SUMMARY CMI
FOLOTYN®
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 being given FOLOTYN?
FOLOTYN contains the active ingredient pralatrexate. FOLOTYN is used to treat patients over 18 years or older with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTLC) after previous treatments have not worked or have stopped working.
For more information, see Section 1. Why am I being given FOLOTYN? in the full CMI.
2. What should I know before FOLOTYN is given?
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to pralatrexate 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 FOLOTYN is given? in the full CMI.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with FOLOTYN 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 is FOLOTYN given?
- Your doctor will decide what dose of FOLOTYN you will receive.
- FOLOTYN should only be given to you under the supervision of a doctor or nurse experienced in treating cancer.
- Your doctor should advise you to take certain medicines or vitamin supplements before starting and while being given FOLOTYN to help minimise side effects.
More instructions can be found in Section 4. How is FOLOTYN given? in the full CMI.
5. What should I know while being given FOLOTYN?
Things you should do |
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Things you should not do |
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Driving or using machines |
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Looking after your medicine |
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For more information, see Section 5. What should I know while being given FOLOTYN? in the full CMI.
6. Are there any side effects?
Side effects that require urgent medical attention: allergic reaction; chest pain when breathing, difficulty or fast breathing; redness or sores of the mouth, nose, genitals or anus; dehydration; fever; unusual bleeding; severe skin reactions; fast or irregular heartbeats, swelling of legs and ankles; nausea, vomiting; diarrhea.
Common side effects: constipation; indigestion; loss of appetite; weight loss; pain in the stomach or abdomen; painful, stiff or swollen joints, pain or spasm of the muscles; pain in extremities; generalized pain in the back, neck or chest; effects on the eye; headaches; numbness, tingling or pins and needles sensation; dizziness; hair loss; hoarseness, sore throat, coughing, difficulty or pain when swallowing; ringing sound in the ears; difficulty sleeping; anxiety.
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
FOLOTYN®
Active ingredient: pralatrexate
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using FOLOTYN. 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 FOLOTYN.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I being given FOLOTYN?
2. What should I know before FOLOTYN is given?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How is FOLOTYN given?
5. What should I know while being given FOLOTYN?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details
1. Why am I being given FOLOTYN?
FOLOTYN contains the active ingredient pralatrexate. FOLOTYN is an anti-cancer (chemotherapy) medicine that belongs to a group of medicines called antifolates.
FOLOTYN is used to treat patients aged 18 years or older with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) after previous treatments have not worked or have stopped working.
PTCL is a rare type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (a cancer of the lymphatic system). It occurs when T-cells, a type of white blood cell, multiply too quickly. PTCL may be found in the lymph nodes, skin, bone marrow, the liver, or spleen.
FOLOTYN works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells.
2. What should I know before FOLOTYN is given?
Warnings
Do not use FOLOTYN if:
- you are allergic to pralatrexate, 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 any other medical conditions, especially the following:
- liver problems
- kidney problems
- extensive skin disease or a history of adverse skin reactions
- have end stage kidney disease or are undergoing dialysis, unless the benefit outweighs the risk
- take any medicines for any other condition.
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
Females: Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. FOLOTYN is not recommended for use during pregnancy.
The effects of FOLOTYN in pregnant women are not known. FOLOTYN may harm the unborn baby.
FOLOTYN should not be given to you if you are breastfeeding.
It is not known if FOLOTYN passes into breast milk, which may harm your baby. You and your doctor should decide whether you will be treated with FOLOTYN or whether you will breast feed your baby, but you should not do both.
Males: Tell your doctor if your partner intends to become pregnant while you are being treated with FOLOTYN or within 6 months after you have stopped treatment with FOLOTYN.
FOLOTYN may cause birth defects if either the male or female is receiving treatment at the time of conception. A barrier method of birth control or abstinence is recommended to avoid pregnancy while being treated. Males should also use reliable contraceptive measures for 6 months after the end of treatment.
Children
This medicine is not recommended to be used to treat a child or adolescent younger than 18 years of age.
Safety and effectiveness in children and adolescents younger than 18 years of age has not been established.
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 may interfere with FOLOTYN and affect how it works. These include:
- other medicines used to treat cancer (e.g. carboplatin, cisplatin, oxaliplatin, etoposide and teniposide)
- methotrexate, a medicine used to treat cancer, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis
- cyclosporine, a medicine used to suppress the immune system
- frusemide and other loop diuretics (also known as fluid and water tablets), medicines used to reduce swelling and lower blood pressure
- ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs called NSAIDs used to relieve pain, swelling and inflammation
- omeprazole and pantoprazole, medicines used to treat heartburn and stomach ulcers
- penicillin, aminoglycosides, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections
- probenecid, a medicine used to treat gout.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect FOLOTYN.
4. How is FOLOTYN given?
Taking premedication
Your doctor should advise you to take certain medicines or vitamin supplements before starting and while being given FOLOTYN to help minimise side effects.
Typically, you will be instructed to take folic acid by mouth for about 10 days before your first dose of FOLOTYN.
You should continue taking folic acid every day until your doctor tells you to stop.
Your doctor will also give you a vitamin B12 injection into the muscle before your first dose of FOLOTYN, and about every 8 to 10 weeks during treatment with FOLOTYN.
How much will be given
Your doctor will decide what dose of FOLOTYN you will receive.
- The dose given will be based on your body surface area, which your doctor will calculate from your height and weight.
- Your dose will also depend on how you react to the treatment.
