BCG Live, Intravesical

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antineoplastic (anticancer)

Generic and brand names: BCG live, intravesical; Bacillus of Calmette and Guérin Live; TICE BCG; TheraCys; Pacis

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is used to treat cancer of the bladder in adults. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine, or to rubber latex
• a weakened immune system from diseases such as HIV/AIDS or from cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or steroid medicine
• an organ transplant
• heart valve or joint replacements
• tuberculosis (TB).

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have a fever, a bladder or kidney infection, blood in your urine (orange-red color), or if you are taking any cancer medicines.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How should I use it?

This treatment should be started 7 to 14 days after a biopsy or surgery that has shown the presence of tumors.

Do not drink any liquids for 4 hours before treatment, and empty your bladder before treatment.

A catheter (tube) is inserted into your bladder to drain any urine that is present. Then this medicine is put into your bladder through the same tube.

After you receive this medicine, you will need to lie for 15 minutes each on your back, stomach, and then on each side for a total of 1 hour. You will then be able to sit up, but you should try to keep the medicine in your bladder for another hour. At the end of 2 hours, you will empty your bladder. If you cannot hold the medicine for the full 2 hours, you will be allowed to urinate sooner. Drink plenty of liquid after you urinate.

Because this medicine contains live bacteria, it must be handled carefully. Also, your urine must be disposed of carefully. This is why you will empty your bladder in a sitting position 2 hours after receiving the medicine. You may be asked to add bleach to the toilet when you urinate after the bladder treatment. Follow all instructions your healthcare provider gives you.

You will receive a dose of this medicine in this way once a week for 6 weeks. Then you will probably receive other doses 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months later.

What should I watch out for?

Contact your healthcare provider right away if your symptoms get worse or if they continue after you receive several treatments.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Blood in your urine, fever and chills, painful urination, increased frequency of urination, rapid heart rate, joint pain, cough, rash.

Other: Headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, tiredness.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antibiotics such as ampicillin (Principen, Omnipen), amoxicillin (Amoxil, Augmentin), cefaclor (Ceclor), cephalexin (Keflex, Keftab), cefadroxil (Duricef), loracarbef (Lorabid), cefprozil (Cefzil), cefuroxime (Ceftin), cefixime (Suprax), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gatifloxacin (Tequin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), tetracycline (Sumycin), doxycycline (Vibramycin), erythromycin (E-Mycin, E-Base, Eryc, E.E.S), clarithromycin (Biaxin), and azithromycin (Zithromax)
• arthritis medicines such as methotrexate or azathioprine (Azasan)
• cancer chemotherapy drugs
• corticosteroids such as cortisone (Cortone), betamethasone (Celestone), dexamethasone, fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Meticorten) and triamcinolone (Azmacort)
• immunosuppressants such as cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar) and cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
• radiation therapy.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.