Oxaliplatin 5 Mg/Ml Powder For Solution For Infusion
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER OXALIPLATIN 5MG/ML POWDER FOR SOLUTION FOR INFUSION
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, your pharmacist or nurse.
• If you get any side effects, talk to you doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet
1. What oxaliplatin is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you use oxaliplatin
3. How to use oxaliplatin
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store oxaliplatin
6. Contents of the pack and other information
The name of this medicine is Oxaliplatin 5mg/ml powder for solution for infusion (referred to as oxaliplatin throughout this leaflet).
1. WHAT OXALIPLATIN IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
The active ingredient of Oxaliplatin 5mg/ml powder for solution for infusion is oxaliplatin.
Oxaliplatin is used to treat cancer of the large bowel (treatment of stage III colon cancer after complete resection of primary tumour, metastatic cancer of colon and rectum). Oxaliplatin is used in combination with other anticancer medicines called 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid.
Oxaliplatin has to be dissolved and made into a solution before it can be injected into a vein. Oxaliplatin is an antineoplastic or anticancer drug and contains platinum.
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU USE OXALIPLATIN Do not use oxaliplatin if:
• You are allergic to oxaliplatin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• You are breast-feeding.
• You already have a reduced number of blood cells.
• You already have tingling and numbness in the fingers and/or toes, and have difficulty performing delicate tasks, such as buttoning clothes.
• You have severe kidney problems.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking oxaliplatin
• if you have ever suffered an allergic reaction to platinum-containing medicines such as carboplatin, cisplatin. Allergic reactions can occur during any oxaliplatin infusion.
• if you have moderate or mild kidney problems.
• if you have any liver problems or abnormal liver function test results during your treatment.
• if you have or had heart disorders such as an abnormal electrical signal called prolongation of the QT interval, an irregular heartbeat, or a family history of heart problems.
If any of the following applies to you at any time, tell your doctor immediately. Your doctor may
need to treat you for these events. Your doctor may need to reduce the dose of oxaliplatin, or delay or
stop your treatment with oxaliplatin.
• If you have an unpleasant sensation in the throat, in particular when swallowing, and have a sensation of shortness of breath, during the treatment, tell your doctor.
• If you have nerve problems in your hands or feet, such as numbness or tingling, or decreased sensations in your hands or feet, tell your doctor.
• If you have headache, altered mental functioning, seizures and abnormal vision from blurriness to vision loss, tell your doctor.
• If you feel or are sick (nausea or vomiting), tell your doctor.
• If you have severe diarrhoea, tell your doctor.
• If you have sore lips or mouth ulcers (mucositis/stomatitis), tell your doctor.
• If you have diarrhoea, or a reduction in white blood cells or platelets, tell your doctor. Your doctor may reduce the dose of oxaliplatin or postpone your treatment with oxaliplatin.
• If you have unexplained respiratory symptoms such as cough, or any difficulties in breathing, tell your doctor. Your doctor may stop your treatment with oxaliplatin.
• If you develop an extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, or kidney disease where you pass little or no urine (symptoms of acute renal failure), tell your doctor.
• If you have fever (temperature greater than or equal to 38°C), or chills, which could be signs of infection, tell your doctor immediately. You may be at risk of getting an infection of the blood.
• If you have fever > 38°C, tell your doctor. Your doctor may determine you also have a reduction in white blood cells.
• If you experience unexpected bleeding or bruising (disseminated intravascular coagulation), tell your doctor as these could be signs of blood clots throughout the small vessels of your body.
• If you faint (lose consciousness) or have an irregular heartbeat while taking oxaliplatin, tell your doctor immediately as this may be a sign of a serious heart condition.
• If you experience muscle pain and swelling, in combination with weakness, fever, or red-brown urine, tell your doctor. These could be signs of muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis) and could lead to kidney problems or other complications.
• If you have abdominal pain, nausea, bloody vomit or vomit that looks like “coffee-grounds”, or dark-coloured/ tarry stools, which may be signs of an ulcer of the bowel (gastrointestinal ulcer, with potential bleeding or perforation), tell your doctor.
• If you have abdominal (tummy) pain, bloody diarrhoea, and nausea and/or vomiting, which may be caused by a reduction of blood flow to your gut wall (intestinal ischaemia), tell your doctor.
