Vincristine Sulfate Liposome injection

What is this medication?

VINCRISTINE SULFATE LIPOSOME (vin KRIS teen SUL fate LIP uh sohm) is a chemotherapy drug. It slows the growth of cancer cells. This medicine is used to treat a certain type of acute lymphocytic leukemia.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Marqibo

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• immune system problems
• infection (especially a virus infection such as chickenpox, cold sores, or herpes)
• liver disease
• low blood counts, like low white cell, platelet, or red cell counts
• nervous system disease like Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT)
• stomach or intestine problems
• tingling of the fingers or toes, or other nerve disorder
• an unusual or allergic reaction to vincristine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I use this medication?

This medicine is for infusion into a vein. It is given by a health care professional in a hospital or clinic setting.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.

NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?

It is important not to miss your dose. Call your doctor or health care professional if you are unable to keep an appointment.

What may interact with this medication?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

• anti-retroviral protease inhibitors such as atazanavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir
• carbamazepine
• clarithromycin
• dalfopristin; quinupristin
• delavirdine
• dexamethasone
• isoniazid
• itraconazole
• ketoconazole
• nefazodone
• nicardipine
• phenytoin
• posaconazole
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• rifapentine
• St. John's Wort
• telithromycin
• voriconazole

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• cyclosporine

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medication?

This drug may make you feel generally unwell. This is not uncommon, as chemotherapy can affect healthy cells as well as cancer cells. Report any side effects. Continue your course of treatment even though you feel ill unless your doctor tells you to stop.

You may need blood work done while you are taking this medicine.

This medicine will cause constipation. Try to have a bowel movement at least every 2 to 3 days. If you do not have a bowel movement for 3 days, call your doctor or health care professional.

In some cases, you may be given additional medicines to help with side effects. Follow all directions for their use.

Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you.

Do not become pregnant while taking this medicine and for 6 months after stopping it. Women should inform their doctor if they wish to become pregnant or think they might be pregnant. Men should not father a child while taking this medicine and for 3 months after stopping it. There is a potential for serious side effects to an unborn child. Talk to your health care professional or pharmacist for more information. Do not breast-feed an infant while taking this medicine and for 1 week after stopping it.

This medicine may make it more difficult to get pregnant or to father a child. Talk to your healthcare professional if you are concerned about your fertility.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions (skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue)
• breathing problems
• chest pain or chest tightness
• constipation
• infection (fever or chills, cough, sore throat, pain or difficulty passing urine)
• liver injury (dark yellow or brown urine, general ill feeling or flu-like symptoms, loss of appetite, right upper belly pain, unusually weak or tired, yellowing of the eyes or skin)
• low platelets (bruising, pinpoint red spots on the skin, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine)
• low red blood cells (unusually weak or tired, feeling faint or lightheaded, falls)
• pain, tingling, numbness in the hands or feet

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• diarrhea
• tiredness
• trouble sleeping

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where should I keep my medication?

This drug is given in a hospital or clinic and will not be stored at home.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.