Irinotecan Hydrochloride

Indications & Dose:

Treatment of metastatic carcinoma of the colon or rectum in which the disease has recurred or progressed following fluorouracil (5-FU)-based therapy

Adults

Initially, 125 mg/m2 I.V. infusion over 90 minutes. Recommended treatment regimen is 125 mg/m2. I.V. administered once weekly for 4 weeks, followed by a 2-week test period. Thereafter, additional courses of treatment may be repeated 6 weeks (4 weeks on therapy, followed by 2 weeks of therapy). Subsequent doses may be adjusted to as high as 150 mg/m2 or to as low as 50 mg/m2 in 25 to 50 mg/m2 increments depending on patient’s tolerance. Treatment with additional courses may continue indefinitely in patients who attain a response or in those whose disease remains stable provided intolerable toxicity does not occur.

GERIATRIC USE • Use caution when administering drug to elderly patients.

PEDIATRIC USE • Safety and effectiveness in children have not been established.

BREAST-FEEDING • It is not known if drug is excreted in breast milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breast-feeding infants, it is recommended that breast-feeding be disocntinued during irinotecan therapy.

Contraindications:

Patients with hypersensitive to drug. Use cautiously in elderly patients are those who ahve previously received pelvic or abdominal irridation because of increased risk fo severe myelosuppression.

Side Effects:

Cautions:

Precautions:

Interaction:

Drugs Other antineoplastic agents may cause ? adverse effects such as myelosuppression and diarrhea.

Diagnostic tests: None reported.

Warnings:

Adverse Effects:

Lactations:

Special Precautions:

Counselling:

Side Effects Or Adverse Reactions:

CNS: insomnia, dizziness, asthenia, headache.
CV: vasodilation, edema
GI: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, constipation, flatulence, stomatitis, dyspepsia, abdominal cramping and pain, abdominal enlargement
HEMATOLOGIC: Leukopenia, anemia, neutropenia
METABOLIC: weight loss, dehydration, increased alkaline phosphatase, increased AST levels.
RESPIRATORY: dyspnea, increased coughing, rhinitis.
SKIN: alopecia, sweating, rash
OTHER: fever, pain, back pain, chills, minor infection. 

Patient And Carer Advice: