Pentostatin Intravenous

Pentostatin belongs to the group of medicines called antimetabolites. It is used to treat a type of cancer of the white blood cells called hairy cell leukemia. pentostatin may be used in patients with hairy cell leukemia who have already been treated with other medicines (e.g., alpha-interferon) that did not work well.

Pentostatin interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by pentostatin, other effects may also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other effects may not be serious but may cause concern. Some effects may not occur for months or years after the medicine is used.

Before you begin treatment with pentostatin, you and your doctor should talk about the good pentostatin will do as well as the risks of using it.

pentostatin is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For pentostatin, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to pentostatin or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of pentostatin in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of pentostatin in geriatric patients.

Pregnancy

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving pentostatin, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using pentostatin with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Measles Virus Vaccine, Live
• Mumps Virus Vaccine, Live
• Rotavirus Vaccine, Live
• Rubella Virus Vaccine, Live
• Varicella Virus Vaccine

Using pentostatin with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Adenovirus Vaccine
• Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin Vaccine, Live
• Cholera Vaccine, Live
• Cyclophosphamide
• Fludarabine
• Influenza Virus Vaccine, Live
• Nelarabine
• Pegademase Bovine
• Poliovirus Vaccine, Live
• Smallpox Vaccine
• Typhoid Vaccine
• Yellow Fever Vaccine

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of pentostatin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Bone marrow problems (e.g., anemia, neutropenia, or thrombocytopenia) or
• Hypotension (low blood pressure) or
• Pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

• Chickenpox (including recent exposure) or
• Herpes zoster (shingles)—Risk of severe disease affecting other parts of the body.

• Gout, history of or
• Kidney stones, history of—Pentostatin may increase levels of uric acid in the body, which can cause gout or kidney stones.

• Infection—Pentostatin may decrease your body's ability to fight infection.

• Kidney disease—Use with caution. The effects of pentostatin may be increased because of slower removal from the body.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Some side effects will have signs or symptoms that you can see or feel. Your doctor may watch for others by doing certain tests.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

• Cough or hoarseness
• fever or chills
• lower back or side pain
• pain
• painful or difficult urination
• skin rash or itching (sudden)
• unusual tiredness or weakness

• Anxiety or nervousness
• black, tarry stools
• blood in the urine or stools
• changes in vision
• chest pain
• confusion
• cramps in lower legs
• mental depression
• nosebleed
• numbness or tingling of the hands or feet
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• shortness of breath
• sleepiness
• sore, red eyes
• sores in the mouth or on the lips
• stomach pain
• swelling of the feet or lower legs
• trouble with sleeping
• unusual bleeding or bruising

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

• Diarrhea
• headache
• loss of appetite
• muscle pain
• nausea and vomiting
• skin rash

• Back pain
• bloating or gas
• constipation
• dry skin
• general feeling of discomfort or illness
• itching
• joint pain
• weakness
• weight loss

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Pentostatin is used to treat a certain type of cancer (hairy cell leukemia). It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells.

How to use Pentostatin Vial

This medication is given by injection into a vein by a health care professional, usually every other week or as directed by your doctor. Dosage is based on your medical condition, body size, and response to treatment.

To help reduce side effects to the kidneys, your doctor may prescribe IV fluids before and after you receive pentostatin.

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.

Some products that may interact with this drug include: allopurinol, drugs that may decrease bone marrow function (e.g., azathioprine), drugs that may weaken the immune system (e.g., cyclosporine), fludarabine, vidarabine.