Gemzar

Gemzar is a prescription medication used to treat a variety of cancers including breast, ovarian, lung, and pancreatic cancers. Gemzar belongs to a group of drugs called nucleoside metabolic inhibitors. It works by killing cancer cells and preventing their growth.

This medication comes in an injectable form and is given through a vein (intravenously) by a healthcare provider.

Common side effects of Gemzar include nausea, flu-like symptoms, and fever.

Gemzar is a prescription medication used in the treatment of:

• Ovarian cancer in combination with carboplatin
• Breast cancer in combination with paclitaxel
• Non-small cell lung cancer in combination with cisplatin
• Pancreatic cancer as a single-agent (without other medicines)

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

The Gemzar dose your doctor recommends will be based on the following:

• the cancer you have
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight
• your height

Pancreatic Cancer

• 1000 mg/m2 IV infusion over 30 minutes once/week x7 weeks; rest 1 week, THEN
• Repeat cycle 3 consecutive weeks out of every 4 weeks

Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

• 1000 mg/m2 IV infusion over 30 minutes on days 1, 8, & 15 of each 28-day cycle, OR
• 1250 mg/m2 IV infusion over 30 minutes on days 1 & 8 of each 21-day cycle

Breast Cancer

• 1250 mg/m2 IV infusion over 30 minutes on Days 1 & 8 of each 21-day cycle

Ovarian Cancer

• 1000 mg/m2 IV infusion over 30 minutes on Days 1 & 8 of each 21-day cycle

You should not take Gemzar if you are allergic to Gemzar (the active ingredient) or any inactive ingredients.

• low blood cell counts. Tell your doctor right away if you develop symptoms including:
  • fever
  • prolonged or unexpected bleeding
  • bruising
  • shortness of breath
• severe lung damage including respiratory failure and death. Tell your doctor right away if you develop shortness of breath, wheezing, or cough.
• kidney damage. Your doctor may monitor your kidney function while you are receiving this medication.
• liver damage including liver failure and death. Contact your doctor if you develop pain or tenderness in upper right stomach area and yellowing of skin or whites of eyes.

Serious side effects have been reported. See "Gemzar Precautions" section.

The most common side effects of Gemzar are:

• nausea and vomiting
• flu-like symptoms
• fever
• anemia
• temporary hair loss
• increased liver enzymes
• leukopenia (low levels of white blood cells called leukocytes)
• neutropenia (low levels of white blood cells called neutrophils)
• pain
• decreased blood platelets
• diarrhea
• constipation
• bleeding
• mouth sores
• rash
• drowsiness

This is not a complete list of this medication’s side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

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

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• have recently received
• a live vaccine
• are taking a "blood thinner" called Coumadin (Warfarin)
• are taking aspirin

This is not a complete list of Gemzar drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

This medication falls into category D. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. There is a possibility that Gemzar can cause harm to the unborn baby when given to a pregnant woman.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Gemzar is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm your nursing baby.

Tell your doctor if you have recently received a live vaccine.

Keep all of your doctor and laboratory appointments.

Gemzar can cause low blood cell counts. Tell your doctor if you notice any sign of infection such as fever. Also, tell your doctor if you notice any signs or symptoms of bleeding.