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Etoposide
e-toe-POE-side   Audio

Brand Name: Etopophos (phosphate salt), Toposar, VePesid  Audio
Drug Class: Opportunistic Infection and Other Drugs
Etoposide, also known as Etopophos, Toposar, or VePesid, belongs to the class of medicines known as antineoplastics. Antineoplastics slow or stop the growth of cancer cells.

HIV/AIDS-Related Uses
Etoposide is being studied in HIV/AIDS clinical trials to see how safe and effective it is in treating AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer that occurs frequently in people with AIDS. Etoposide is also used to treat Kaposi's sarcoma in people with AIDS. This medicine does not cure or prevent HIV infection or AIDS and does not reduce the risk of passing the virus to other people.

Etoposide is approved by the FDA for the treatment of cancer of the testicles and for a particular type of lung cancer known as small-cell lung carcinoma. Etoposide is also used to treat other kinds of cancer.

Dosage Form/Administration
Etoposide comes in capsule form that is taken by mouth and in liquid form that is given by intravenous infusion into a vein.

Contraindications
Individuals should tell a doctor about any medical problems before taking this medicine.



Possible Side Effects
Along with its desired effects, etoposide can cause serious unwanted effects. Serious side effects include black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; chills or fever; cough or hoarseness; lower back or side pain; painful or difficult urination; red, pinpoint skin rash; unusual bleeding or bruising; and unusual tiredness or weakness. Individuals should tell a doctor if they have any of these side effects.
Etoposide can, in rare cases, cause severe and sometimes fatal allergic reactions. A doctor should be notified right away if an individual taking etoposide has any of the following symptoms of a severe allergic reaction: chills; dizziness; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever; heavy perspiration; itching; lightheadedness or fainting; nausea; swelling of the face; trouble breathing; or vomiting. Rarely, severe allergic reactions have occurred during a patient's first treatment with IV etoposide with the following symptoms: back pain; fainting; swelling of the face and tongue; and tightness or spasms in the throat.
Other side effects may not be serious and may lessen or disappear with continued use of etoposide. These include change in taste, chills and fever, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, general ill or tired feeling, reversible hair loss, inflammation of veins, loss of appetite, mouth sores, nausea and vomiting, skin rash or itching, and stomach pain. A few HIV infected patients being treated with etoposide have reported localized shingles outbreaks. Individuals should tell a doctor if these side effects continue or are bothersome.

Drug and Food Interactions
A doctor should be notified of any other medications being taken, including prescription, nonprescription (over-the-counter), or herbal medications.
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Clinical Trials
Click here to search ClinicalTrials.gov for trials that use Etoposide.

Manufacturer Information
Etoposide
  Bristol - Myers Squibb Co
  PO Box 4500
  Princeton,  NJ  08543-4500
  (800) 321-1335
    

VePesid
  Bristol - Myers Squibb Co
  PO Box 4500
  Princeton,  NJ  08543-4500
  (800) 321-1335
    

Toposar
  Pfizer Inc
  235 East 42nd Street
  New York,  NY  10017-5755
  (800) 438-1985
    

Etopophos (phosphate salt)
  Bristol - Myers Squibb Co
  PO Box 4500
  Princeton,  NJ  08543-4500
  (800) 321-1335
    
Updated May 8, 2007