Manufacturer: Zydus Cadila
Salt Composition : Epirubicin(10mg)
It is given as a drip or infusion vein with extreme caution by a qualified medical professional. It can be used alone, or sometimes given together with certain other medicines as part of combination chemotherapy. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to. It makes contraceptive pills less effective, so it advised to both male and female to use reliable contraception during the treatment.
The most common side effects of this medicine include nausea, low blood platelets, hair loss, absence of menstrual periods, fever and rash. It is known to reduce the number of blood cells in your blood thereby, increasing the susceptibility to infections. Infections can sometimes be life threatening. Regular blood tests are required to monitor your blood cells along with kidney, liver and heart function during treatment with this medicine.
Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, or have heart problem. Your doctor should also know about all other medicines you are taking as many of these may make this medicine less effective or change the way it works. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Epirubicin forms a complex with DNA by intercalation of its planar rings between nucleotide base pairs, with consequent inhibition of nucleic acid (DNA and RNA) and protein synthesis. Such intercalation triggers DNA cleavage by topoisomerase II, resulting in cytocidal activity.
Epirubicin pharmacokinetics may be described by a 3-compartment model, with median half-life values of 3.2 minutes, 1.2 and 32 hours for each phase. Total plasma clearance is 46 L/h/m2 and volume of distribution at steady-state is 1000 L/m2.
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of Epixtra
Low blood platelets
Nausea
Hair loss
Absence of menstrual periods
Fever
Anemia (low number of red blood cells)
Diarrhea
Weight loss
Decreased white blood cell count (neutrophils)
Hot flashes
Gastrointestinal inflammation
Rash
Low energy
Eye disorder
a bad infection.
significantly decreased activity of the bone marrow.
anemia.
decreased blood platelets.
low levels of a type of white blood cell called neutrophils.
a heart attack.
heart attack within the last 30 days.
cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle.
Epixtra 10mg Injection is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However, the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor.
It is unsafe to consume alcohol with Epixtra 10mg Injection.
Epixtra 10mg Injection is unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Data suggests that the drug may cause toxicity to the baby.
Epirubicin Hydrochloride for Injection is indicated as a component of adjuvant therapy in patients with evidence of axillary node tumor involvement following resection of primary breast cancer.
heart disease/toxicity.
liver disease.
neutropenia.
myelosuppression/infection.
renal impairment.
Kindly do not self administer.
Store in a refrigerator (2 - 8°C). Do not freeze.
If you miss a dose of Epixtra 10mg Injection, please consult your doctor.
Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.
Epixtra 10mg Injection is used alone or in combination with other medicines for the treatment of various types of cancers.
It is given through a drip into a vein (intravenous infusion) by a doctor or nurse.
It may make you feel tired or sleepy. Do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how it affects you.
Use a reliable contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy while you are taking this medicine and for 6 months after stopping treatment.
Your doctor may get regular blood tests done to monitor your blood cells, liver, and heart function during treatment with this medicine.
Inform your doctor immediately if you notice any signs of infection such as fever, sore throat or rash.
Your doctor or nurse will give you this medicine. Kindly do not self administer.
Q. Is Epixtra 10mg Injection a vesicant (agent that causes tissue blistering and damage)?
Yes, Epixtra 10mg Injection is a vesicant; it may cause tissue blistering if it leaks out of the vein.
Q. How effective is Epixtra 10mg Injection?
Epixtra 10mg Injection is effective in the treatment of various cancers including cancer of the breast, ovary, stomach, lung, bowel or rectum, malignant lymphomas (a type of blood cancer of infection-fighting cells of the blood) such as Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia (blood cancer), multiple myeloma (a type of blood cancer of infection-fighting cells of the blood). It may be used in bladder cancers and to prevent reoccurrence of bladder cancer after surgery. It effectively slows or stops the growth of cancer cells in the body.
