 1. Why am I using Etoposide Ebewe? in the full CMI.
2. What should I know before I use Etoposide Ebewe?
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to etoposide or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before I use Etoposide Ebewe? in the full CMI.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with Etoposide Ebewe and affect how it works.
A list of these medicines is in Section 3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI.
4. How do I use Etoposide Ebewe?
- Etoposide Ebewe must only be prepared and administered by a doctor or nurse.
- Etoposide Ebewe is given as an intravenous infusion (ie. a slow injection via a "drip" into a vein).
- Etoposide Ebewe is usually given each day for 5 days. This is followed by a treatment-free interval of 2-4 weeks.
More instructions can be found in Section 4. How do I use Etoposide Ebewe? in the full CMI.
5. What should I know while using Etoposide Ebewe?
Things you should do |
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Driving or using machines |
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Drinking alcohol |
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Looking after your medicine |
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For more information, see Section 5. What should I know while using Etoposide Ebewe? in the full CMI.
6. Are there any side effects?
If you get any of the following side effects, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital: chills, fever, fast heart beat, wheezing or coughing, difficulty breathing, dizziness, flushing, sweating, and swelling of the face, tongue or other parts of the body.
Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you notice any of the following: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain or discomfort, constipation, altered taste. Unusual hair loss or thinning. Dizziness, light headedness, feeling tired or weak, problems swallowing, low/high blood pressure, hallucinations, muscle cramps or spasms. Infertility. Frequent infections, fever, chills, sore throat, mouth ulcers. Bleeding or bruising more easily than normal, nose bleeds, rash of small reddish-purple spots on your skin, blood in your stool or urine. Itching of the skin, joint aches, blisters that look like hives on the upper body, legs, arms, palms, hands, or feet and may involve the face or lips. Numbness, tingling and pain in hands or feet, sore mouth, eye pain, vision problems, tiredness, headaches, being short of breath when exercising, dizziness and looking pale, heart problems (e.g. fast heartbeat, heart attack), mouth ulcers, cold sores. Abdominal pain, loss of appetite with yellowing of the skin and eyes. Burning, stinging, pain, redness or swelling at the injection site. Passing little or no urine, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, breathlessness.
For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section 6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.
FULL CMI
ETOPOSIDE EBEWE®
Active ingredient(s): etoposide
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using Etoposide Ebewe. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using Etoposide Ebewe.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I using Etoposide Ebewe?
2. What should I know before I use Etoposide Ebewe?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I use Etoposide Ebewe?
5. What should I know while using Etoposide Ebewe?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details
1. Why am I using Etoposide Ebewe?
Etoposide Ebewe contains the active ingredient etoposide. Etoposide Ebewe is an anti-cancer medicine. Etoposide Ebewe interferes with the development of cells and causes cell death, particularly in cancer cells.
Etoposide Ebewe is used to treat lung cancer, leukaemia (blood cancer) and cancer of the lymph glands.
Etoposide Ebewe may be used alone or in combination with other medicines to treat cancer.
2. What should I know before I use Etoposide Ebewe?
Warnings
Do not use Etoposide Ebewe if:
- you are allergic to etoposide, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
Check with your doctor if you:
- have or have had any other medical conditions, especially the following:
- liver or kidney problems
- any condition which reduces your blood cell “counts” such as white cells (leukopenia), neutrophils (neutropenia) or platelets (thrombocytopenia). - take any medicines for any other condition
- have an infection or high temperature. Your doctor may decide to delay your treatment until the infection has gone. A mild illness, such as a cold is not usually a reason to delay treatment.
- have had recent surgery
- are receiving radiation therapy, which lowers your immune system.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Tell your doctor and do not take Etoposide Ebewe if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Like most medicines used to treat cancer, Etoposide Ebewe is not recommended for use during pregnancy, unless you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.
You should use some kind of birth control while you are having Etoposide Ebewe treatment and for at least 6 months after you stop using Etoposide Ebewe.
Etoposide Ebewe may cause birth defects if either the male or female is using Etoposide Ebewe at the time of conception.
Tell your doctor and do not take Etoposide Ebewe if you are breast-feeding or plan to breastfeed, unless you have discussed it with your doctor.
It is not known whether Etoposide Ebewe passes into breast milk. Therefore there is a possibility that the breast-fed baby may be affected.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Etoposide Ebewe.
If you are not sure whether you should take Etoposide Ebewe talk to your doctor.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Etoposide Ebewe may interfere with each other. These include:
- some other medicines or treatments that are used to treat other forms of cancer such as Levamisol (Ergamisol), doxorubicin, epirubicin, daunoribicin, cisplatin, vincristine, radiation therapy and corticosteroids such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone.
- ciclosporin a medicine used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs
- medicines used to treat epilepsy
- warfarin, a medicine used to reduce blood clotting
- live viral vaccines
- some medicines for pain including phenylbutazone and aspirin.
These medicines may be affected by Etoposide Ebewe, or affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to have different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect Etoposide Ebewe.
