|
| Pronunciation |
|
 (beks
AR oh
teen) |
|
|
| Brand Names |
|
| Targretin® |
|
|
| Therapeutic
Categories |
|
|
Antineoplastic Agent, Miscellaneous |
|
|
| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Do not take if you are pregnant. This medicine can cause birth
defects.
|
|
|
| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
|
- If you have an allergy to bexarotene or any other part of the
medicine.
- If you are pregnant or
breast-feeding.
|
|
|
| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
- This medicine is used to treat a certain type of cancer called
lymphoma.
- There is a gel used to treat skin problems from cutaneous T-cell
lymphoma. It may take up to a year to see the full effects. Some patients
respond as early as 4 weeks.
|
|
|
| How does it work? |
|
|
- Bexarotene prevents the growth of certain types of cancers and may
help certain growths shrink in size.
- The gel's exact action in treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is
unknown.
|
|
|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- Take with a meal. This helps more of the medicine get into your
system.
- Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
- This medicine must be taken exactly as directed. If you have any
question check with your healthcare provider.
- Swallow capsule whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
- Take at a similar time everyday.
- The gel is used on the skin only. Start using every other day for the
first week. It is increased weekly depending on how you tolerate the gel.
- Do not take by mouth. Keep out of mouth, nose, and eyes (may burn).
- Wash hands before and after use.
- Allow gel to dry before covering with clothing.
- Avoid applying to normal skin.
- Do not cover with dressings.
- If you apply after bathing then wait 20 minutes before
applying.
|
|
|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
|
|
|
| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Do not take extra vitamin A (in a vitamin pill) if taking the oral
medicine unless you ask your healthcare provider. Bexarotene is a type of
vitamin A. Too much vitamin A can cause liver problems. If using the gel then
you can take 4000 to 5000 units of vitamin A orally.
- Use caution if you have liver disease. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Use caution if you have diabetes. Talk with healthcare provider. Keep
hard candies, liquid glucose, or milk on hand for low blood sugars.
- Tell healthcare provider if you have high cholesterol or lipids or if
you are on a lipid or cholesterol lowering agent. This medicine usually causes
an increase in cholesterol and triglycerides.
- You can burn. Avoid lots of sun. Use sunscreen; wear protective
clothing and eyewear.
- Avoid aspirin, aspirin-containing products, ibuprofen or like
products, other blood thinners (warfarin, ticlopidine, clopidogrel), garlic,
ginseng, ginkgo, vitamin E.
- If using the gel, do not use insect repellents containing DEET.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Do not use in pregnancy and do not get pregnant. Use 2 forms of birth
control that you can trust. Start birth control one month before, use during,
and for at least one month after stopping medicine.
- If you are male and sexually active, protect your partner from
pregnancy. Use a condom. Use during treatment and for 1 month after treatment.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
|
|
|
| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may help. Avoid aspirin-containing
products.
- Risk of infection. Avoid crowds and people with infections, colds, or
flu.
- High cholesterol and/or triglycerides.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Belly pain and diarrhea.
- Hair loss. Hair usually grows back when medicine is stopped.
- Weakness.
- Rash, dry skin.
- Swelling of the feet and hands.
- Side effects of the gel include redness, burning, irritation of the
area.
|
|
|
| What should I monitor? |
|
|
- Watch for change in temperature or worsening of infection.
- If you are diabetic, check blood sugar as ordered by healthcare
provider. Check blood work (lipid panel, liver function, complete blood count,
thyroid function). Talk with healthcare provider.
- Must get a pregnancy test within 1 week before you start therapy and
monthly while using medicine.
- Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare
provider.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
|
|
|
| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat.
- Fever and/or chills. Other signs of infection.
- Severe headache.
- Severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Severe belly pain, feeling tired, dark urine, yellow eyes/skin, not
hungry. Unusual bruising or bleeding.
- Any rash.
- For the gel, severe rash, itching, irritation and
redness.
|
|
|
| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
- Store in tight, light-resistant container at room temperature. Avoid
high temperatures and humidity.
|
|
|
| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
|
|
|
Copyright © 1978-2001 Lexi-Comp Inc. All Rights Reserved
|
|
|
|
The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information provided here with a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or other authorized healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage, precautions, warnings, interactions, and contraindications before administering any drug, herb, or supplement discussed herein.
|
![[Subscribe to Newsletter]](http://www.healthandage.org/images/tonews.gif){kind=small}
Alternative Medicine
