Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin (Systemic)
Brand Names : Mylotarg
Before Using 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 gemtuzumab ozogamicin,
the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual
or allergic reaction to gemtuzumab ozogamicin, anti-CD33 antibody, or calicheamicin
derivatives. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any
other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy - Gemtuzumab ozogamicin may cause harm to the fetus
when administered during pregnancy. There are no adequate, well-controlled
studies in pregnant women. You should avoid becoming pregnant while receiving
gemtuzumab ozogamicin. However, this medicine may be needed in serious diseases
or other situations that threaten the mother's life. Be sure you have discussed
this with your doctor.
Breast-feeding - It is not known if gemtuzumab ozogamicin passes
into the breast milk. However, due to potential serious side effects in nursing
babies from gemtuzumab ozogamicin, a decision should be made whether to stop
nursing or to stop the drug.
Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in
adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of gemtuzumab
ozogamicin 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 gemtuzumab ozogamicin in the elderly with use in other age groups. However,
laboratory values associated with liver problems were observed more often
in patients 60 years old or older.
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 taking
gemtuzumab ozogamicin, it is especially important that your doctor or pharmacist
know if you are taking any of the following:
-
Alpha interferons (e.g., Intron A, Roferon-A) or
-
Amphotericin B by injection (e.g., Fungizone) or
-
Antineoplastics, other (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., Ancoban) or
-
Ganciclovir (e.g., Cytovene) or
-
Mercaptopurine (e.g., Purinethol)
-
Methotrexate (e.g., Rheumatrex)
-
Plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin)
-
Zidovudine (e.g., AZT, Retrovir) - Concurrent use of these agents
with gemtuzumab ozogamicin increases the risk of infection
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of gemtuzumab ozogamicin. Make sure you tell your
doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Chickenpox (including recent exposure) or
-
Herpes zoster (shingles) - Risk of severe disease affecting other
parts of the body
-
High blood cell counts (peripheral blasts) - Risk of side effects
increased by gemtuzumab ozogamicin
-
Infection - Risk increased by gemtuzumab ozogamicin
-
Liver disease - May be worsened by gemtuzumab ozogamicin
-
Stem-cell transplant - Risk of side effects increased by gemtuzumab
ozogamicin
|