Etoposide Capsules

Before using etoposide capsules:

Some medical conditions may interact with etoposide capsules.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have kidney disease, bone marrow depression, an infection, or a history of blood conditions

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with etoposide capsules.
Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) because their actions and side effects may be increased by etoposide capsules
• Cyclosporine because the actions and side effects of etoposide capsules may be increased

• You may have nausea and vomiting on the day you receive this drug or in the first few days afterward.
• Your doctor may give you medicine before your treatment to help prevent nausea and vomiting.
• You will likely also get a prescription for an anti-nausea medicine that you can take at home.
• It is important to have these medicines on hand and to take them as prescribed by your doctor.
• This drug can cause serious allergic reactions in some people.
• Symptoms include chills, fever, feeling lightheaded or dizzy (due to low blood pressure), rapid heartbeat, coughing, wheezing, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, tongue, or throat.
• Etoposide may lower your blood pressure, especially if given by infusion over a short period of time.
• Symptoms might include feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or even fainting.
• Your doctor will likely test your blood frequently throughout your treatment, looking for possible effects of the drug on blood counts or on blood chemistry levels.
• Based on the test results, you may be given medicines to help treat any effects.
• Your doctor may also need to reduce or delay your next dose of this drug, or even stop it altogether.
• This drug can lower your white blood cell count, especially in the weeks after the drug is given.
• This can increase your chance of getting an infection.
• Be sure to let your doctor or nurse know right away if you have any signs of infection, such as fever (100.5° or higher), chills, pain when passing urine, a new cough, or bringing up sputum.
• This drug may lower your platelet count in the weeks after it is given, which can increase your risk of bleeding.
• Speak with your doctor before taking any drugs or supplements that might affect your body’s ability to stop bleeding, such as aspirin or aspirin-containing medicines, pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen, warfarin (Coumadin), or vitamin E.
• Tell your doctor right away if you have unusual bruising, or bleeding such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums when you brush your teeth, or black, tarry stools.
• Do not get any immunizations (vaccines), either during or after treatment with this drug, without your doctor’s OK.
• This drug may affect your immune system, which could make vaccinations not to work, or could even lead to serious infections.
• Try to avoid contact with people who have recently received a live virus vaccine, such as the oral polio vaccine or smallpox vaccine.
• In rare cases this drug may cause damage to certain nerves in the body, which can lead to a condition called peripheral neuropathy.
• This can cause numbness, weakness, pain, or sensations of burning or tingling, usually in the hands or feet.
• These symptoms can sometimes progress to include trouble walking or holding something in your hands.
• Let your doctor know right away if you notice any of them.
• If your symptoms are severe enough, this drug may need to be stopped or the dose reduced until they get better.

Possible side effects of etoposide capsules:

• All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects.

Common side effects

• Appetite loss
• bruising
• diarrhea; hair loss
• increased sweating
• nausea
• voice changes
• vomiting

SEVERE side effects

• Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing
• tightness in the chest
• swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue
• chills
• cough
• decreased ability to fight infection
• dizziness
• fever
• loss of consciousness
• seizure
• sore throat
• sores on the mouth or lips
• temporary blindness
• tingling of the fingers or toes
• unusual bruising or bleeding
• unusual tiredness