Marqibo - Vincristine Sulfate Liposome injection
What is this medication?
VINCRISTINE SULFATE LIPOSOME (vin KRIS teen SUL fate LIP uh sohm) is a chemotherapy drug. It slows the growth of cancer cells. This medicine is used to treat a certain type of acute lymphocytic leukemia.
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Marqibo
What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
- immune system problems
- infection (especially a virus infection such as chickenpox, cold sores, or herpes)
- liver disease
- low blood counts, like low white cell, platelet, or red cell counts
- nervous system disease like Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT)
- stomach or intestine problems
- tingling of the fingers or toes, or other nerve disorder
- an unusual or allergic reaction to vincristine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
- pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- breast-feeding
How should I use this medication?
This medicine is for infusion into a vein. It is given by a health care professional in a hospital or clinic setting.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
What if I miss a dose?
It is important not to miss your dose. Call your doctor or health care professional if you are unable to keep an appointment.
What may interact with this medication?
Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:
- anti-retroviral protease inhibitors such as atazanavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir
- carbamazepine
- clarithromycin
- dalfopristin; quinupristin
- delavirdine
- dexamethasone
- isoniazid
- itraconazole
- ketoconazole
- nefazodone
- nicardipine
- phenytoin
- posaconazole
- rifabutin
- rifampin
- rifapentine
- St. John's Wort
- telithromycin
- voriconazole
This medicine may also interact with the following medications:
- cyclosporine
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
This drug may make you feel generally unwell. This is not uncommon, as chemotherapy can affect healthy cells as well as cancer cells. Report any side effects. Continue your course of treatment even though you feel ill unless your doctor tells you to stop.
You may need blood work done while you are taking this medicine.
This medicine will cause constipation. Try to have a bowel movement at least every 2 to 3 days. If you do not have a bowel movement for 3 days, call your doctor or health care professional.
In some cases, you may be given additional medicines to help with side effects. Follow all directions for their use.
Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you.
Do not become pregnant while taking this medicine and for 6 months after stopping it. Women should inform their doctor if they wish to become pregnant or think they might be pregnant. Men should not father a child while taking this medicine and for 3 months after stopping it. There is a potential for serious side effects to an unborn child. Talk to your health care professional or pharmacist for more information. Do not breast-feed an infant while taking this medicine and for 1 week after stopping it.
This medicine may make it more difficult to get pregnant or to father a child. Talk to your healthcare professional if you are concerned about your fertility.
What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
- allergic reactions (skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue)
- breathing problems
- chest pain or chest tightness
- constipation
- infection (fever or chills, cough, sore throat, pain or difficulty passing urine)
- liver injury (dark yellow or brown urine, general ill feeling or flu-like symptoms, loss of appetite, right upper belly pain, unusually weak or tired, yellowing of the eyes or skin)
- low platelets (bruising, pinpoint red spots on the skin, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine)
- low red blood cells (unusually weak or tired, feeling faint or lightheaded, falls)
- pain, tingling, numbness in the hands or feet
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
- diarrhea
- tiredness
- trouble sleeping
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Where should I keep my medication?
This drug is given in a hospital or clinic and will not be stored at home.
NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
Additional Information From Chemocare.com About Marqibo
Self-Care Tips:
- Drink 2 to 3 quarts of fluid every 24 hours, unless you were told to restrict your fluid intake, and maintain good nutrition. This will decrease your chances of being constipated, and prevent dehydration.
- You may be at risk of infection so try to avoid crowds or people with colds, and report fever or any other signs of infection immediately to your healthcare provider.
- Wash your hands often.
- When working in your yard, wear protective clothing including long pants and gloves.
- Do not handle pet waste.
- Keep all cuts or scratches clean.
- Shower or bath daily and perform frequent mouth care.
- Do not cut cuticles or ingrown nails. You may wear nail polish, but not fake nails.
- Ask your doctor or nurse before scheduling dental appointments or procedures.
- Ask your doctor or nurse before you, or someone you live with, has any vaccinations.
- Use an electric razor and a soft toothbrush to minimize bleeding.
- Avoid contact sports or activities that could cause injury.
- To reduce nausea, take anti-nausea medications as prescribed by your doctor, and eat small, frequent meals. Good mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
- For constipation, drinking more liquids, working out, or adding fiber to your diet may help. Talk with your doctor about a stool softener or laxative.
- Avoid sun exposure. Wear SPF 15 (or higher) sunblock and protective clothing.
- In general, drinking alcoholic beverages should be kept to a minimum or avoided completely. You should discuss this with your doctor.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Maintain good nutrition.
- If you experience symptoms or side effects, be sure to discuss them with your health care team. They can prescribe medications and/or offer other suggestions that are effective in managing such problems.
- For flu-like symptoms, keep warm with blankets and drink plenty of liquids. There are medications that can help reduce the discomfort caused by chills.
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help relieve discomfort from fever, headache and/or generalized aches and pains. However, be sure to talk with your doctor before taking it.
- Keep your mouth clean with baking soda and salt rinses. You can mix 1/2 to 1 tsp. of baking soda and/or 1/2 to 1 tsp. salt in 8 ounces of water, and use as a mouthwash, to avoid or decrease the severity of mouth sores.
- If you experience symptoms or side effects, be sure to discuss them with your health care team. They can prescribe medications and/or offer other suggestions that are effective in managing such problems.
When to contact your doctor or health care provider:
Contact your health care provider immediately, day or night, if you should experience any of the following symptoms:
- Fever of 100.4º F (38º C), chills (possible signs of infection)
- Go directly to the Emergency Room (ER) if you have signs of a very bad reaction to the drug. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue or grey skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue or throat.
Always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.
The following symptoms require medical attention, but are not an emergency. Contact your health care provider within 24 hours of noticing any of the following:
- Diarrhea (4-6 episodes in a 24-hour period).
- Nausea (interferes with ability to eat and unrelieved with prescribed medication).
- Vomiting (vomiting more than 4-5 times in a 24 hour period).
- Unable to eat or drink for 24 hours or have signs of dehydration: tiredness, thirst, dry mouth, dark and decrease amount of urine, or dizziness.
- Shortness of breath, accompanied by cough and/or fever.
- Skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow
- Urine turns dark or brown (tea color)
- Decreased appetite
- Pain on the right side of your stomach
- Bleed or bruise more easily than normal
- Itching or rash
- Changes in thinking clearly with logic
- Numbness or tingling in your hands or feet
- Signs of infection. These include: very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, wound that will not heal or anal itching or pain.
- Big change in balance
- A big weight gain
- Black or tarry stools, or blood in your stools
- Blood in the urine
- Pain or burning with urination
- Extreme fatigue (unable to carry on self-care activities)
- Very bad swelling
Always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.
