Valrubicin-intravesical

Before receiving valrubicin solution,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to valrubicin, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, or idarubicin; any other medications; or any of the ingredients in valrubicin solution. Ask your doctor for a list of the ingredients.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take.
• tell your doctor if you have a urinary tract infection, or if you urinate frequently because you have small bladder. Your doctor will not want you to receive valrubicin solution.
• your doctor will look at your bladder before giving valrubicin solution to see if you have a hole in your bladder or a weak bladder wall. If you have these problems, your treatment will need to wait until your bladder has healed.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or if you plan to father a child. You or your partner should not become pregnant while you are using valrubicin. You should use birth control to prevent pregnancy in yourself or your partner during your treatment with valrubicin. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods that will work for you. If you or your partner become pregnant while using valrubicin, call your doctor.
• do not breastfeed while you are using valrubicin.

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.

Your doctor may ask you to empty your bladder completely before the solution is instilled into it (unless a tube is used to drain the bladder).

Follow your doctor's instructions carefully about how long to hold the solution in your bladder:

• The solution should be held in your bladder for 2 hours. If you think you cannot hold it, tell your health care professional.

It is important that you drink extra fluids after each treatment with valrubicin so that you will pass more urine.

Dosing

The dose of valrubicin will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of valrubicin. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For bladder instillation dosage form (solution):
  • For bladder cancer:
    • Adults—800 milligrams (mg) (75 milliliters [mL]) instilled into the bladder once a week for six weeks.

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.

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:

• Blood in urine
• loss of bladder control
• painful or difficult urination
• red color in urine
• strong urge to urinate
• unusually frequent urination

• Increased urination at night
• local burning sensation

• Frequent urge to defecate
• itching
• loss of sense of taste

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.

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

Notes

Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., biopsy, cystoscopy, urine cytology) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

Missed Dose

For the best possible benefit, it is important to receive each scheduled dose of this medication as directed. If you miss a dose, contact your doctor to establish a new dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage

Not applicable. This medication is given in a hospital or clinic and will not be stored at home.Information last revised July 2016. Copyright(c) 2016 First Databank, Inc.