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| Other drug names: | A-Am An-Az B C-Ch Ci-Cz D-Dh Di-Dz E F G H I-J K-L M-Mh Mi-Mz N-Nh Ni-Nz O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q-R S-Sn So-Sz T-To Tp-Tz U-V W-Z 0-9 |
| Contents of this page: | |
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.--
In Canada--
Gemcitabine (jem-SITE-a-been) belongs to the group of medicines called antimetabolites. It is used to treat cancer of the pancreas and lung. It may also be used to treat other kinds of cancer, as determined by your doctor.
Gemcitabine interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal cells may also be affected by the medicine, other effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other effects, like hair loss, may not be serious but may cause concern. Some effects may occur after treatment with gemcitabine has been stopped.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form:
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 gemcitabine, the following should be considered:
Allergies--Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to gemcitabine.
Pregnancy--Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Studies in mice and rabbits have shown that gemcitabine causes birth defects and death of the fetus, as well as problems in the mother.
Be sure that you have discussed this with your doctor before starting treatment with this medicine. It is best to use birth control while you are receiving gemcitabine. Also, tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant during treatment.
Breast-feeding--It is not known whether gemcitabine passes into breast milk. However, because this medicine may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is generally not recommended while you are receiving it.
Children--There is no specific information comparing use of gemcitabine in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults--Gemcitabine has been tested in elderly patients and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults. However, seriously low blood counts tend to occur more often in elderly patients.
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 gemcitabine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:
Other medical problems--The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of gemcitabine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
Gemcitabine often causes nausea and vomiting. It can also cause flu-like symptoms such as chills, fever, general feeling of illness, headache, muscle pain, and weakness. It is very important that you continue to receive the medicine even if it makes you feel ill. Ask your health care professional for ways to lessen these effects.
Dosing--The dose of gemcitabine will be different for
different patients. The dose that is used may depend on a number of things,
including the type of cancer being treated, the patient's size, and whether
or not other treatments are also being given. If you
are receiving gemcitabine at home, follow your doctor's orders or the directions
on the label.
If you have any questions about the proper dose of gemcitabine,
ask your doctor. It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits
to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests will
be needed to check for unwanted effects. While you are being treated with gemcitabine, and after you stop treatment
with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations)
without your doctor's approval
. Gemcitabine may lower your body's resistance,
and there is a chance you might get the infection that 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 past 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. Check with your doctor immediately
if shortness
of breath occurs or worsens while you are being treated with gemcitabine. Gemcitabine 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 needed 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:
Precautions While Using 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.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Shortness of breath
Less common
Cough or hoarseness (accompanied by fever or chills); fever or chills; headache (sudden and severe); lower back or side pain (accompanied by fever or chills); painful or difficult urination (accompanied by fever or chills); pain in chest, arm, or back; pressure or squeezing in chest; slurred speech or inability to speak; troubled breathing, tightness in chest, and/or wheezing; weakness in arm and/or leg on one side of the body (sudden and severe)
Rare
Coughing; noisy or rattling breathing
The following side effects may mean that you are having a serious allergic reaction to this medicine, especially if they occur together with breathing problems. Check with your doctor immediately if any of them occur:
Rare
Change in skin color of the face; skin rash, hives, and/or itching; swelling or puffiness of the face, especially the eyelids or area around the eyes
Also, check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; cloudy urine; fever; pinpoint red spots on skin; skin rash, with or without itching; swelling of fingers, feet, or lower legs; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness or weakness
Less common
Fast or irregular heartbeat; high blood pressure
Rare
Increased or decreased urination; yellow eyes or skin
Some of the above side effects may occur, or continue to occur, after treatment with gemcitabine has ended. Check with your doctor if you notice any of them after you stop receiving the medicine.
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:
More common
Constipation; diarrhea; general feeling of illness; loss of appetite; muscle pain; nausea and vomiting; runny nose; sweating; trouble in sleeping
Less common
Drowsiness (severe); irritation, pain, or redness at place of injection; numbness or tingling of hands or feet; sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips and in mouth
Gemcitabine may also cause a temporary loss of hair in some people. After treatment with gemcitabine has ended, normal hair growth should return.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although this use is not included in product labeling, gemcitabine is used in certain patients with the following medical condition:
Other than the above information, there is no additional information relating to proper use, precautions, or side effects for this use.
Developed: 8/21/97
Revised: 12/23/99
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