Idarubicin Intravenous Advanced Patient Information - Drugs.com

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# Idarubicin (Intravenous)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 28, 2022.

Intravenous route(Solution)

1. Idarubicin hydrochloride should be given slowly into a freely flowing intravenous infusion. It must never be given intramuscularly or subcutaneously. Severe local tissue necrosis can occur if there is extravasation during administration.2. As is the case with other anthracyclines the use of idarubicin hydrochloride can cause myocardial toxicity leading to congestive heart failure. Cardiac toxicity is more common in patients who have received prior anthracyclines or who have preexisting cardiac disease.3. As is usual with antileukemic agents, severe myelosuppression occurs when idarubicin hydrochloride is used at effective therapeutic doses.4. It is recommended that idarubicin hydrochloride be administered only under the supervision of a physician who is experienced in leukemia chemotherapy and in facilities with laboratory and supportive resources adequate to monitor drug tolerance and protect and maintain a patient compromised by drug toxicity. The physician and institution must be capable of responding rapidly and completely to severe hemorrhagic conditions and/or overwhelming infection.5. Dosage should be reduced in patients with impaired hepatic or renal function .

## Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

- Idamycin PFS

Available Dosage Forms:

- Solution

Therapeutic Class: Antineoplastic Agent

Chemical Class: Idarubicin

## Uses for idarubicin

Idarubicin injection is used in combination with other medicines to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Idarubicin belongs to the group of medicines known as antineoplastics (cancer medicines). It works by interfering with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed.

Idarubicin is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.

## Before using idarubicin

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For idarubicin, the following should be considered:

### Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to idarubicin or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

### Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of idarubicin injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

### Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of idarubicin injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, chest pain, or heart attack which may require caution in patients receiving idarubicin.

### Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

### Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving idarubicin, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using idarubicin with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

- Measles Virus Vaccine, Live
- Mumps Virus Vaccine, Live
- Rotavirus Vaccine, Live
- Rubella Virus Vaccine, Live
- Tasonermin
- Varicella Virus Vaccine, Live
- Zoster Vaccine, Live

Using idarubicin with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

- Adenovirus Vaccine
- Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin Vaccine, Live
- Cholera Vaccine, Live
- Cyclophosphamide
- Dengue Tetravalent Vaccine, Live
- Influenza Virus Vaccine, Live
- Margetuximab
- Paclitaxel
- Paclitaxel Protein-Bound
- Pertuzumab
- Poliovirus Vaccine, Live
- Smallpox Vaccine
- Trastuzumab
- Typhoid Vaccine, Live
- Yellow Fever Vaccine

### Interactions with food/tobacco/alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

### Other medical problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of idarubicin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

- Anemia or
- Bone marrow depression or
- Congestive heart failure or
- Heart or blood vessel disease (eg, cardiomyopathy, pericarditis, myocarditis) or
- Heart rhythm problem (eg, arrhythmia)—Use with caution. May increase risk for heart problems caused by idarubicin.

- Bone marrow suppression caused by other medicines or radiation—Should not be used in patients with this condition, unless your doctor says it is okay.

- Gout or
- Kidney stones—Idarubicin may increase levels of uric acid in the body, which can cause gout or kidney stones.

- Infection—May decrease your body's ability to fight infections.

- Kidney disease or
- Liver disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

## Related/similar drugs

Venclexta, prednisone, methotrexate, dexamethasone, triamcinolone, Decadron, Keytruda

## Proper use of idarubicin

Medicines used to treat cancer are very strong and can have many side effects. Before receiving idarubicin, make sure you understand all the risks and benefits. It is important for you to work closely with your doctor during your treatment.

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you idarubicin in a hospital or cancer treatment center. Idarubicin is given through a needle placed in one of your veins. The medicine must be injected slowly, so your IV tube will need to stay in place for 10 to 15 minutes every day for 3 days.

Idarubicin is sometimes given together with certain other medicines. If you are receiving a combination of medicines, it is important that you receive each one at the proper time. If you are taking some of these medicines by mouth, ask your doctor to help you plan a way to take them at the right times.

While you are receiving idarubicin, your doctor may want you to drink extra fluids so that you will pass more urine. This will help prevent kidney problems and keep your kidneys working well.

Idarubicin often causes nausea and vomiting. However, it is very important that you continue to receive it, even if you begin to feel ill. Ask your doctor for ways to lessen these effects.

### Missed dose

Idarubicin needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose, call your doctor, home health caregiver, or treatment clinic for instructions.

Detailed Idarubicin dosage information

## Precautions while using idarubicin

It is very important that your doctor check you closely to make sure that idarubicin is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Using idarubicin while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. It may also cause birth defects if the father is using it when his sexual partner becomes pregnant. If you are a woman who can get pregnant, your doctor may do tests to make sure you are not pregnant before starting treatment. Use an effective form of birth control during treatment and for 6 ½ months after the last dose. Males with female partners who are able to become pregnant should use an effective form of birth control during treatment and for at least 3 ½ months after the last dose. If you think you have become pregnant, tell your doctor right away.

Your doctor may monitor your heart while you are getting treatments with idarubicin. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain or discomfort, fast or irregular heartbeat, swelling of the feet and lower legs, or trouble breathing after receiving idarubicin. These may be symptoms of serious heart problems.

Idarubicin can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:

- If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.
- Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine or stools, or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
- Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done.
- Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.
- Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.
- Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.

If idarubicin accidentally seeps out of the vein into which it is injected, it may damage some tissues and cause scarring. Tell your right away if you notice redness, pain, or swelling at the injection site.

While you are being treated with idarubicin, and after you stop treatment with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations) without your doctor's approval. Idarubicin may lower your body's resistance, and there is a chance you might get the infection the immunization is meant to prevent. In addition, other persons living in your household should not take oral polio vaccine since there is a chance they could pass the polio virus on to you. Also, avoid persons who have taken oral polio vaccine. Do not get close to them, and do not stay in the same room with them for very long. If you cannot take these precautions, you should consider wearing a protective face mask that covers the nose and mouth.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

## Idarubicin side effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

- Black, tarry stools
- bleeding gums
- blood in the urine or stools
- chest pain or discomfort
- coughing up blood
- cough or hoarseness
- difficulty with breathing or swallowing
- dizziness
- fainting
- fast or irregular heartbeat
- fever or chills
- increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding
- lower back or side pain
- nosebleeds
- pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
- painful or difficult urination
- paralysis
- pinpoint red spots on the skin
- prolonged bleeding from cuts
- red or dark brown urine
- red or black, tarry stools
- sores in the mouth and on the lips
- sweating
- trouble breathing
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- vomiting

Less common

- Joint pain
- redness, pain, or swelling at the injection site
- swelling of the feet and lower legs

Rare

- Skin rash or hives
- stomach pain (severe)

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

- Cracked lips
- diarrhea
- difficulty in swallowing
- hair loss, thinning of hair
- headache
- nausea and vomiting
- sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips, tongue, or inside the mouth
- stomach cramps

Less common

- Darkening or redness of the skin
- numbness or tingling of the fingers, toes, or face

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Idarubicin side effects (more detail)

## More about idarubicin

- Check interactions
- Pricing & coupons
- Latest FDA alerts (1)
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy
- Drug class: antibiotics/antineoplastics
- En español

### Patient resources

- Drug Information

#### Other brands

Idamycin PFS

### Professional resources

- Prescribing Information

### Related treatment guides

- Acute Myeloid Leukemia
- Leukemia
- Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis
- Solid Tumors

## Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer