Etoposide

Drug Status in USA : Approved
Drug Status in Canada : Approved

pronunciation

pronounced as (e toe poe' side)

Why is this medication prescribed?

Etoposide is used in combination with other medications to treat a certain type of lung cancer (small cell lung cancer; SCLC). Etoposide is in a class of medications known as podophyllotoxin derivatives. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in your body.


How should this medicine be used?

Etoposide comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day for 4 or 5 days in a row. This cycle may be repeated once every 3 to 4 weeks, depending on your response to the medication. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of cancer you have. Take etoposide at around the same time(s) every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take etoposide exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.


What are the precautions to be followed?

Before taking etoposide,
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to etoposide, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in etoposide capsules. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: cisplatin (Platinol), cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with etoposide, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
  • tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney disease.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. You should not become pregnant or breast-feed while you are taking etoposide. If you become pregnant while taking etoposide, call your doctor. Etoposide may harm the fetus.

What are possible side effects of this medication ?

Etoposide may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • sores in the mouth and throat
  • stomach pain
  • diarrhea
  • constipation
  • loss of appetite or weight
  • unusual tiredness or weakness
  • pale skin
  • fainting
  • dizziness
  • hair loss
  • pain, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet
  • eye pain
  • vision problems
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, stop taking etoposide and call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:
  • rash
  • hives
  • itching
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat
  • seizures
  • yellowing of the skin or eyes

Etopside may increase the risk that you will develop other cancers. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking this medication.

Etoposide may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.


How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, in the refrigerator, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Do not freeze. Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.


Drug Category/Class

  • Tubulin Modulators
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors
  • Podophyllotoxin Derivatives
  • Combined Inhibitors of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Keratolytic Agents
  • Antineoplastic and Immunomodulating Agents
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C8 Inhibitors
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C8 Inducers
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 Inhibitors
  • Cytoch
Prescribed For use in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of refractory testicular tumors and as first line treatment in patients ...
Weight :588.5566
Structure Etoposide
Generic Drug Etoposide prescribed For use in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of refractory testicular tumors and as first line treatment in patients ...
Formula

C29H32O13

Etoposide has 44 Brands listed


Actitop (100 mg)Actitop (50 mg)
Actitop Caps (100 mg)Aside (100 mg)
Beposid (100 mg)Bioposide (100 mg)
Ctop (100 mg)Cytop (100 mg)
Eposed (100 mg)Eside (50 mg)
Eside Inj (20 mg)Ethopul (100 mg)
Etolon (100 mg)Etolon (50 mg)
Etonis (100 mg)Etoplast (100 mg)
Etoplast (50 mg)Etoposide (100 mg)
Etoposide (50 mg)Etoposide Caps (100 mg)
Etosid (100 mg)Etosid Cap (100 mg)
Etovel (50 mg)Etovel Inj
Fytop (100 mg)Fytosid (20 mg)
Lastet (100 mg)Lastet (25 mg)
Lastet (50 mg)Lastet Inj (100 mg)
Nzytop (100 mg)Oncoside (100 mg)
Peltasol (100 mg)Placid (100 mg)
Posid (100 mg)Posid (50 mg)
Posid Inj (100 mg)Posid Inj (50 mg)
Retopson (100 mg)Tevaside (100 mg)
Topok (100 mg)Toposide (100 mg)
Toposide (50 mg)Toposide Inj (100 mg)

Search Generic Drugs alphabetically