4. How do I use Etoposide Ebewe?
How much is given
Your doctor will decide what dose of etoposide you will receive. Your dose of Etoposide Ebewe is worked out based on your body weight and height and on the type of cancer you have. The dose worked out for you may be different to the dose of another patient.
Etoposide Ebewe may be given alone or in combination with other anti-cancer drugs.
Several courses of Etoposide Ebewe therapy may be needed depending on your response to treatment.
Additional treatment may not be repeated until your blood cell numbers return to acceptable levels and any uncontrolled effects have been controlled.
Ask your doctor if you want to know more about the dose of Etoposide Ebewe you receive.
How it is given
Etoposide Ebewe should only be prepared, administered and monitored by a doctor or nurse.
Etoposide Ebewe is given as an intravenous infusion (ie. a slow injection via a "drip" into a vein).
How long is it given
Etoposide Ebewe is usually given each day for 5 days. This is followed by a treatment-free interval of 2-4 weeks. This is called one cycle of chemotherapy. Your doctor will decide how many of these cycles you will need.
If you use too much Etoposide Ebewe
As your dose of Etoposide Ebewe will be determined and administered by a medical specialist the chance of receiving an overdose is most unlikely.
Symptoms of overdose may include collapse, sores and pain in the mouth and throat, fever, chills, weakness, fatigue, headache, confusion, fast heart beat, nausea and vomiting, yellowing of the skin and eyeballs, and lower back or side pain.
If you think you have received more of this medicine than you should, tell your specialist as soon as possible and your specialist will give you the appropriate treatment.
5. What should I know while using Etoposide Ebewe?
Things you should do
Be sure to keep all your doctor's appointments and follow up appointments so your progress can be checked.
It is important to have your follow-up infusions of Etoposide Ebewe at the appropriate time to get the best effect from your treatments.
Tell your doctor, dentist or pharmacist straight away that you are taking Etoposide Ebewe if you:
- are about to be started on any new medicine
- plan to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic
Etoposide Ebewe can lower the number of white blood cells and platelets in your blood. This means that you have an increased chance of getting an infection or bleeding.
The following precautions should be taken to reduce your risk of infection or bleeding:
- Avoid people who have infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you may be getting an infection, or if you get a fever, chills, cough, hoarse throat, lower back or side pain or find it painful or difficult to urinate.
- Be careful when using a toothbrush, toothpick or dental floss. Your doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your doctor before having any dental work.
- Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a razor or nail cutters.
- Avoid contact sports or other situations where you may bruise or get injured.
Things you must not do
Do not drink alcohol while taking Etoposide Ebewe.
You may feel flushed or get headaches.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Etoposide Ebewe affects you.
As with other medicines used to treat cancer, Etoposide Ebewe may cause dizziness, light-headedness, tiredness, changes of vision, or vomiting in some people. Make sure you know how you react to Etoposide Ebewe before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or light-headed. If this occurs do not drive.
Drinking alcohol
If you drink alcohol, any dizziness or lightheadedness caused by Etoposide Ebewe may be worse.
Looking after your medicine
- Etoposide Ebewe will be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward.
- The injection is kept in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Protect from light.
- After use, any unused portion of the vial will be discarded.
- Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.
6. Are there any side effects?
Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are having Etoposide Ebewe.
Like other medicines that treat cancer, Etoposide Ebewe may have unwanted side effects, some of which may be serious. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.
Less serious side effects
Less serious side effects | What to do |
Gut and digestion-related:
| Tell your doctor or nurse if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you. |
Serious side effects
Serious side effects | What to do |
Signs of infections such as:
| Tell your doctor or nurse straight away if you notice any of these serious side effects. |
Signs of a sudden life-threatening allergic reaction:
| Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these life-threatening side effects. |
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
The benefits and side effects of Etoposide Ebewe may take some time to occur. Therefore even after you have finished your Etoposide Ebewe treatment you should tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the side effects listed in the information above.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What Etoposide Ebewe contains
Active ingredient (main ingredient) | etoposide |
Other ingredients (inactive ingredients) | citric acid macrogol 300 ethanol polysorbate 80 benzyl alcohol |
Potential allergens | none |
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What Etoposide Ebewe looks like
Etoposide Ebewe is a clear, colourless to yellow liquid contained in a clear glass vial.
Etoposide Ebewe is available in:
- 50 mg of etoposide per 2.5 mL vial, 1's (Aust R 96636)
- 100 mg of etoposide per 5 mL vial, 1's and 5's (Aust R 96641)
- 200 mg of etoposide per 10 mL vial, 1's (Aust R 96642)
- 400 mg of etoposide per 20 mL vial, 1's (Aust R 96643)
- 1000 mg of etoposide per 50 mL vial, 1's (Aust R 96644)
Not all strengths may be marketed in Australia.
Who distributes Etoposide Ebewe
Sandoz Pty Ltd
100 Pacific Highway
North Sydney, NSW 2060
Australia
Tel 1800 726 369
This leaflet was prepared in August 2024.
® Registered Trade Mark. The trade marks mentioned in this material are the property of their respective owners.
Published by MIMS October 2024