Other medicines and oxaliplatin
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other
medicines.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
Pregnancy
• It is not recommended that you become pregnant during treatment with oxaliplatin and must use an effective method of contraception. Female patients should take appropriate contraceptive measures during and after cessation of therapy continuing for 4 months.
• If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy it is very important that you discuss this with your doctor before you receive any treatment.
• If you get pregnant during your treatment, you must immediately inform your doctor.
Breast-feeding
• You must not breast-feed while you are treated with oxaliplatin.
Fertility
• Oxaliplatin may have an anti-fertility effect, which could be irreversible. Male patients should seek advice on conservation of sperm prior to treatment.
• Male patients are advised not to father a child during treatment and until 6 months after treatment, and to take appropriate contraceptive measures during this time.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
Oxaliplatin treatment may result in an increased risk of dizziness, nausea and vomiting, and other neurological symptoms that affect walking and balance. If this happens you should not drive or operate machinery. If you have vision problems while taking oxaliplatin, do not drive, use heavy machines, or engage in dangerous activities.
3. HOW TO USE OXALIPLATIN
Oxaliplatin is intended only for adults.
For single use only.
Dose
The dose of oxaliplatin is based on your body surface area. This is calculated from your height and weight.
The usual dose for adults including the elderly is 85mg/m2 of body surface area. The dose you receive will also depend on results of blood tests and whether you have previously experienced side effects with oxaliplatin.
Method and route of administration
• Oxaliplatin will be prescribed for you by a specialist in cancer treatment.
• You will be treated by a healthcare professional, who will have made up the required dose of oxaliplatin.
• Oxaliplatin is given by slow injection into one of your veins (an intravenous infusion) over a 2 to 6 hour period.
• Oxaliplatin will be given to you at the same time as folinic acid and before the infusion of 5-fluorouracil.
Frequency of administration
You should usually receive your infusion once every 2 weeks.
Duration of treatment
The duration of the treatment will be determined by your doctor.
Your treatment will last a maximum of 6 months when used after complete resection of your tumour. If you use more oxaliplatin than you should
As this medicine is administered by a healthcare professional it is highly unlikely that you will be given too much or too little.
In case of overdose, you may experience increased side effects. Your doctor may give you appropriate treatment for these side effects.
If you have any questions about your treatment, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you experience any side effect it is important that you inform your doctor before your next treatment.
You will find described below the side effects that you could experience.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
• Symptoms of an allergic or anaphylactic reaction with sudden signs such as rash, itching or hives on the skin, difficulties in swallowing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing, extreme tiredness (you may feel you are going to faint),
• Abnormal bruising, bleeding, or signs of infection such as a sore throat and high temperature,
• Persistent or severe diarrhoea or vomiting,
• Presence of blood or dark brown coffee-coloured particles in your vomit,
• Stomatitis/mucositis (sore lips or mouth ulcers),
• Unexplained respiratory symptoms such as dry cough, difficulties in breathing or crackles,
• A group of symptoms such as headache, altered mental functioning, seizures and abnormal vision from blurriness to vision loss (symptoms of reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome, a rare neurological disorder)
• Extreme tiredness with decreased number of red blood cells, and shortness of breath (haemolytic anaemia), alone or combined with low platelet count, abnormal bruising (thrombocytopenia) and kidney disease where you pass little or no urine (symptoms of Haemolytic-uraemic syndrome).
Other known side effects of oxaliplatin are:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
• Oxaliplatin can affect the nerves (peripheral neuropathy). You may feel a tingling and/or numbness in the fingers, toes, around the mouth or in the throat, which may sometimes occur in association with cramps.
These effects are often triggered by exposure to cold e.g. opening a refrigerator or holding a cold drink. You may also have difficulty in performing delicate tasks, such as buttoning clothes. Although in the majority of cases these symptoms resolve themselves completely, there is a possibility of persistent symptoms of peripheral sensory neuropathy after the end of the treatment.
Some people have experienced a tingling, shock-like sensation passing down the arms or trunk when the neck is flexed.
• Oxaliplatin can sometimes cause an unpleasant sensation in the throat, in particular when swallowing, and give the sensation of shortness of breath. This sensation, if it happens, usually occurs during or within hours of the infusion and may be triggered by exposure to the cold. Although unpleasant, it will not last long and goes away without the need for any treatment.
Your doctor may decide to alter your treatment as a result.
