Floxuridine

Floxuridine is used to treat cancers of the digestive system that have spread to the liver.

Floxuridine may also be used for reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

You may get your first dose in a hospital or clinic to quickly address any serious side effects.

Floxuridine is injected into an artery using an infusion pump. A healthcare provider will administer this injection.

You will be monitored closely while receiving floxuridine to ensure you do not have a severe reaction.

Floxuridine can raise your risk of bleeding or infection. You will need regular medical tests. Your cancer treatments may be postponed based on the results.

You should not use floxuridine if you have an infection, bone marrow suppression, or if you are malnourished.

You should not receive treatment with floxuridine if you have:

• an infection;
• bone marrow suppression; or
• if you are malnourished.

Inform your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver disease;
• kidney disease;
• radiation treatment in your pelvic area; or
• treatment with other chemotherapy medicines.

Floxuridine may be harmful to an unborn baby. Use effective birth control to avoid pregnancy, and inform your doctor if you become pregnant.

You should not breastfeed while taking floxuridine.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Floxuridine may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor right away if you have:

• chest pain or pressure;
• blisters or ulcers in your mouth, red or swollen gums, trouble swallowing;
• fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores, feeling light-headed;
• severe vomiting or diarrhea;
• bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding, purple or red spots under your skin; or
• any bleeding that will not stop.

Common side effects of floxuridine may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps;
• stomatitis;
• abnormal blood tests; or
• redness or irritation where the medicine was injected.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Usual Adult Dose for Liver Metastasis in Adenocarcinoma:

Recommended dose: 0.1 to 0.6 mg/kg/day by continuous arterial infusion; the higher dosage ranges (0.4 mg to 0.6 mg) are usually used for hepatic artery infusion because the liver metabolizes the drug (thus reducing the potential for systemic toxicity) Comments:-Therapy can be given until adverse reactions appear. When these side effects have subsided, therapy may be resumed. -The patient should be maintained on therapy as long as response to floxuridine continues.Use: For the palliative management of gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma metastatic to the liver, when given by continuous regional intra-arterial infusion in carefully selected patients who are considered incurable by surgery or other means.

Because you will get floxuridine in a clinical setting, you are not likely to skip a dose.

Since this medication is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to happen.

Avoid being around people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any signs of infection.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using floxuridine, and avoid contact with anyone who has recently had a live vaccine. There is a risk that the virus could be passed to you. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.

Other drugs may affect floxuridine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.