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Other drug names: | A-Am An-Az B C-Ch Ci-Cz D-Dh Di-Dz E F G H I-J K-L M-Mh Mi-Mz N-Nh Ni-Nz O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q-R S-Sn So-Sz T-To Tp-Tz U-V W-Z 0-9 |
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In the U.S.—
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Other commonly used names are: IDEC-2B8 (ibritumomab tiuxetan) IDEC-Y2B8 (yttrium-90–ibritumomab tiuxetan) IDEC-In2B8 (indium-111–ibritumomab tiuxetan) IDEC-129
Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (ib-ri-TU-moe-mab ) (tie-ux-EH-tan) is a protein called a monoclonal antibody. It is used along with another monoclonal antibody (rituximab) and two radioactive pharmaceuticals (In-111 and Y-90). Ibritumomab tiuxetan is used to treat a type of cancer called non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Ibritumomab Tiuxetan is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor. It is available in the following dosage form:
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 ibritumomab tiuxetan, the following should be considered:
Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual reaction to ibritumomab tiuxetan, rituximab, yttrium chloride, indium chloride or to mouse proteins.
Pregnancy—Ibritumomab tiuxetan is not recommended during pregnancy. It has been shown to cause birth defects. However, this medicine may be needed in serious diseases or other situations that threaten the mother's life. Be sure you have discussed this with your doctor.
Women who are able to bear children should use some kind of birth control during treatment with ibritumomab tiuxetan and for up to 12 months after treatment has ended.
Before receiving this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant.
Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while receiving ibritumomab tiuxetan.
Breast-feeding—It is not known whether ibritumomab tiuxetan passes into the breast milk. However, because of the possibility of serious effects, breast-feeding is not recommended while you are receiving this medicine.
Children—Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of ibritumomab tiuxetan in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults—This medicine has been tested in a limited number of patients 65 years of age or older and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.
Other 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 taking ibritumomab tiuxetan, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:
Dosing—
The dose of ibritumomab tiuxetan will be different for different patients. The dose that is used may depend on a number of things, including your size. Ibritumomab tiuxetan is usually given by a doctor in the hospital or an outpatient clinic. If you have any questions about the proper dose of ibritumomab tiuxetan, ask your doctor.
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 for unwanted effects.
While you are being treated with ibritumomab tiuxetan, and after you stop treatment with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations) without your doctor's approval. Ibritumomab tiuxetan may lower your body's resistance and there is a chance you might get the infection the immunization is meant to prevent. In addition, other persons living in your household should not take oral polio vaccine since there is a chance they could pass the polio virus on to you. Also, avoid persons who have taken oral polio vaccine within the last several months. Do not get close to them, and do not stay in the same room with them for very long. If you cannot take these precautions, you should consider wearing a protective face mask that covers the nose and mouth.
Ibritumomab tiuxetan can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of 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:
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 as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Other 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. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
For several months after receiving this therapy, it may still produce some side effects that need attention. During this period of time check with your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
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Page last updated: 22 October 2004 |