• Oxaliplatin may cause diarrhoea, mild nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (being sick); however medication to prevent the sickness is usually given to you by your doctor before treatment and may be continued after treatment.
• Oxaliplatin causes temporary reduction in the number of blood cells. The reduction of red cells may cause anaemia (a reduction of red cells), abnormal bleeding or bruising (due to a reduction in platelets). The reduction in white blood cells may make you prone to infections.
Your doctor will take blood to check that you have sufficient blood cells before you start treatment and before each subsequent course.
• Sensation of discomfort close to or at the injection site during the infusion,
• Fever, rigors (tremors), mild or severe tiredness, body pain,
• Weight changes, loss or lack of appetite, taste disorders, constipation,
• Headache, back pain,
• Swelling of the nerves to your muscles, neck stiffness, abnormal tongue sensation possibly altering speech, stomatitis/mucositis (sore lips or mouth ulcers),
• Stomach pain,
• Abnormal bleeding including nose bleeds,
• Coughing, difficulty in breathing,
• Allergic reactions, skin rash which may be red and itchy, mild hair loss (alopecia),
• Alteration in blood tests including those relating to abnormalities in liver function.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
• Infection due to a reduction in white blood cells,
• Serious infection of the blood in addition to a reduction in white blood cells (neutropenic sepsis), which may be fatal,
• Reduction in white blood cells accompanied by fever > 38.3°C or a prolonged fever > 38°C for more than one hour (febrile neutropenia),
• Indigestion and heart burn, hiccups, flushing, dizziness,
• Increased sweating and nail disorders, flaking skin,
• Chest pain,
• Lung disorders and runny nose,
• Joint pain and bone pain,
• Pain on passing urine and changes in kidney function, changes of frequency of urination, dehydration,
• Blood in the urine/stools, swelling of the veins, clots in the lung,
• High blood pressure,
• Depression and insomnia,
• Conjunctivitis and visual problems.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
• Serious infection of the blood (sepsis), which may be fatal,
• Blockage or swelling of the bowel,
• Nervousness.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
• Loss of hearing,
• Scarring and thickening in the lungs with difficulties in breathing, sometimes fatal (interstitial lung disease),
• Reversible short-term loss of vision,
• Unexpected bleeding or bruising due to widespread blood clots throughout the small blood vessels of the body (disseminated intravascular coagulation), which may be fatal.
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000)
• Presence of blood or dark brown coffee-coloured particles in your vomit,
• Kidney disease where you pass little or no urine (symptoms of acute renal failure).
• Vascular disorders of liver
Frequency not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
• Serious infection of the blood and low blood pressure (septic shock), which may be fatal,
• Convulsion (uncontrolled shaking of the body),
• Spasm of the throat causing difficulty in breathing,
• Extreme tiredness with decreased number of red blood cells, and shortness of breath (haemolytic anaemia), alone or combined with low platelet count and kidney disease where you pass little or no urine (symptoms of Haemolytic-uraemic syndrome), which may be fatal, have been reported,
• Abnormal heart rhythm (QT prolongation), that can be seen on electrocardiogram (ECG), which may be fatal,
• Muscle pain and swelling, in combination with weakness, fever, or red-brown urine (symptoms of muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis), which may be fatal,
• Abdominal pain, nausea, bloody vomit or vomit that looks like "coffee grounds”, or dark-coloured/ tarry stools (symptoms of gastrointestinal ulcer, with potential bleeding or perforation), which may be fatal,
• Decreased blood flow to the intestine/bowel (intestinal ischaemia), which may be fatal.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. HOW TO STORE OXALIPLATIN
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Prior to mixing this medicine does not require any special storage conditions.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the outer pack and vial label. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month.
Oxaliplatin should not come into contact with the eyes or skin. If there is any accidental spillage, tell the doctor or nurse immediately.
When the infusion has finished, oxaliplatin will be disposed of carefully by the doctor or nurse.
6. CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION What oxaliplatin contains
The active substance is oxaliplatin. Each vial contains 20mg, 50mg or 100mg of oxaliplatin (final printed leaflet to include only marketed pack sizes).
The other ingredient is lactose monohydrate.
