This medication may make you feel generally unwell. This is not uncommon as chemotherapy can affect healthy cells as well as cancer cells. Report any side effects. Continue your course of treatment even though you feel ill unless your care team tells you to stop.
You may need blood work done while you are taking this medication.
This medication can cause serious side effects and infusion reactions. To reduce the risk, your care team may give you other medications to take before receiving this one. Be sure to follow the directions from your care team.
This medication may increase your risk of getting an infection. Call your care team for advice if you get a fever, chills, sore throat, or other symptoms of a cold or flu. Do not treat yourself. Try to avoid being around people who are sick.
Avoid taking medications that contain aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen unless instructed by your care team. These medications may hide a fever.
Be careful brushing or flossing your teeth or using a toothpick because you may get an infection or bleed more easily. If you have any dental work done, tell your dentist you are receiving this medication.
Some products may contain alcohol. Ask your care team if this medication contains alcohol. Be sure to tell all care teams you are taking this medicine. Certain medications, like metronidazole and disulfiram, can cause an unpleasant reaction when taken with alcohol. The reaction includes flushing, headache, nausea, vomiting, sweating, and increased thirst. The reaction can last from 30 minutes to several hours.
This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgement. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.
Talk to your care team about your risk of cancer. You may be more at risk for certain types of cancer if you take this medication.
Talk to your care team if you wish to become pregnant or think you might be pregnant. This medication can cause serious birth defects if taken during pregnancy or if you get pregnant within 2 months after stopping therapy. A negative pregnancy test is required before starting this medication. A reliable form of contraception is recommended while taking this medication and for 2 months after stopping it. Talk to your care team about reliable forms of contraception.
Do not breast-feed while taking this medication and for 1 week after stopping therapy.
Use a condom during sex and for 4 months after stopping therapy. Tell your care team right away if you think your partner might be pregnant. This medication can cause serious birth defects.
This medication may cause infertility. Talk to your care team if you are concerned about your fertility.