Type of medicine: antineoplastic; anthracycline
Generic and brand names: valrubicin, intravesical; Valstar
This medicine is used to treat bladder cancer in people whose cancer has progressed under other treatment and who cannot have surgery. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had allergic reaction to any medicine. Also tell your provider if you currently have a bladder or urinary tract infection.
Men and women of childbearing age should use an effective birth control method during treatment with this medicine.
Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare providers' approval.
The medicine is put into your bladder once a week for 6Â weeks.
A catheter (tube) is inserted into your bladder to drain any urine that is present. Then this medicine is put into your bladder through the same tube. The tube is removed slowly. Then you try to hold the medicine in your bladder for 2Â hours. At the end of 2Â hours, you empty your bladder. If you cannot hold the medicine for the full 2 hours, you will be allowed to urinate sooner.
Drink plenty of water after your treatment with this medicine.
If any of the medicine comes in contact with your skin, wash it immediately with soap and water.
You will need to have tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.
After treatment with this medicine, your urine may be a red color which is different from blood in the urine. This should disappear within 24 hours. If it is still red after 24 hours, contact your healthcare provider.
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received 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; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).
Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Red-colored urine or bladder spasms that last longer than 24 hours after a dose of this medicine; trouble urinating; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness or weakness; chest pain; fever; chills; sore throat.
Other: Cloudy urine, pain when urinating, frequent urge to urinate, increased urination at night, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, back pain, headache, diarrhea, dizziness, itching, rash.
No significant drug interactions have been reported.
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.
Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.