What oxaliplatin looks like and contents of the pack
Oxaliplatin vials contain a white powder for solution for infusion. Each vial contains 20mg, 50mg or 100mg oxaliplatin with lactose monohydrate (final printed leaflet to include only marketed pack sizes). The vials are supplied in cartons of one vial.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Zentiva, One Onslow Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4YS, UK Manufacturer
CENEXI-Laboratoires Thissen S.A Rue de la Papyree 2-6 B-1420 Braine l’Alleud Belgium or
Aventis Pharma Ltd Rainham Road South Dagenham, Essex RM10 7XS United Kingdom or
Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH Industriepark Hochst 65926 Frankfurt am Main Germany
This medicinal product is authorised in the Member States of the EEA under the following names:
France: ELOXATIN 5 MG/ML, poudre pour solution pour perfusion
Italy: Eloxatin 5 mg/ml polvere per soluzione per infusione
United Kingdom: Oxaliplatin 5mg/ml powder for solution for infusion
(Final printed leaflet to include the product name of the concerned country only).
This leaflet was last revised in: June 2015 Other source of information
Detailed information on this medicine is available on the web site of: {UK/MHRA}
The following information is intended for medical or healthcare professionals only
PREPARATION GUIDE FOR USE WITH OXALIPLATIN 5MG/ML POWDER FOR
SOLUTION FOR INFUSION
It is important that you read the entire contents of this procedure prior to the preparation of either the oxaliplatin reconstituted solution or the oxaliplatin solution for infusion
1. FORMULATION
Oxaliplatin 5 mg/ml powder for solution for infusion is a white to off-white cake or powder for solution for infusion containing 5 mg/ml oxaliplatin in lactose monohydrate.
2. PRESENTATION
Oxaliplatin is supplied as single-dose vials. Each box contains one oxaliplatin vial (20 mg or 50 mg or 100 mg).
The oxaliplatin 24 ml vial is a Type I clear glass of 20 mg oxaliplatin powder with chlorobutyl elastomer stopper.
The oxaliplatin 36 ml vial Type I clear glass of 50 mg oxaliplatin powder with chlorobutyl elastomer stopper.
The oxaliplatin 50 ml vial is a Type I clear glass of 100 mg oxaliplatin powder with chlorobutyl elastomer stopper.
Oxaliplatin as packaged for sale:
This medicine does not require any special storage conditions Reconstituted solution in the original vial:
From a microbiological and chemical point of view, the reconstituted solution should be diluted immediately in glucose 5 % (50 mg/ml) solution.
Solution for infusion:
After dilution of the reconstituted solution in glucose 5 % (50 mg/ml) solution, chemical and physical in-use stability has been demonstrated for 24 hours at 2 °C to 8 °C.
From a microbiological point of view, the infusion preparation should be used immediately.
If not used immediately, in-use storage times and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user and would normally not be longer than 24 hours at 2 °C to 8 °C unless dilution has taken place in controlled and validated aseptic conditions.
Inspect visually prior to use. Only clear solutions without particles should be used.
The medicine is for single use only. Any unused solution should be discarded.
3. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE SAFE HANDLING
As with other potentially toxic compounds, caution should be exercised when handling and preparing oxaliplatin solutions.
Instructions for Handling
The handling of this cytotoxic agent by healthcare personnel requires every precaution to guarantee the protection of the handler and his surroundings.
The preparation of injectable solutions of cytotoxic agents must be carried out by trained specialist personnel with knowledge of the medicines used, in conditions that guarantee the integrity of the product, the protection of the environment and in particular the protection of the personnel handling the medicines, in accordance with the hospital policy. It requires a preparation area reserved for this purpose. It is forbidden to smoke, eat or drink in this area.
Personnel must be provided with appropriate handling materials, notably long sleeved gowns, protection masks, caps, protective goggles, sterile single-use gloves, protective covers for the work area, containers and collection bags for waste.
Excreta and vomit must be handled with care.
Pregnant women must be warned to avoid handling cytotoxic agents.
Any broken container must be treated with the same precautions and considered as contaminated waste. Contaminated waste should be incinerated in suitably labelled rigid containers. See below chapter “Disposal”.
If oxaliplatin powder, reconstituted solution or solution for infusion, should come into contact with skin, wash immediately and thoroughly with water.
If oxaliplatin powder, reconstituted solution or solution for infusion, should come into contact with mucous membranes, wash immediately and thoroughly with water.
4. PREPARATION FOR THE INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION
Special precautions for administration
• DO NOT use injection equipment containing aluminium.
