Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease. Your doctor will order laboratory tests to see how well your liver is working before and during your treatment. If the tests show that you have liver problems, your doctor will probably not give you ixabepilone injection and capecitabine (Xeloda). Treatment with both ixabepilone injection and capecitabine may cause serious side effects or death in people who have liver disease.
Talk to your doctor about the risks of receiving ixabepilone injection.
Ixabepilone injection is used alone or in combination with capecitabine to treat breast cancer that cannot be treated with other medications. Ixabepilone is in a class of medications called microtubule inhibitors. It works by killing cancer cells.
Ixabepilone injection comes as a powder to be added to fluid and injected over 3 hours intravenously (into a vein) by a doctor or nurse. It is usually injected once every 3 weeks.
Your doctor may need to delay your treatment and adjust your dose if you experience certain side effects. Your doctor will give you other medications to prevent or treat certain side effects about one hour before you receive each dose of ixabepilone injection. Be sure to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment with ixabepilone injection.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Do not drink grapefruit juice while receiving this medication.
headache
hair loss
flaky or darkened skin
problems with toenails or fingernails
tender, red palms and soles of feet
sores on the lip or in the mouth or throat
difficulty tasting food
watery eyes
loss of appetite
weight loss
heartburn
nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
constipation
stomach pain
joint, muscle, or bone pain
confusion
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
weakness
tiredness
numbness, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet
difficulty breathing
hives
rash
itching
sudden reddening of the face, neck or upper chest
sudden swelling of face, throat or tongue
pounding heartbeat
dizziness
faintness
chest pain or tightness
unusual weight gain
fever (100.5 °F or greater)
chills
cough
burning or pain when urinating
Ixabepilone injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while receiving this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
muscle pain
tiredness
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Last Reviewed - 09/01/2010
AHFS® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2012. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.