drug-information.ru

|IDEC-Y2B8

IBRITUMOMAB TIUXETAN (Systemic)†

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.—

• Zevalin

Other commonly used names are:

• IDEC-2B8 (ibritumomab tiuxetan)
• IDEC-Y2B8 (yttrium-90-ibritumomab tiuxetan)
• IDEC-In2B8 (indium-111-ibritumomab tiuxetan)
• IDEC-129

† Not commercially available in Canada.

Category

• Monoclonal antibody
• antineoplastic (radioactive)

Description

Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (ib-ri-TU-moe-mab) (tie-ux-EH-tan) is a protein called a monoclonal antibody. It is used along with another monoclonal antibody (rituximab) and two radioactive pharmaceuticals (In-111 and Y-90). Ibritumomab tiuxetan is used to treat a type of cancer called non-Hodgkin"s lymphoma.

Ibritumomab Tiuxetan is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor. It is available in the following dosage form:

• Parenteral
• Injection (U.S.)

Before Using This Medicine

In 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 ibritumomab tiuxetan, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual reaction to ibritumomab tiuxetan, rituximab, yttrium chloride, indium chloride or to mouse proteins.

Pregnancy—Ibritumomab tiuxetan is not recommended during pregnancy. It has been shown to cause birth defects. 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.

Women who are able to bear children should use some kind of birth control during treatment with ibritumomab tiuxetan and for up to 12 months after treatment has ended.

Before receiving this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant.

Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while receiving ibritumomab tiuxetan.

Breast-feeding—It is not known whether ibritumomab tiuxetan passes into the breast milk. However, because of the possibility of serious effects, breast-feeding is not recommended while you are receiving this medicine.

Children—Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of ibritumomab tiuxetan in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults—This medicine has been tested in a limited number of patients 65 years of age or older and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

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 ibritumomab tiuxetan, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:

• Anticoagulants (blood thinners such as warfarin [Coumadin]) or
• Medicines that prevent platelets from sticking together (clopidogrel [e.g., Plavix], ticlopidine [e.g., Ticlid])—Use with ibritumomab tiuxetan may increase the risk of bleeding.

• If you have ever been treated with radiation or cancer medicines—Ibritumomab tiuxetan may increase the effects of these medicines on the blood.

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of ibritumomab tiuxetan. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, or sensitivity or a previous severe allergic reaction to ibritumomab tiuxetan, rituximab, yttrium chloride, indium chloride or to mouse proteins.

Proper Use of This Medicine

Dosing—The dose of ibritumomab tiuxetan will be different for different patients. The dose that is used may depend on a number of things, including your size. Ibritumomab tiuxetan is usually given by a doctor in the hospital or an outpatient clinic. If you have any questions about the proper dose of ibritumomab tiuxetan, ask your doctor.

Precautions While Using This Medicine

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

While you are being treated with ibritumomab tiuxetan, and after you stop treatment with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations) without your doctor"s approval . Ibritumomab tiuxetan may lower your body"s resistance and there is a chance you might get the infection the immunization is meant to prevent. In addition, other persons living in your household should not take oral polio vaccine since there is a chance they could pass the polio virus on to you. Also, avoid persons who have taken oral polio vaccine within the last several months. Do not get close to them, and do not stay in the same room with them for very long. If you cannot take these precautions, you should consider wearing a protective face mask that covers the nose and mouth.

Ibritumomab tiuxetan can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:

• Avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.
• Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising; black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
• Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done.
• Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.
• Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.
• Avoid sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

Less common

For several months after receiving this therapy, it may still produce some side effects that need attention. During this period of time check with your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Developed: 11/18/2002
Revised: 07/17/2003

The information contained in the Thomson Healthcare (Micromedex) products as delivered by Drugs.com is intended as an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment. It is not a substitute for a medical exam, nor does it replace the need for services provided by medical professionals. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before taking any prescription or over the counter drugs (including any herbal medicines or supplements) or following any treatment or regimen. Only your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you.

The use of the Thomson Healthcare products is at your sole risk. These products are provided "AS IS" and "as available" for use, without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Thomson Healthcare and Drugs.com make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, usefulness or completeness of any of the information contained in the products. Additionally, THOMSON HEALTHCARE MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE OPINIONS OR OTHER SERVICE OR DATA YOU MAY ACCESS, DOWNLOAD OR USE AS A RESULT OF USE OF THE THOMSON HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS. ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED. Thomson Healthcare does not assume any responsibility or risk for your use of the Thomson Healthcare products.