Topotecan Injection
- What is it for
Topotecan injection is used alone or together with other chemotherapy to treat certain types of cancer such as cervical, ovarian or lung cancer.
Topotecan Injection
- Side Effects, Precautions, and Contraindications
What side effects can
Topotecan Injection
cause?
Early Side Effects (within days after receiving Topotecan injection)
- Mild nausea, vomiting or appetite loss
- Take small, frequent meals throughout the day.
- Take the medications for nausea or vomiting as instructed by your doctor if any.
Delayed Side Effects (within days to weeks after receiving Topotecan injection)
- Feeling tired and lack of energy
- Do not drive or operate machinery when you feel tired.
- Decreased white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets
- This may put you at higher risk of infections, bleeding or bruising and feeling tired.
- To reduce your risk of infection:
- Avoid crowds and people who are sick. Wear a face mask when you are going out.
- Wash your hands after using the toilet and before handling food.
- Eat food that is fresh and completely cooked, and avoid raw or half-cooked food.
- To reduce your risk of bleeding problems:
- Be careful when using sharp objects such as knives.
- Try not to bruise, cut or knock yourself.
- Brush your teeth gently as your gums may bleed more easily.
- Apply direct pressure to any cuts or wounds to help stop bleeding.
- Diarrhea or constipation
- To manage diarrhoea:
- Drink plenty of clear fluids to replace those lost (2 litres everyday).
- Avoid oily or spicy food and milk or dairy products.
- To manage constipation:
- Drink more water or clear fluids (if you do not have a limit on the amount that you can take each day).
- Add more fibre to your diet by eating more fruits and vegetables.
- Temporary hair loss
Rare but serious side effects include:
- Fever of 38°C and above, especially with chills, pain or difficulty in passing urine
- Unusual bleeding, bruising or black sticky stools
- Very bad diarrhoea (e.g. more than 4 times a day) that does not improve even after taking medications used to stop diarrhoea
- Shortness of breath, dry cough that does not go away or worsens
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should see your healthcare professional immediately.
Before taking
Topotecan Injection
, what precautions must I follow?
Inform your healthcare professional if:
- You are allergic to this medication
- You or your partner become pregnant, or is planning for pregnancy
- You should use effective birth control during treatment and for a period of time after you finish treatment.
- Topotecan may affect your ability to have children in the future. You may wish to discuss this with your doctor before starting treatment.
- You are breastfeeding
- Do not breastfeed during treatment
What food or medicine must I avoid when I take
Topotecan Injection
?
Inform your healthcare professional if you are taking or intend to take any other medication, supplements, traditional medications or herbal remedies.
Topotecan Injection
- Dosage and How to Use
How should
Topotecan Injection
be used?
Topotecan injection is given into your vein (intravenous).
What should I do if I miss a dose?
If you forget to receive a dose of Topotecan injection, reschedule an appointment with your hospital as soon as possible.
Topotecan Injection
- Additional Information
You may refer to the following website if you need more information: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/