Eribulin, Injection er-ih-BYOO-lin

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antineoplastic (anticancer)

Generic and brand names: eribulin, injection; Halaven

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein) to treat people with breast cancer:

• that has spread to other parts of their body, and
• who have already received certain types of anticancer medicines after their breast cancer has spread.

It may be used for other conditions as 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, food, preservative, or dye
• heart disease or heart failure
• kidney or liver problems
• long QT syndrome (problems with electrical activity in the heart muscle)
• peripheral neuropathy (burning, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet)
• problems with low potassium or magnesium levels in your blood

Tell your provider if you have recently had chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Also tell your provider if you have any kind of infection.

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.

How do I use it?

You may be given these infusions in your healthcare provider's office or at a clinic. This medicine is usually given in cycles, with each cycle lasting 21 days. You will usually receive he medicine 1 time per week for 2 weeks in a row (on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle). Keep all appointments.

Your healthcare provider will adjust your dose or change how often you receive it, based on how this medicine affects you.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may lower the number of white blood cells in your body. As a result, you may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have any signs of infection, such as fever, chills, cough, or burning or pain when you urinate. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. Also, do not have any vaccines without getting your healthcare provider's approval first.

This medicine can cause changes in your heartbeat. If you notice an irregular or rapid heartbeat or if you faint, contact your healthcare provider right away.

You may have numbness, tingling, or burning in the hands or feet while receiving this medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms. Your dose may need to be decreased or treatment stopped until your symptoms get better. This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking 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): Numbness, tingling, or burning in the hands or feet; swelling of the feet, ankles, or legs, or any unexplained swelling; unexplained fever, chills, or cough; chest pain; fast or irregular heartbeat; fainting; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness or weakness; burning or pain with urination.

Other: Diarrhea; constipation; nausea; vomiting; stomach pain; loss of appetite; dizziness; tiredness; rash; joint and muscle pain; hair loss; headache; back pain; change in sense of taste; trouble sleeping.

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:

• antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (Erythrocin, E.E.S.), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), and pentamidine (NebuPent)
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline, doxepin, fluoxetine (Prozac), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft)
• antipsychotic medicines such as chlorpromazine, haloperidol (Haldol), pimozide (Orap), thioridazine, and ziprasidone (Geodon)
• arsenic trioxide (Trisenox)
• heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), disopyramide (Norpace), dofetilide (Tikosyn), flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rythmol), procainamide, quinidine, and sotalol (Betapace)
• methadone (Dolophine, Methadose)

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.