DepoCyte 50 mg suspension for injection
Cytarabine
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you receive this medicine.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have further questions, please ask your doctor.
- If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor.
In this leaflet:
1. What DepoCyte is and what it is given for
2. Before you are given DepoCyte
3. How DepoCyte is given
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store DepoCyte
6. Further information
What Depocyte Is And What It Is Given For
DepoCyte is used to treat lymphomatous meningitis.
Lymphomatous meningitis is a condition in which tumour cells have invaded the fluid or membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
DepoCyte is used in adults to kill lymphoma tumour cells.
Before You Are Given Depocyte
DepoCyte should not be given
- If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to cytarabine or any of the other ingredients.
- If you have a meningeal infection.
Taking other medicines
Please inform your doctor or physician if you are taking or using any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
DepoCyte should not be given to pregnant women as it may harm an unborn child. Women of childbearing potential should use a reliable contraceptive to avoid pregnancy whilst being treated with DepoCyte.
Male patients undergoing DepoCyte treatment should use a reliable contraceptive method.
Women should not breast-feed during treatment as DepoCyte may enter breast milk.
Driving and using machines
Do not drive during treatment.
Do not operate any tools or machines during treatment.
How Depocyte Is Given
Before using DepoCyte, warm the vial to room temperature (18°C – 22°C) for at least 30 minutes. Just before withdrawing DepoCyte, gently invert the vial to mix the particles evenly. Do not shake the vial vigorously.
A qualified and experienced doctor or physician in the treatment of cancer will inject DepoCyte in the spinal fluid or lumber sac. DepoCyte must not be administered by any other way. Injections are given slowly over a few minutes and you may be asked to lie flat for one hour afterwards.
You will also be given dexamethasone, usually as tablets but possibly by intravenous injection for 5 days after you receive each DepoCyte dose to help reduce any side effects which might occur.
DepoCyte must be used as supplied without further dilution. The dose for adults is 50 mg (one vial of DepoCyte).
For the treatment of lymphomatous meningitis, DepoCyte is given according to the following schedules:
Start-up treatment: one vial of DepoCyte (50 mg) administered every 14 days for 2 doses (weeks 1 and 3).
Follow-up treatment: one vial of DepoCyte (50 mg) administered every 14 days for 3 doses (weeks 5, 7 and 9) followed by an additional dose at week 13.
Maintenance treatment: one vial of DepoCyte (50 mg) administered every 28 days for 4 doses (weeks 17, 21, 25 and 29).
If you are given more DepoCyte than you should
The recommended dose will be given to you by the doctor or physician as necessary. There is no antidote for DepoCyte. Management of overdose should be directed at maintaining vital functions.
Possible Side Effects
Like all medicines, DepoCyte can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Side effects may occur after each injection, usually within the first five days.
Tell the medical staff, who will be monitoring you during this time, if you suffer from:
- Pain, numbness or tingling (feeling of sensation of pins and needles)
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Fever
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Convulsion
- Dizziness
- Neck pain
- A stiff or rigid neck
- Partial paralysis
- Blindness and other visual disturbances
- Shaking
- Back pain
- Persistent or extreme sleepiness
- Hearing loss
- Infection of the meninges
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please inform the medical staff looking after you.
Storing Depocyte
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not use DepoCyte after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and on the vial.
Store in a refrigerator (2°C – 8°C).
Do not freeze.
Further Information
What DepoCyte contains
- The active substance is 50 mg cytarabine (10 mg/ml)
- The other ingredients are cholesterol, triolein, dioleoylphosphatidylcholine, dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol, sodium chloride and water for injections.
What DepoCyte looks like and contents of the pack
DepoCyte is a vial containing a white to off-white-suspension for injection.
Each vial contains 5 ml of suspension for a single injection.
Each pack contains a single vial.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Manufacturer
For any information about this medicine, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder.
This leaflet was last approved in June 2010.
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