Eflornithine (Systemic)
Brand Names : Ornidyl
Before Receiving This MedicineIn 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 eflornithine, the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to eflornithine. Also tell your health care professional
if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives,
or dyes.
Pregnancy - Studies have not been done in humans. However, studies
in animals have shown that eflornithine causes death of the fetus and birth
defects. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are
pregnant or if you may become pregnant.
Breast-feeding - It is not known whether eflornithine passes into
breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts,
many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are receiving
this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.
Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult
patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of eflornithine
in children with use in other age groups.
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 eflornithine 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 receiving
eflornithine, 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
-
Antineoplastics (cancer medicine) or
-
Antithyroid agents (medicine for overactive thyroid) or
-
Azathioprine (e.g., Imuran) or
-
Chloramphenicol (e.g., Chloromycetin) or
-
Colchicine or
-
Cyclophosphamide (e.g., Cytoxan) or
-
Flucytosine (e.g., Ancobon) or
-
Ganciclovir (e.g., Cytovene) or
-
Interferon (e.g., Intron A, Roferon-A) or
-
Mercaptopurine (e.g., Purinethol) or
-
Methotrexate (e.g., Mexate) or
-
Plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin) or
-
Zidovudine (e.g., AZT, Retrovir) - Caution should be used if
these medicines and eflornithine are used together; receiving eflornithine
while you are using these medicines may make anemia and other blood problems
worse
-
Anti-infectives by mouth or by injection (medicine for infection)
or
-
Chloroquine (e.g., Aralen) or
-
Cisplatin (e.g., Platinol) or
-
Deferoxamine (e.g., Desferal) (with long-term use) or
-
Hydroxychloroquine (e.g., Plaquenil) or
-
Inflammation or pain medicine, except narcotics, or
-
Quinine (e.g., Quinamm) - Use of any of these medicines with
eflornithine may increase the chance of hearing loss
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of eflornithine. Make sure you tell your doctor
if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Anemia or other blood problems - Eflornithine may cause blood
problems, making the problems you already have worse
-
Hearing loss - Long-term treatment with eflornithine may increase
your chance of hearing loss
-
Kidney disease - Patients with kidney disease may have an increased
chance of side effects
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