trabectedin

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Pronunciation: tra BEK te din

Brand: Yondelis

What is the most important information I should know about trabectedin?

Serious and sometimes fatal infections may occur during treatment with trabectedin. Call your doctor at once if you have signs of infection such as fever, chills, flu symptoms, pale skin, or easy bruising or bleeding.

What is trabectedin?

Trabectedin is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.

Trabectedin is used to treat liposarcoma, a rare type of cancer that grows in fatty tissues of the body.

Trabectedin is also used to treat leiomyosarcoma, a rare fast-growing type of cancer that grows in many tissues of the body, including fat, muscle, bone, joints, and blood vessels.

Trabectedin is used to treat cancer that has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be treated with surgery.

Trabectedin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving trabectedin?

You should not be treated with trabectedin if you are allergic to it.

To make sure trabectedin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

  • liver disease;
  • heart disease; or
  • kidney disease.

Using trabectedin during pregnancy could harm the unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you become pregnant. Use effective birth control while you are receiving this medicine and for at least 2 months after your treatment ends.

If a man fathers a baby while receiving trabectedin, the baby may have birth defects. Use a condom to prevent pregnancy during your treatment, and for at least 5 months after your treatment ends.

It is not known whether trabectedin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while receiving this medicine.

How is trabectedin given?

Trabectedin is injected into a vein through a central line IV. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Before you receive a dose of trabectedin, you may need a blood test to check your liver function.

Trabectedin must be given slowly and the infusion can take up to 24 hours to complete.

Trabectedin is usually given once every 3 weeks. Your doctor will determine how long to treat you with trabectedin.

You may be given steroid medication to prevent certain side effects of trabectedin.

Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when trabectedin is injected.

Trabectedin can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. Serious and sometimes fatal infections may occur during treatment with trabectedin. Your blood will need to be tested often.

Your heart function may need to be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG).

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your trabectedin injection.

What happens if I overdose?

Since this medicine is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid while receiving trabectedin?

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with trabectedin and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products while taking trabectedin.

What are the possible side effects of trabectedin?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; chest tightness, wheezing, difficult breathing; feeling light-headed; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • pain, burning, irritation, or skin changes where the injection was given;
  • heart problems --chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeats, shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain;
  • breakdown of muscle tissue --unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness (especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine);
  • liver problems --nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
  • low blood cell counts --fever, chills, flu-like symptoms, swollen gums, mouth sores, skin sores, rapid heart rate, pale skin, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, feeling tired or light-headed.

Your cancer treatments may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects.

Common side effects may include:

  • nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;
  • diarrhea, constipation;
  • abnormal liver or kidney function tests;
  • headache; or
  • feeling short of breath.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect trabectedin?

Many drugs can interact with trabectedin. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide. Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with trabectedin. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about trabectedin.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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