Hycamtin (oral/injection)

Hycamtin is used to treat ovarian cancer, small cell lung cancer, and certain types of cervical cancer.

Hycamtin is usually given after other treatments have failed.

Hycamtin may also be used for reasons that are not mentioned in this medication guide.

Hycamtin can impact your immune system. This means you might get infections more easily, including serious or life-threatening infections. Contact your doctor if you notice unusual bruising or bleeding, or if you have signs of infection such as fever, chills, cough, diarrhea, stomach cramps, or pain or burning when you urinate.

You should not use Hycamtin if you are allergic to it.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• severe diarrhea;
• kidney disease;
• lung problems; or
• a chest X-ray or radiation treatment of your chest area.

Hycamtin can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects if the mother or the father is using Hycamtin.

• If you are a woman, do not use Hycamtin if you are pregnant. You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 6 months after your last dose.
• If you are a man, use effective birth control if your sex partner is able to get pregnant. Keep using birth control for at least 3 months after your last dose.
• Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using Hycamtin.

This medicine may affect fertility (ability to have children) in both men and women. However, it is important to use birth control to prevent pregnancy because Hycamtin may harm the baby if a pregnancy does occur.

You should not breastfeed while using Hycamtin, and for at least 1 week after your last dose.

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

Hycamtin may cause serious side effects. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience:

• a new or worsening cough, fever, trouble breathing;
• diarrhea along with fever and stomach cramps;
• pain or burning during urination;
• signs of pneumonia--fever, chills, cough with mucus, chest pain, feeling short of breath; or
• low blood cell counts--fever, chills, flu-like symptoms, mouth sores, skin sores, pale skin, cold hands and feet, bruising or bleeding, feeling light-headed.

Your cancer treatments may be delayed or stopped permanently if you experience certain side effects.

Common side effects of Hycamtin may include:

• low blood cell counts;
• trouble breathing, pneumonia;
• nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain;
• loss of appetite;
• hair loss; or
• feeling weak or tired.

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

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Hycamtin capsules are taken by mouth, with or without food. You may need to take two different colored capsules at one time. Make sure you know the difference between capsules because one contains 4 times as much this medicine as the other, even though they may look the same in size.

If you vomit after taking a Hycamtin capsule, do not take another dose that same day.

Do not use a broken or opened capsule. The medicine from a broken pill can be dangerous if it gets in your eyes or on your skin. If this happens, wash your skin with soap and water or rinse your eyes with water for at least 15 minutes. Then call your doctor.

Store Hycamtin capsules in the refrigerator and protect them from light.

Hycamtin injection is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection. Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when this medicine is injected.

Hycamtin can lower your blood cell counts. Your blood will need to be tested often. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results.

Your doctor will determine how long to treat you with Hycamtin.

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is close to your next dose. Do not take two doses at once.

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your Hycamtin injection.

Seek emergency medical help or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Signs of an overdose may include skin rash or other irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or mouth sores.

Do not drive or do anything dangerous until you understand how Hycamtin will affect you. Your reactions might be impaired.

Do not be around people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor immediately if you notice signs of infection.

You should not receive a "colony stimulating factor" medicine within 24 hours after your last Hycamtin injection. This includes:

• filgrastim (Neupogen, Granix, Zarxio);
• pegfilgrastim (Neulasta); or
• sargramostim (Leukine).

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