Etopophos (Intravenous)

Generic name: etoposide [ e-TOE-poe-side ]
Brand names: Etopophos, Vepesid
Drug class: Mitotic inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 15, 2024.

Uses for Etopophos

Etoposide injection (also known as VP-16) is used in combination with other cancer medicines to treat cancer of the testicles and small cell lung cancer. It is also sometimes used to treat some other kinds of cancer in both males and females.

Etoposide belongs to the group of medicines known as antineoplastic agents. The exact way that etoposide acts against cancer is not known. However, it seems to interfere with the growth of the cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by etoposide, other effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other effects, like hair loss, may not be serious but may cause concern. Some effects may not occur until months or years after the medicine is used.

Before you begin treatment with etoposide, you and your doctor should talk about the benefits of this medicine as well as the risks of using it.

This medicine is to be given only by or under the supervision of your doctor.

Before using Etopophos

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of etoposide injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of etoposide injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have unwanted side effects (eg, infection, nausea and vomiting, hair loss), and have age-related kidney, liver, or heart problems, which may require caution in elderly patients receiving etoposide injection.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Measles Virus Vaccine, Live
• Mumps Virus Vaccine, Live
• Rotavirus Vaccine, Live
• Rubella Virus Vaccine, Live
• Varicella Virus Vaccine, Live
• Zoster Vaccine, Live

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Adenovirus Vaccine
• Aprepitant
• Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin Vaccine, Live
• Cholera Vaccine, Live
• Cyclosporine
• Dengue Tetravalent Vaccine, Live
• Echinacea
• Fosaprepitant
• Glucosamine
• Influenza Virus Vaccine, Live
• Poliovirus Vaccine, Live
• Smallpox Vaccine
• St John's Wort
• Typhoid Vaccine, Live
• Valspodar
• Warfarin
• Yellow Fever Vaccine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Rolapitant

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

• Grapefruit Juice

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Low serum albumin (protein in the blood)—May experience increased side effects.

• Infection—May decrease your body's ability to fight infection.

• Kidney disease—Use with caution. The effects of etoposide may be increased because of slower removal from the body.

Proper use of Etopophos

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital or cancer treatment center. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins. The medicine must be injected slowly, so your IV tube will need to stay in place for 30 to 60 minutes.

Etoposide is sometimes given together with certain other medicines. If you are using a combination of medicines, make sure that you take each one at the proper time and do not mix them. If you are taking some of these medicines by mouth, ask your doctor to help you plan a way to remember to take your medicines at the right times.

Etoposide often causes nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite, which may be severe. However, it is very important that you continue to receive the medicine, even if you begin to feel ill. Ask your doctor for ways to lessen these effects.

Precautions while using Etopophos

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant during treatment and for at least 6 months after your last dose. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Etoposide may also cause birth defects if the father is using it when his sexual partner becomes pregnant. Men using this medicine should use condoms as a form of birth control during treatment and for at least 4 months after the last dose of etoposide. A man intending to father a child should stop using this medicine and check with his doctor right away.

Etoposide can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of your getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:

• If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or have painful or difficult urination.
• Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine or stools, or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
• Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done.
• Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.
• Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.
• Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you have chills, fever, lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting, fast, pounding heartbeat, swelling of the face, tongue, and throat, or trouble breathing after you receive the medicine.

Injection site reactions may occur while you are receiving this medicine. Tell your doctor right away if you notice swelling, pain, or redness at the injection site.

This medicine may cause leukemia (cancer of the blood or bone marrow) in rare cases. Talk with your doctor about any concerns you have about this.

Talk with your doctor before getting flu shots or other vaccines while you are receiving this medicine because there are certain vaccines that you should not receive.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects of Etopophos

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Black, tarry stools
• bleeding gums
• blood in the urine or stools
• chest pain
• chills
• cough
• fever
• painful or difficult urination
• pale skin
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• swollen glands
• troubled breathing with exertion
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common

• Blurred vision
• confusion
• cough or hoarseness, accompanied by fever or chills
• difficulty with swallowing
• dizziness
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• face is warm or hot to touch
• fast heartbeat
• headache
• hives, itching, or skin rash
• lower back or side pain, accompanied by fever or chills
• nervousness
• numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes
• pain or redness at the site of injection
• pale skin at the site of injection
• pounding in the ears
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• redness to face
• slow or fast heartbeat
• sweating
• tightness in the chest

Rare

• Back pain
• difficulty with walking
• loss of consciousness
• swelling of the face or tongue
• tightness in the throat

Incidence not known

• Abdominal or stomach pain, severe
• blindness
• blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• blue-yellow color blindness
• dark urine
• decreased vision
• eye pain
• joint or muscle pain
• loss of appetite
• nausea or vomiting
• red, irritated eyes
• red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• seizures
• yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
• change in taste
• constipation
• cracked lips
• hair loss or thinning of the hair
• lack or loss of strength
• swelling or inflammation of the mouth
• weight loss

This medicine often causes a temporary loss of hair. After treatment with etoposide has ended, normal hair growth should return.

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Related/similar drugs

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Etopophos
• Vepesid

In Canada

• Dom-Etoposide
• Eposin
• Etoposide
• Pms-Etoposide

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution
• Powder for Solution

Therapeutic Class: Antineoplastic Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Mitotic Inhibitor

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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