Liposomal-doxorubicin Injectable Solution

Doxorubicin is an injected drug that’s used to treat ovarian cancer, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related Kaposi’s sarcoma, and multiple myeloma.

This drug comes in the form of an injectable suspension. It’s infused into your vein by a healthcare provider.

Doxorubicin liposome is available as the brand-name drug Doxil. It’s also available as a generic drug.

The more common side effects of this drug include tiredness, weakness or lack of energy, nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, or fever.

In some cases, doxorubicin liposome can cause serious side effects. These include heart failure or other heart problems and serious reactions caused by the infusion.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• FDA warning See Details

• Risk of hand-foot syndrome See Details

• Pregnancy warning See Details

• Secondary cancers See Details

Drug features

Doxorubicin liposome is a prescription drug. It’s available in an intravenous (IV) form. It can be infused only by a healthcare provider who has experience giving chemotherapy drugs. You must go to a clinic or hospital to receive this drug. You won’t be able administer this drug at home.

Doxorubicin liposome is available as a brand-name drug called Doxil. It’s also available as a generic drug.

Doxorubicin liposome may be used as part of a combination therapy. This means you may need to take it with other medications.

Why it's used

Doxorubicin liposome is used to treat three types of cancer:

• Multiple myeloma. For this condition, this drug is used in combination with another drug called bortezomib. It’s prescribed for people who have tried at least one other cancer treatment that hasn’t worked.
• Ovarian cancer. For this condition, this drug is used after a treatment called platinum-based chemotherapy hasn’t worked.
• AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma. For this condition, this drug is used after other types of chemotherapy haven’t worked.

How it works

Doxorubicin liposome belongs to a class of drugs called anthracyclines. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions.

Doxorubicin liposome prevents cancer cells from forming or growing properly. This leads to the destruction of the cancer cells.

Most Common Side Effects

The more common side effects of doxorubicin liposome can include:

• tiredness

• weakness or lack of energy

• fever

• loss of appetite

• nausea

• vomiting

• mouth sores

• diarrhea

• constipation

• rash

• hand-foot syndrome (skind damage to the hands and feet)

If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious Side Effects

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 9-1-1 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:

• Heart problems. These can include:

  • angina, with symptoms that can include:
    • chest pain
  • arrhythmias (heart rhythm problems), with symptoms that can include:
    • increased heart rate
    • feeling like your heart is skipping a beat
  • heart failure, with symptoms that can include:
    • shortness of breath
    • unusual swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet
    • weight gain
    • tiredness

• Infusion-related reactions. Symptoms can include:

  • flushing (sudden redness and warmth in your face)
  • shortness of breath, or stopping breathing for a short time
  • low blood pressure, with symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
  • swelling of your face
  • headache
  • chills
  • back pain
  • chest or throat tightness
  • rapid heart rate
  • itching
  • rash

• More frequent or long-lasting infections, caused by a low level of white blood cells. Symptoms can include:

  • fever
  • cold symptoms that don’t go away, such as a runny nose or sore throat
  • flu symptoms, such as cough, tiredness, or body aches
  • pain during urination
  • white patches in the mouth or throat

• Anemia, caused by a low level of red blood cells. Symptoms can include:

  • pale skin
  • extreme tiredness
  • feeling lightheaded
  • fast heartbeat

• Bleeding, caused by a low level of platelets (cells that help your blood to clot). Symptoms can include:

  • unexplained bruising
  • unexpected bleeding, or bleeding that lasts a long time, such as:
    • unusual bleeding from your gums
    • frequent nosebleeds
    • menstrual bleeding that’s heavier than normal
  • coughing up blood
  • vomiting blood, or having vomit that looks like coffee grounds
  • bloody urine
  • dark or bloody stools
  • headaches
  • weakness
  • dizziness

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare provider who knows your medical history.

Doxorubicin liposome can interact with other medications, herbs, or vitamins you might be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. Your healthcare provider will look out for interactions with your current medications. Always be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, herbs, or vitamins you’re taking.

Food interactions

Avoid drinking grapefruit juice and eating grapefruit on the days you receive your infusion of doxorubicin liposome. Also avoid grapefruit for 2–3 days after each infusion. Grapefruit can cause you to have too much doxorubicin liposome in your body. This raises your risk of side effects.

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking. Drug warnings

People with heart disease

Doxorubicin liposome raises your risk of heart damage. Your doctor will only give you this drug if its benefits to you could be greater than the risks.

People with liver problems

If you have liver problems or a history of liver disease, you may have trouble clearing this drug from your body. This can cause increased levels of the drug in your body, which can lead to more side effects.

Pregnant women

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t assigned a pregnancy category to this drug. Results from studies conducted in animals suggest that doxorubicin liposome can cause serious harm to a growing fetus.

Tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This drug should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Both males and females receiving this drug should use effective birth control if there is a possibility of pregnancy. You should continue to use effective birth control for 6 months after your treatment with this drug has ended.

Women who are breast-feeding

This drug may pass into breast milk and cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Talk to your doctor if you breastfeed your child. It is recommended to stop breastfeeding while receiving this drug.

For seniors

The liver of older adults may not work as well as it used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.

For children

This medication has not been studied in children. It should not be used in people younger than 18 years.

When to call the doctor

Call your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking this drug.

Allergies

Doxorubicin liposome can cause a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms can include:

• trouble breathing
• swelling of your throat or tongue

If you have an allergic reaction, call your doctor or local poison control center right away. If your symptoms are severe, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Taking this drug again if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it could be fatal (cause death). Be sure to tell your doctor if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to this drug.

Your doctor will determine a dosage that’s right for you based on your individual needs. Your general health may affect your dosage. Tell your doctor about all health conditions you have before your healthcare provider administers the drug to you.

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always to speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Important considerations for taking this drug

You will receive cycles of treatment with doxorubicin liposome

See Details

How long does it take?

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Can I drive home after?

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Travel

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Clinical monitoring

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Insurance

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Show Sources

• Doxil - doxorubicin hydrochloride injection, suspension, liposomal. (2015, February). Retrieved from: http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=21d9c619-7e94-49e2-ac41-31e9ea96554a.

Content developed in collaboration with University of Illinois-Chicago, Drug Information Group

Medically reviewed by Creighton University, Center for Drug Information and Evidence-Based Practice on January 29, 2016

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.