Etoposide: High Dose for SCT (VePesid®, VP-16)

About This Drug

Etoposide is used to treat cancer. It may be used before you get a stem cell transplant. This drug is given in the vein (IV).

Possible Side Effects

Nausea and throwing up (vomiting). Medicines are available to stop or lessen these side effects.
Bone marrow depression. This is a decrease in the number of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This may raise your risk of infection, make you tired and weak (fatigue), and raise your risk of bleeding.
Decreased appetite (decreased hunger)
Soreness of the mouth and throat. You may have red areas, white patches, or sores that hurt.
Hair loss. Hair loss is often temporary, although with certain medicine, hair loss can sometimes be permanent. Hair loss may happen suddenly or gradually. If you lose hair, you may lose it from your head, face, armpits, pubic area, chest, and/or legs. You may also notice your hair getting thin.
Fatigue or feeling tired
Loose bowel movements (diarrhea) that may last for several days
Feeling confused
Low blood pressure with rapid infusion of this medication
Effects on the nerves are called peripheral neuropathy. You may feel numbness, tingling, or pain in your hands and feet. It may be hard for you to button your clothes, open jars, or walk as usual. The effect on the nerves may get worse with more doses of the drug. These effects get better in some people after the drug is stopped but it does not get better in all people.
This drug can cause changes to your liver function. Your blood work will be checked by your doctor.
This drug may raise your risk of getting a second cancer, such as leukemia

Allergic Reactions

Serious allergic reactions including anaphylaxis are rare. While you are getting this drug in your vein IV, tell your nurse right away if you have any of these symptoms of an allergic reaction:

Trouble catching your breath
Feeling like your tongue or throat are swelling
Feeling your heart beat quickly or in a not normal way (palpitations)
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
Flushing, itching, rash, and/or hives

Treating Side Effects

Manage tiredness by pacing your activities for the day.
Be sure to include periods of rest between energy-draining activities.
To decrease infection, wash your hands regularly.
Avoid close contact with people who have a cold, the flu, or other infections.
Take your temperature as your doctor or nurse tells you, and whenever you feel like you may have a fever.
To help decrease bleeding, use a soft toothbrush. Check with your nurse before using dental floss.
Be very careful when using knives or tools.
Use an electric shaver instead of a razor.
To help with hair loss, wash with a mild shampoo and avoid washing your hair everyday.
Avoid rubbing your scalp, pat your hair or scalp dry.
Avoid coloring your hair.
Limit your use of hair spray, electric curlers, blow dryers, and curling irons.
If you are interested in getting a wig, talk to your nurse. You can also call the American Cancer Society at 800-ACS-2345 to find out information about the “Look Good, Feel Better” program close to where you live. It is a free program where women getting chemotherapy can learn about wigs, turbans and scarves as well as makeup techniques and skin and nail care.
Drink plenty of fluids (a minimum of eight glasses per day is recommended).
If you throw up or have loose bowel movements, you should drink more fluids so that you do not become dehydrated (lack water in the body from losing too much fluid).
To help with nausea and vomiting, eat small, frequent meals instead of three large meals a day. Choose foods and drinks that are at room temperature. Ask your nurse or doctor about other helpful tips and medicine that is available to help or stop lessen these symptoms.

Food and Drug Interactions

There are no known interactions of etoposide with food.
This drug may interact with other medication. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the medication and dietary supplements (vitamins, minerals, herbs and others) that you are taking at this time. The safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements and alternative diets are often unknown. Using these might affect your cancer or interfere with your treatment. Until more is known, you should not use dietary supplements or alternative diets without your cancer doctor's help.

When to Call the Doctor

Call your doctor or nurse if you have any of these symptoms and/or any new or unusual symptoms:

Trouble breathing or feeling short of breath
Fever of 100.4° F (38° C) or higher
Chills
Easy bleeding or bruising
Rash or itching
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
Feeling that your heart is beating in a fast or not normal way (palpitations)
Feeling confused
Nausea that stops you from eating or drinking
Loose bowel movements (diarrhea) more than 4 times a day or diarrhea with weakness or feeling lightheaded
Throwing up more than 3 times a day
Numbness, tingling, decreased feeling or weakness in fingers, toes, arms, or legs
Trouble walking or changes in the way you walk
Pain in your mouth or throat that makes it hard to eat or drink

Reproduction Warnings

Pregnancy warning: This drug can have harmful effects on the unborn baby. Women of childbearing potential should use effective methods of birth control during your cancer treatment and for at least 6 months after treatment. Men with female partners of childbearing potential should use effective methods of birth control during your cancer treatment and for at least 4 months after your cancer treatment. Let your doctor know right away if you think you may be pregnant or may have impregnated your partner.
Breastfeeding warning: It is not known if this drug passes into breast milk. For this reason, women should talk to their doctor about the risks and benefits of breastfeeding during treatment with this drug because this drug may enter the breast milk and badly harm a breast feeding baby.
Fertility warning: Sexual problems and reproduction concerns may happen. In both men and women, this drug may affect your ability to have children. This cannot be determined before your treatment. Talk with your doctor or nurse if you plan to have children. Ask for information on sperm or egg banking.

In men, this drug may interfere with your ability to make sperm, but it should not change your ability to have sexual relations.
In women, menstrual bleeding may become irregular or stop while you are getting this drug. Do not assume that you cannot become pregnant if you do not have a menstrual period.
Women may go through signs of menopause (change of life) like vaginal dryness or itching. Vaginal lubricants can be used to lessen vaginal dryness, itching, and pain during sexual relations.
Genetic counseling is available for you to talk about the effects of this drug therapy on future pregnancies. Also, a genetic counselor can look at the possible risk of problems in the unborn baby due to this medicine if an exposure happens during pregnancy.

Revised April 2020

This patient information was developed by Via Oncology, LLC © 2020. This information is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely entirely on this information for your health care needs. Ask your own doctor or health care provider any specific medical questions that you have.

CLIENT acknowledges that the Via Pathways and Via Portal are information management tools only, and that Via Oncology, LLC has not represented the Via Pathways or Via Portal as having the ability to diagnose disease, prescribe treatment, or perform any other tasks that constitute the practice of medicine. The clinical information contained in the Via Pathways and Via Portal are intended as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the knowledge, expertise, skill, and judgment of physicians, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals involved with patient care at CLIENT facilities.