When will FOLOTYN be given
- You will usually be given FOLOTYN once a week for 6 weeks, with no treatment on the 7th week.
- Several treatment cycles of FOLOTYN may be given depending on your response to treatment.
- You will have regular blood tests during treatment to see if FOLOTYN is having any unwanted effects. Your doctor may change your dose or delay treatment based on the results of your blood tests and on your general condition.
How FOLOTYN is given
FOLOTYN will be administered to you under the supervision of a doctor or nurse experienced in treating cancer. It will be given as an infusion into your vein over 3 to 5 minutes. Each vial is for single use only.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
If you have been given too much
As FOLOTYN is given to you under the supervision of your doctor, it is very unlikely that you will receive too much.
However, if you experience severe side effects after being treated with FOLOTYN, you should immediately:
- phone the Poisons Information Centre
(by calling 13 11 26), or - contact your doctor, or
- go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
While there is limited experience with overdose, symptoms may include more severe or prolonged mucous membrane inflammation (redness and sores in the lining of your mouth and may also affect your lips, throat, digestive tract and genitals) and decreased blood cell counts (unusual bruising or bleeding, increased risk of infections and unusual tiredness or weakness).
5. What should I know while being given FOLOTYN?
Things you should do
- Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are receiving FOLOTYN.
- If you are going to have surgery, tell your surgeon or anaesthetist that you are receiving this medicine.
- Follow any specific instructions given to you by your doctor for vitamin supplementation with folic acid and vitamin B12 to help minimise side effects.
- Use an effective method of birth control while you are being treated with FOLOTYN. Males should also use reliable contraceptive measures for 6 months after the end of treatment. A barrier method of birth control, such as a condom, should be used. Your doctor will tell you what forms of contraception are suitable and when it is safe to stop using contraception if you wish to do so.
Keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.
Tell your doctor if you are having any problems or difficulties while you are being treated with FOLOTYN.
Call your doctor straight away if:
- You or your partner becomes pregnant while being given this medicine or within 6 months after stopping treatment.
Things you should not do
- Do not inject FOLOTYN yourself. Always let your doctor or nurse do this.
- Do not stop or change your treatment with FOLOTYN unless advised by your doctor.
- FOLOTYN should not be used to treat any other complaint, unless advised by your doctor.
- It should not be administered to anyone else.
Things to be careful of
Be aware of the following potential problems while being treated with FOLOTYN:
- Low blood cell counts: FOLOTYN can affect your bone marrow and cause you to have low blood cell counts (platelets, white blood cells and red blood cells). Your doctor will do weekly blood tests and may decide to change the dose or stop your treatment.
- Mucous membrane inflammation: FOLOTYN can cause redness and sores in the lining of your mouth and may also affect your lips, throat, digestive tract and genitals. Your doctor may change the dose or stop your treatment if this happens. You will be advised how to maintain nutrition and control the discomfort.
- Skin reactions: you may experience severe skin reactions during treatment with FOLOTYN, especially if you have lymphoma in or under your skin. Skin reactions often occur when you first start treatment with FOLOTYN but may increase in severity with continuing treatment. Your doctor may reduce the dose or stop your treatment if this happens.
- Pneumonitis (swelling of the lungs): symptoms may include coughing, difficulty breathing or wheezing.
- Tumour lysis syndrome: Treatment with FOLOTYN may result in tumour lysis syndrome, caused by the breakdown products from dying cancer cells. Symptoms include nausea and vomiting, weakness and tiredness, changes to your heartbeat and kidney problems.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how FOLOTYN affects you.
FOLOTYN may cause fatigue, blurred vision, or dizziness. If you experience any of these side effects, do not drive or operate machinery.
Looking after your medicine
If you are being given FOLOTYN in hospital, unopened vials will be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward.
FOLOTYN is stored in a refrigerator where the temperature stays between 2°C to 8°C and protected from light. It may be stored in the original carton for a single period at up to 30°C for 120 hours.
When to discard your medicine
Once opened, your doctor, nurse or pharmacist will discard any unused portion of this medicine.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
This medicine should not be used after the expiry date.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
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 |
Gastrointestinal:
| Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you. |
Serious side effects
Serious side effects | What to do |
Mucosal inflammation:
Diarrhea Shingles or chicken pox | Call your doctor straight away if you notice any of these serious side effects. |
Very serious side effects
Very serious side effects | What to do |
Allergic reaction:
| Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious 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.
Some of these side effects (for example, abnormal blood cell counts) can only be found when your doctor does tests to check your progress.
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 FOLOTYN contains
Active ingredient (main ingredient) | Pralatrexate |
Other ingredients (inactive ingredients) | Sodium chloride Hydrochloric acid Sodium hydroxide Water for injections. |
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What FOLOTYN looks like
FOLOTYN is available in glass vials containing a clear yellow solution. It is supplied in packs containing 1 single-use vial with chlorobutyl stopper.
It is available in a 20mg in 1 mL presentation (AUST R 192493). Note that a 40mg in 2mL (AUST R 192492) presentation is registered but not marketed.
Who distributes FOLOTYN
Mundipharma Pty Limited
ABN 87 081 322 509
10 Carrington Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Phone: 1800 188 009
This leaflet was prepared in May 2024.
® FOLOTYN is a registered trade mark owned by Acrotech Biopharma LLC and used by Mundipharma as Authorised User.
FOLOTYN-CMIv2-CCDSv2
Published by MIMS August 2024