STREPTOZOCIN (Systemic)
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.?
In Canada?
Category
Description
Streptozocin (strep-toe-ZOE-sin) belongs to the group of medicines known as alkylatingagents. It is used to treat cancer of the pancreas.
Streptozocin seems to interfere with the growth of cancer cells, whichare eventually destroyed. It also directly affects the way the pancreas works.Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by streptozocin,other effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reportedto your doctor. Other effects may not be serious but may cause concern. Someeffects may not occur for months or years after the medicine is used.
Before you begin treatment with streptozocin, you and your doctor shouldtalk about the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of using it.
Streptozocin is to be given only by or under the immediate supervisionof your doctor. It is available in the following dosage form:
Parenteral- Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine,the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it willdo. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For streptozocin, thefollowing should be considered:
Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to streptozocin.
Pregnancy?Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you intendto have children. There is a chance that this medicine may cause birth defectsif either the male or the female is receiving it at the time of conceptionor if it is taken during pregnancy. Studies in rats and rabbits have shownthat streptozocin causes birth defects or miscarriage. In addition, many cancermedicines may cause sterility which could be permanent. Although this hasnot been reported with this medicine, the possibility should be kept in mind.
Be sure that you have discussed this with your doctor before receivingthis medicine. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you arereceiving streptozocin. Tell your doctor right away if you think you havebecome pregnant while receiving streptozocin.
Breast-feeding?Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or ifyou intend to breast-feed during treatment with this medicine. Because streptozocinmay cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is generally not recommendedwhile you are receiving it.
Children?There is no specific information comparing use ofstreptozocin in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults?Many medicines have not been studied specificallyin older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactlythe same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effectsor problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing useof streptozocin in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receivingstreptozocin, it is especially important that your health care professionalknow if you are taking any of the following:
- Anti-infectives by mouth or by injection (medicine for infection)or
- Carmustine (e.g., BiCNU) or
- Cisplatin (e.g., Platinol) or
- Combination pain medicine containing acetaminophen and aspirin (e.g.,Excedrin) or other salicylates (with large amounts taken regularly) or
- Cyclosporine (e.g., Sandimmune) or
- Deferoxamine (e.g., Desferal) (with long-term use) or
- Gold salts (medicine for arthritis) or
- Inflammation or pain medicine except narcotics or
- Lithium (e.g., Lithane) or
- Methotrexate (e.g., Mexate) or
- Penicillamine (e.g., Cuprimine) or
- Plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin) or
- Tiopronin (e.g., Thiola)?Increased risk of harmful effectson the kidney
- Phenytoin (e.g., Dilantin)?May interfere with the effects ofstreptozocin
Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of streptozocin. Make sure you tell your doctorif you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Chickenpox (including recent exposure) or
- Herpes zoster (shingles)?Risk of severe disease affecting otherparts of the body
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus?May be worsened
- Infection?Streptozocin can decrease your body's ability tofight infection
- Kidney disease or
- Liver disease?Effects of streptozocin may be increased becauseof slower removal from the body
Proper Use of This Medicine
While youare receiving streptozocin, your doctor may want you to drink extra fluidsso that you will pass more urine. This will help prevent kidney problems andkeep your kidneys working well.
This medicine usually causes nausea and vomiting, which may be severe.However, it is very important that you continue to receive the medicine, evenif you begin to feel ill. Ask your health care professional for ways to lessenthese effects.
Dosing?The dose of streptozocin will be differentfor different patients. The dose that is used may depend on a number of things,including what the medicine is being used for, the patient's size, and whetheror not other medicines are also being taken. If you arereceiving streptozocin at home, follow your doctor's orders or the directionson the label. If you have any questions about the proper dose of streptozocin,ask your doctor.
Precautions While Using This Medicine
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly and to check forany unwanted effects.
While you are being treated with streptozocin, and after you stop treatmentwith it, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations)without your doctor's approval. Streptozocin may lower your body'sresistance and there is a chance you might get the infection the immunizationis meant to prevent. In addition, other people living in your household shouldnot take oral polio vaccine since there is a chance they could pass the poliovirus on to you. Also, avoid persons who have recently taken oral polio vaccine.Do not get close to them and do not stay in the same room with them for verylong. If you cannot take these precautions, you should consider wearing aprotective face mask that covers the nose and mouth.
If streptozocin accidentally seeps out of the vein into which it is injected,it may damage some tissues and cause scarring. Tell thehealth care professional right away if you notice redness, pain, or swellingat the place of injection.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with their needed effects, medicineslike streptozocin can sometimes cause unwanted effects such as kidney problemsand other side effects. These and others are described below. Also, becauseof the way these medicines act on the body, there is a chance that they mightcause other unwanted effects that may not occur until months or years afterthe medicine is used. These delayed effects may include certain types of cancer,such as leukemia. Streptozocin has been shown to cause tumors (some cancerous)in animals. Discuss these possible effects with your doctor.
Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur theymay need medical attention.
Check with your healthcare professional immediately if any of the following side effectsoccur shortly after the medicine is given:
Less common
Anxiety, nervousness, or shakiness; chills, cold sweats, or cool, pale skin; drowsinessor unusual tiredness or weakness; fast pulse; headache; pain or redness at place ofinjection; unusual hunger
Checkwith your doctor immediately if the following side effects occur anytime while you are being treated with this medicine:
Check withyour health care professional as soon as possible if any of the followingside effects occur:
Other side effects may occur that usually donot need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatmentas your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professionalmay be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these sideeffects. Check with your health care professional if any of the followingside effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions aboutthem:
After you stop receiving streptozocin, your body may need timeto adjust. The length of time this takes depends on the amount of medicineyou were using and how long you used it. During this period of time, checkwith your doctor if you notice either of the following side effects:
Other sideeffects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice anyother effects, check with your doctor.
Revised: 09/30/1997
