Etoposide injection
Drug Description
Why is etoposide injection prescribed?
Testicular cancer that has not improved or worsened after treatment with other medications or radiation therapy is treated with etoposide injection in combination with other treatments. A specific form of lung cancer is also treated with etoposide injection in combination with other drugs (small cell lung cancer; SCLC). Etoposide belongs to a group of drugs called podophyllotoxin derivatives. It functions by reducing or halting the development of cancer cells within your body.
How should this medicine be used?
Etoposide injection comes as a comes as a solution (liquid) or as a powder to be mixed with liquid to be slowly injected intravenously (into a vein) by a doctor or nurse in a medical facility. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of cancer you have.
What side effects can this medication cause?
Etoposide injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- swelling, pain, redness, or burning at the injection site
- nausea
- vomiting
- sores in the mouth and throat
- stomach pain
- diarrhea
- constipation
- loss of appetite or weight
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- pale skin
- fainting
- dizziness
- hair loss
- pain, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet
- eye pain
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:
- rash
- hives
- itching
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat
- seizures
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
Etoposide may increase the risk that you will develop other cancers. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking this medication.