• DO NOT administer undiluted.
• Only glucose 5 % (50 mg/ml) infusion solution is to be used as a diluent. DO NOT reconstitute or dilute for infusion with sodium chloride or chloride containing solutions.
• DO NOT mix with any other medicines in the same infusion bag or administer simultaneously by the same infusion line.
• DO NOT mix with alkaline medicines or solutions, in particular 5 fluorouracil, folinic acid preparations containing trometamol as an excipient and trometamol salts of others active substances. Alkaline medicines or solutions will adversely affect the stability of oxaliplatin.
Instruction for use with folinic acid (as calcium folinate or disodium folinate)
Oxaliplatin 85mg/m2 intravenous infusion in 250 to 500 ml of glucose 5% (50 mg/ml) solution is given at the same time as folinic acid intravenous infusion in glucose 5% (50 mg/ml) solution, over 2 to 6 hours, using a Y-line placed immediately before the site of infusion. These two medicines should not be combined in the same infusion bag. Folinic acid must not contain trometamol as an excipient and must only be diluted using isotonic glucose 5% (50 mg/ml) solution, never in alkaline solutions or sodium chloride or chloride containing solutions.
Instruction for use with 5fluorouracil
Oxaliplatin should always be administered before fluoropyrimidines - i.e. 5fluorouracil. After oxaliplatin administration, flush the line and then administer 5fluorouracil.
For additional information on medicines combined with oxaliplatin, see the corresponding manufacturer’s summary of product characteristics.
- USE ONLY the recommended solvents (see below).
- Any reconstituted solution that shows evidence of precipitation should not be used and should be destroyed with due regard to legal requirements for disposal of hazardous waste (see below).
4.1 Preparation of the oxaliplatin reconstituted solution (5mg oxaliplatin/ml)
- Water for injections or glucose 5 % (50 mg/ml) solution should be used to reconstitute the solution.
- For a vial of 20 mg: add 4 ml of solvent to obtain a concentration of 5 mg oxaliplatin/ml.
- For a vial of 50 mg: add 10 ml of solvent to obtain a concentration of 5 mg oxaliplatin/ml.
- For a vial of 100 mg: add 20 ml of solvent to obtain a concentration of 5 mg oxaliplatin/ml.
From a microbiological and chemical point of view, the reconstituted solution should be diluted immediately with glucose 5 % (50 mg/ml) solution.
Inspect visually prior to use. Only clear solutions without particles should be used.
The medicine is for single use only. Any unused solution should be discarded.
4.2 Preparation of the infusion solution
Withdraw the required amount of reconstituted solution from the vial(s) and then dilute with 250 ml to 500 ml of a glucose 5% (50 mg/ml) solution to give an oxaliplatin concentration between not less than 0.2 mg/ml and 0.7 mg/ml. The concentration range over which the physico-chemical stability of oxaliplatin has been demonstrated is 0.2 mg/ml to 2.0 mg/ml.
Administer by intravenous infusion.
After dilution in glucose 5% (50 mg/ml) solution, chemical and physical in-use stability has been demonstrated for 24 hours at 2°C to 8°C.
From a microbiological point of view, this infusion preparation should be used immediately.
If not used immediately, in-use storage times and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user and would normally not be longer than 24 hours at 2°C to 8°C unless dilution has taken place in controlled and validated aseptic conditions.
Inspect visually prior to use. Only clear solutions without particles should be used.
The medicinal product is for single use only. Any unused infusion solution should be discarded (see chapter “disposal” below).
NEVER use sodium chloride or chloride containing solutions for either reconstitution or dilution.
The compatibility of oxaliplatin solution for infusion has been tested with representative, PVC-based, administration sets.
4.3 Infusion of the solution
The administration of oxaliplatin does not require prehydration.
Oxaliplatin diluted in 250 to 500ml of a glucose 5% (50 mg/ml) solution to give a concentration not less than 0.2mg/ml must be infused either by peripheral vein or central venous line over 2 to 6 hours. When oxaliplatin is administered with 5-fluorouracil, the oxaliplatin infusion must precede the administration of 5 fluorouracil.
4.4 Disposal
Remnants of the medicinal product as well as all materials that have been used for reconstitution, for dilution and administration must be destroyed according to hospital standard procedures applicable to cytotoxic agents in accordance with local requirements related to the disposal of hazardous waste.
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