Gemzar Information and Uses

Gemzar

Gemzar Overview

Gemzar (generic: gemcitabine) is a prescription medication used to treat a variety of cancers including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Gemzar belongs to a group of drugs called nucleoside metabolic inhibitors. It works by killing cells undergoing DNA synthesis and by blocking other cell processes.

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.

Uses of Gemzar

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.

Side Effects of Gemzar

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 possible side effects. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Gemzar Interactions

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

Gemzar Precautions

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

Tell your doctor if you:

have kidney or liver disease. Kidney and liver damage have been reported with Gemzar use.
are pregnant. Gemzar can harm your unborn baby.
are breastfeeding
have an infection
have neutropenia (low white blood cell count). Gemzar can suppress bone marrow function leading to low white blood cell counts and anemia.

Severe lung toxicity has been reported with Gemzar use.

Gemzar Food Interactions

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Gemzar there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Gemzar.

Inform MD

Tell your doctor if you:

are allergic to Gemzar or any other medicines.
have kidney or liver disease. Kidney and liver damage have been reported with Gemzar use.
are pregnant. Gemzar can harm your unborn baby.
are breastfeeding
have an infection
have neutropenia (low white blood cell count).

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

Gemzar and Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This medicine may harm your unborn baby.

Gemzar and Lactation

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.

Gemzar Usage

Gemzar is for intravenous (IV) use only, usually in a medical setting (doctor's office,or hospital). The dose of Gemzar will vary depending on:

cancer type
your height and weight (body surface area)
medicines you are taking
medical conditions in addition to cancer

Dose Reductions or discontinuation may be needed based on toxicities.

Gemzar Dosage

Pancreatic Cancer

1000 mg/sq.meter 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/sq.meter IV infusion over 30 minutes on days 1, 8, & 15 of each 28-day cycle, OR

1250 mg/sq.meter IV infusion over 30 minutes on days 1 & 8 of each 21-day cycle

Admin 100 mg/sq.meter IV cisplatin after gemcitabine on day 1

Breast Cancer

1250 mg/sq.meter IV infusion over 30 minutes on Days 1 & 8 of each 21-day cycle

With 175 mg/sq. meter paclitaxel on Day 1 as a 3 hours infusion before gemcitabine

Ovarian Cancer

1000 mg/sq.meter IV infusion over 30 minutes on Days 1 & 8 of each 21-day cycle

With carboplatin AUC 4 on Day 1 after gemcitabine

Gemzar Overdose

Gemzar is usually administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting making it unlikely for an overdose to occur. However, the dose is calculated based on body surface area, which is calculated using height and weight. Thus, too much of the drug could be given if a miscalculation is made.

Symptoms of an Gemzar overdose are difficult to predict as there have been few reports of overdose. It is possible an overdose may result in an increased risk of the usual Gemzar side effects. This may include bone marrow suppression,paresthesias (tingling, burning, pricking, or numbness of skin), and severe rash.

Forms of Gemzar

Gemzar (gemcitabine for injection, USP) is a white to off-white lyophilized powder available in sterile single-use vials containing 200 mg or 1 g gemcitabine.

Active ingredient: gemcitabine hydrochloride

Inactive ingredients: mannitol, sodium acetate, sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid.

Other Requirements

Unopened vials of Gemzar are stable until the expiration date indicated on the package when stored at controlled room temperature 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) and that allows for excursions between 15° and 30°C (59° and 86°F) [See USP Controlled Room Temperature]