Aldesleukin, Injection al-des-LOO-kin

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antineoplastic (anticancer)

Generic and brand names: aldesleukin, injection; interleukin-2; IL-2; Proleukin

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein) to treat metastatic (spreading) renal cell (kidney) cancer or metastatic melanoma (a type of skin cancer). It may be used for other conditions determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• a weakened immune system from diseases such as HIV/AIDS or from taking immunosuppressant medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection or steroid medicines
• an autoimmune disease such as lupus, scleroderma, or rheumatoid arthritis
• bowel disorders such as Crohn's disease
• diabetes
• heart disease, a heart attack, or an irregular heartbeat
• kidney disease requiring dialysis
• liver disease
• lung disease
• myasthenia gravis
• seizures
• serious skin conditions

Tell your provider if you have any kind of infection or fever.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Infusions are given by your healthcare provider. They are usually given as 15-minute IV infusions every 8 hours for a total of 14 doses. After 9 days without this medicine, another 14 doses are given to complete a 28-dose course. Some doses may not be given, depending on how severe your side effects are. If your response is not complete, another course of injections may be given after 7 weeks.

What should I watch out for?

This is a very strong medicine. Only healthcare providers experienced with this drug should prescribe it. It should only be given in a clinic or hospital where you can be monitored closely. Some side effects can be detected only by tests done regularly during treatment. Your healthcare provider will monitor your condition with these tests.

You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. Also, do not have any vaccines without getting your healthcare provider's approval first.

If you feel unusually tired or sleepy while receiving this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away.

This medicine may make you dizzy or cause confusion. Be careful in everyday activities, and do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert and clearheaded.

Men should use effective birth control because this medicine may affect the sperm and lead to birth defects.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Black tarry or red stools; bloody vomit; unexplained bruising or bleeding; irregular or rapid or slow heartbeat; chest pain; trouble breathing; unexplained swelling; yellowing of your eyes or skin; fever; chills; dizziness; severe tiredness, confusion or irritability; hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there); fainting; peeling skin; sudden weight gain; swelling of the feet and legs.

Other: heartburn, itching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle or joint pain, weakness, sore mouth, trouble sleeping, blurred vision.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• ACE inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril, enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril, lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace)
• alpha blockers such as doxazosin (Cardura) and prazosin (Minipress)
• angiotensin receptor II blockers such as candesartan (Atacand), eprosartan (Teveten), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), olmesartan (Benicar), telmisartan (Micardis), and valsartan (Diovan)
• antianxiety medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), flurazepam, lorazepam (Ativan), oxazepam, temazepam (Restoril), and triazolam (Halcion)
• antibiotics such as amikacin, gentamicin, levofloxacin, and tobramycin
• anticancer medicines such as asparaginase, cisplatin, dacarbazine, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), interferon-alfa, methotrexate, and tamoxifen (Nolvadex
• antihistamines such as cetirizine (Zyrtec), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), fexofenadine (Allegra), and loratadine (Claritin)
• anti-HIV medicines such as delavirdine (Rescriptor), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Invirase), and stavudine (Zerit)
• beta blockers such as acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), pindolol, propranolol (Inderal), and sotalol (Betapace)
• bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban)
• calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, felodipine, isradipine (DynaCirc CR), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia), and verapamil (Calan, Covera-HS, Isoptin SR, Verelan, Tiazac)
• corticosteroids such as betamethasone (Celestone), cortisone, dexamethasone, fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Orapred), prednisone, and triamcinolone (Aristospan, Kenalog)
• live vaccines
• muscle relaxants such as baclofen (Lioresal), carisoprodol (Soma), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), dantrolene Dantrium), methocarbamol (Robaxin), and tizanidine (Zanaflex)
• narcotic pain medicines such as codeine, fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq), hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin), oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone), and oxycodone/acetaminophen (Percocet, Tylox)
• medicine to treat nausea such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), promethazine, and prochlorperazine
• sleeping pills such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), flurazepam, phenobarbital, temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), zaleplon (Sonata), and zolpidem (Ambien)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.