Etoposide can cause a decrease in the number of blood cells in your bone marrow. Your doctor will order tests before, during, and after your treatment to see if your blood cells are affected by this drug.
Your doctor has ordered the drug etoposide to help treat your illness. The drug can be taken by mouth with capsules or by injection into a vein.
testicular cancer
lung cancer
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Etoposide is in a class of drugs known as podophyllotoxin derivatives; it slows or stops the growth of cancer cells in your body. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of cancer you have.
Etoposide also is used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, mycosis fungoides, Hodgkin's disease, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, Wilms' tumor, neuroblastoma, Kaposi's sarcoma related to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), gestational trophoblastic tumors, ovarian germ-cell tumors, hepatoma, Ewing's sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, brain tumors, and refractory advanced breast cancer. High doses of etoposide along with other chemotherapy drugs have been used with autologous bone marrow transplant for refractory advanced malignant neoplasms. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.
nausea and vomiting
loss of appetite
constipation
diarrhea
stomach pain
changes in taste
thinned or brittle hair
fatigue
mouth blistering
unusual bruising or bleeding
dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling of faintness
pain at the injection site
persistent diarrhea or any change in normal bowel habits for more than 2 days
fever
chills
sore throat
shortness of breath
breathing discomfort
rash
itching
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].
Keep etoposide in the container it came in and out of reach of children. Store it in the refrigerator. Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
Last Reviewed - 04/01/2012
AHFS® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2012. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.