Ixabepilone: ​​Uses, indications and cautions when using

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Ixabepilone is a chemotherapy drug used to treat advanced breast cancer. Similar to other cancer treatment drugs, the use of Ixabepilone drug should be followed and strictly followed by the doctor's instructions.

1. What is the effect of Ixabepilone?

Ixabepilone is a chemotherapy drug commonly prescribed to treat advanced breast cancer. Ixabepilone works to slow or stop the growth of malignant cancer cells.

2. How to use Ixabepilone correctly?

Ixabepilone is usually given slowly into the patient's vein as directed by the doctor, usually over 3 hours. Ixabepilone is usually given every 3 weeks. You will need a complete blood count before each appointment. Your doctor will adjust the dose and frequency of administration based on blood tests.
About 1 hour before treatment your doctor will instruct you to take 2 antihistamines (eg, Diphenhydramine and Ranitidine) to prevent or reduce severe allergic reactions. Your doctor may also give you a corticosteroid medication such as dexamethasone and give you an infusion of Ixabepilone for more than 3 hours if you had a severe reaction during your last treatment.
Dosage will be determined based on your medical condition, body size and response to treatment.

3. Side effects of the drug Ixabepilone

Like many other cancer drugs, Ixabepilone can also cause some side effects such as pain, redness, swelling at the injection site, weakness, fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, nausea, vomiting. , diarrhea, loss of appetite, headache, dizziness or drowsiness. While nausea and vomiting can be severe in some patients, a doctor's prescription is needed to alleviate this side effect. Patients are encouraged to divide meals into small meals, not eat before treatment or limit activities to reduce the above reactions. When taking cancer chemotherapy drugs, many people experience temporary hair loss. There is no need to worry because the hair will grow back to normal after the treatment is over. Ixabepilone may decrease the body's ability to fight infections. Therefore, if you have any signs of infection such as chills, fever, persistent sore throat, etc., you should inform your doctor. You may also have pain or sores on your lips, in your mouth, and in your throat. So limit hot foods and drinks, be careful when brushing your teeth, avoid using alcohol-containing mouthwash and should rinse your mouth often with cool water.

Tell your doctor right away if you notice any serious side effects such as: swelling of the hands, swelling of the ankles, swelling of the feet, fainting, pale skin, bruising, easy bleeding or bleeding unusual blood, sudden weight gain, signs of losing too much body water (eg, decreased urination, increased thirst, dry mouth). Ixabepilone can sometimes affect the way the nervous system works (peripheral neuropathy). Patients can also reduce these effects by avoiding cold drinks and ice, as well as wearing warm clothing. Tell your doctor right away if you have pain, burning, numbness, tingling in your hands or feet, or if your nerve problems start to interfere with normal daily activities such as: walking , write, eat. Ixabepilone treatment can sometimes cause your hands or feet to develop a skin reaction called palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia (Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia), especially if you take this medicine together with capecitabine. You can prevent or reduce these problems by: Protecting your hands and feet from exposure to extreme heat or pressure (e.g. Limit washing dishes with hot water, taking hot showers) long). Avoid putting pressure on elbows, knees, and soles of feet (eg, leaning on elbows, kneeling, long walks). Wear loose, airy clothing.
Depending on the severity of hand-foot syndrome, your doctor may prescribe medication to relieve symptoms; reduce or delay the next course of treatment. If you feel pain, swelling, redness, blistering, or numbness in your hands or feet that is affecting your daily activities, tell your doctor right away. Call for medical help right away if you notice any of these rare but very serious side effects such as: fast heartbeat, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, trouble breathing, bloody or black stools, vomiting coffee grounds, vision changes, seizures, sudden confusion.

4. Notes when using Ixabepilone

When using Ixabepilone, patients should note the following:
Before taking Ixabepilone, tell your doctor if you are allergic to the ingredients of the drug or have any other allergic conditions. In addition, you should also tell your doctor about your medical history, especially if you have or are having problems such as: Bleeding, diabetes, heart problems (e.g. chest pain, heart failure, pain). heart), liver problems, bone marrow problems (e.g., low white blood cell count, anemia), nerve problems (peripheral neuropathy). Ixabepilone contains alcohol, making it easy to get dizzy or drowsy. Do not use machines, drive a car, or do anything that requires alertness until you can safely concentrate on doing it. Ixabepilone may make you more susceptible to infections or may worsen any existing infections. Therefore, when using Ixabepilone, you should avoid contact with people who have recently received polio vaccine or inhaled flu vaccine through the nose. Wash your hands often to prevent the spread of infections. To reduce the risk of bruising, bleeding, or injury, use caution when using sharp objects such as razors, nail clippers, and high-impact activities. Ixabepilone is not recommended for use during pregnancy because of possible harm to the unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about using a reliable form of birth control (such as condoms, birth control pills) while on the pill. It is not known whether Ixabepilone passes into breast milk. Therefore, breast-feeding while using this medicine is not recommended. Patients taking medication should consult their doctor before breast-feeding.

5. Drug interactions

Some drugs can interact with Ixabepilone, including: drugs that react with alcohol (e.g. Disulfiram, Metronidazole), drugs that affect liver enzymes that normally remove Ixabepilone from your body (eg Azole antifungals: Itraconazole, Ketoconazole, Macrolide antibiotics like Clarithromycin, Erythromycin, anti-HIV drugs like Delavirdine, Ritonavir, Saquinavir, Rifamycins like rifabutin, St. John's wort, antiepileptic drugs like Phenytoin.) tell your doctor if you are taking other products that also cause drowsiness such as: alcohol, marijuana, antihistamines (such as Cetirizine, Diphenhydramine), sleeping pills, or treatment for anxiety (such as Alprazolam, Diazepam, Zolpidem), muscle relaxants (such as Carisoprodol, Cyclobenzaprine) and opioid pain relievers (such as Codeine, Hydrocodone)
Check the information on the labels of all your medicines (especially those that treat allergies or coughs) , colds) as they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness Consult your pharmacist on how to use these products in the safest way.

6. Preservation and handling in case of overdose, missed dose

If Ixabepilone infusion overdose and develop symptoms of unconsciousness or difficulty breathing, the patient should be taken to the emergency room immediately. When using Ixabepilone, patients are encouraged to perform periodic health examinations and do medical tests such as: Analysis of complete blood count; evaluate liver function... to check the side effects of drugs and the effectiveness of disease treatment. To make the treatment as smooth as possible, keep your Ixabepilone infusion on schedule. If you miss a dose, contact your doctor immediately to set up a new dosing schedule. Do not give a double dose to catch up. Ixabepilone is given in the clinic only and will not be stored at home. In summary, to ensure effective treatment and avoid side effects of Ixabepilone, patients should read the instructions carefully before using or follow the advice of a doctor or pharmacist. In case the use of Ixabepilone is not effective, the patient should go to the medical facility for re-examination and treatment.

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Reference source: Webmd