Idarubicin, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antineoplastic (anticancer); chemotherapy

Generic and brand names: idarubicin, injection; IDR; Idamycin

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein) to treat:

• acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

It may be used alone or with other anticancer medicines.

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
• gout
• heart problems
• kidney or liver disease
• previous doxorubicin, daunorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin or radiation (X-ray) therapy.

This medicine may make you sterile (unable to have children) whether you are a man or a woman. If you plan to have children someday, talk with your healthcare provider before you start treatment.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any signs of infection such as cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, fever, chills, or mouth sores before or after starting this medicine.

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant while you are receiving this medicine because it may harm the baby. Talk to your healthcare provider if you need birth control. Contact your healthcare provider at the first sign of pregnancy. Do not breast feed while receiving this medicine.

How do I use it?

This medicine is given by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein) by healthcare providers experienced in providing chemotherapy. You will receive this medicine in facilities where you can be carefully monitored.

You may need several treatments with this medicine. Blood and bone marrow tests are used to determine how many courses of treatment you will need.

What should I watch out for?

You will need to have blood and bone marrow tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for tests. You will be monitored closely while you are receiving this medicine, so healthcare personnel can see and treat any side effects you may have.

This medicine may cause damage to your heart during or after treatment. Your healthcare provider will monitor your heart during treatment and for at least 1 year after treatment.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to the sun, which may lead to painful sunburns. While you are taking this medicine, avoid long exposure to the sun. Wear protective clothing, a hat, and sunscreen lotion when you need to be outdoors. Do not use a sunlamp. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your healthcare provider right away.

You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. Also, do not have any vaccines without getting your healthcare provider's approval first.

This medicine may cause your urine to turn a red color for up to 2 days and your clothing might be stained. This is temporary and is not harmful.

If your child is receiving this medicine, wear latex gloves when changing diapers to prevent contact with the child's urine or feces for at least 5 days after the last dose.

If this medicine leaks from your veins into nearby tissue, it may stain your skin brown or cause redness, pain, or blisters. Alert your healthcare provider if you have pain during treatment.

This medicine may increase your long-term risk of developing other blood cancers. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Males: This medicine may damage your sperm. Use condoms or other effective birth control during treatment with this medicine.

Females: This medicine may cause you to stop having periods. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

This medicine may cause bone marrow problems. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you develop a fever, sore throat, bleeding, bruising, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, severe abdominal pain, or any sign of infection.

Hair loss is common during treatment with this medicine. Your hair will grow back when treatment is stopped. Nausea and vomiting are also common during treatment. Contact your healthcare provider if these become severe.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

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.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Redness, swelling or pain at the injection site; rapid or slow heart rate; chest pain or shortness of breath that continues; cough; fever; mouth sores; unusual bleeding or bruising; swelling, tingling, or numbness in your hands, legs, or feet; unusual tiredness or weakness; yellowing of the skin and eyes; black, bloody, or tarry stools. Most serious side effects are found through lab tests.

Other: Headache, diarrhea, rash on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet, hair loss, nausea, vomiting.

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:

• medicines to treat cancer such as methotrexate, cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar), busulfan (Myleran), and trastuzumab (Herceptin)

Do not have any vaccines without getting your healthcare provider's approval first.

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. 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.