Melphalan Flufenamide Injection

What is this medication?

MELPHALAN FLUFENAMIDE (mel fa len floo fen a mide) is a chemotherapy medicine. It treats multiple myeloma.

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

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Pepaxto

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

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

• infection
• an unusual or allergic reaction to melphalan flufenamide, melphalan, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I use this medication?

This medicine is injected into a vein. It is given by a health care provider in a hospital or clinic setting.

Talk to your health care provider about 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?

Keep appointments for follow-up doses. It is important not to miss your dose. Call your health care provider if you are unable to keep and appointment.

What may interact with this medication?

Do not take this medicine with the following medication:

• live vaccines

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• carmustine
• cisplatin
• 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 medicine 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.

This medicine can cause serious side effects.To reduce the risk, your health care provider may give you other medicines to take before receiving this one. Be sure to follow the directions from your health care provider.

This medicine may increase your risk of getting an infection. Call your health care provider for advice if you get a fever, chills, sore throat, or other symptoms of a cold or flu. Do not treat yourself. Try to avoid being around people who are sick.

This medicine may increase your risk to bruise or bleed. Call your health care provider if you notice any unusual bleeding.You may need blood work done while you are taking this medicine.

Talk to your health care provider about your risk of cancer. You may be more at risk for certain types of cancers if you take this medicine.

Do not become pregnant while taking this medicine or for 6 months after stopping it. Women should inform their health care provider 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 harm to an unborn child. Talk to your health care provider for more information. Do not breast-feed an infant while taking this medicine or for 1 week after stopping it.

This medicine may make it more difficult to get pregnant or father a child. Talk to your health care provider 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)
• bleeding (bloody or black, tarry stools; red or dark brown urine; spitting up blood or brown material that looks like coffee grounds; red spots on the skin; unusual bruising or bleeding from the eyes, gums, or nose)
• infection (fever, chills, cough, sore throat, pain or difficulty passing urine)
• low red blood cell counts (trouble breathing; feeling faint; lightheaded, falls; unusually weak or tired)

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

• cough
• decreased appetite
• diarrhea
• headache
• nausea, vomiting

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 medicine is given in a hospital or clinic. It 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.