Chemotherapy Drug Information
<< BackEtoposide
Your doctor has ordered the drug etoposide to help treat your illness. The drug can be taken by mouth with capsules or by injection into a vein. Etoposide is in a class of drugs known as podophyllotoxin derivatives; it slows or stops the growth of cancer cells in your body. 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.
Before taking etoposide,
- Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart, liver, or kidney disease.
- You should know that etoposide may interfere with the normal menstrual cycle (period) in women and may stop sperm production in men. However, you should not assume that you cannot get pregnant or that you cannot get someone else pregnant. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should tell their doctors before they begin taking this drug. You should not plan to have children while receiving chemotherapy or for a while after treatments. (Talk to your doctor for further details.) Use a reliable method of birth control to prevent pregnancy. Etoposide may harm the fetus.
- Do not have any vaccinations (e.g., measles or flu shots) without talking to your doctor.
- Be aware that etoposide can potentially cause cancer. Talk to your doctor about the potential risk of developing a new cancer while taking this drug.
Side effects from etoposide are common and include:
- nausea and vomiting
- loss of appetite
- constipation
- diarrhea
- stomach pain
- changes in taste
- tinned or brittle hair
- fatigue
- mouth blistering
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- unusual bruising or bleeding
- dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling of faintness
- pain at the injection site
- persistent diarrhea or any change in normal bowel habits for more than 2 days
- fever
- chills
- shortness of breath
- breathing discomfort
- rash
- itching