Type of medicine: antineoplastic (anticancer)
Generic and brand names: cytarabine liposomal, injection; DepoCyt
This medicine is given by injection (shot). It is used to treat lymphomatous meningitis (cancer that affects the spinal cord or brain tissues).
Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.
This medicine is given by healthcare providers experienced in providing chemotherapy. It is given by injection (shots) directly into the fluid around your spinal cord. After each shot you must lie flat for 1 hour. You may have these shots regularly for several months.
Your healthcare provider will prescribe another medicine, dexamethasone, to be taken by mouth to reduce the risk of serious side effects of this medicine. Take it exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes.
This is strong medicine that may cause inflammation of the membranes around the brain or spinal cord. Its main symptoms are nausea, vomiting, neck pain or stiffness, headache, and fever. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have these symptoms.
This medicine usually affects your bone marrow and your blood cells, depending on how much medicine you receive. Your healthcare provider will want you to have blood tests often to detect any problems. Keep all your appointments for blood tests.
This medicine may make you drowsy or lightheaded. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.
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 need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are receiving this medicine.
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), seizures, numbness or weakness on one side of your body.
Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Stiff neck, neck pain, change in the way you walk, nausea, vomiting, headache, fever, unusual weakness or tiredness, shortness of breath, lightheadedness or fainting, back pain, unusual bruising or bleeding, swelling of hands or feet, vision changes, numbness or tingling in hands or feet, unable to think clearly or memory problems.
Other: Confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, constipation.
No significant drug interactions have been reported. However, do not have any vaccinations with live virus vaccines unless your healthcare provider approves.
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.
