Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

  1. Vyxeos

Descriptions


Daunorubicin and cytarabine injection is used to treat therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or AML with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC).

Daunorubicin and cytarabine liposome interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed by the body. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by doxorubicin and cytarabine liposome, other unwanted side effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor.

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

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Powder for Solution

Before Using

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 performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of daunorubicin and cytarabine injection in children 1 year of age and older. Safety and efficacy have been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of daunorubicin and cytarabine injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have bleeding problems, which may require caution in patients receiving this medicine.

Breastfeeding

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.

Drug Interactions

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
  • Tasonermin
  • 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, Live
  • Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin Vaccine, Live
  • Cedazuridine
  • Cholera Vaccine, Live
  • Dengue Tetravalent Vaccine, Live
  • Ebola Zaire Vaccine, Live
  • Influenza Virus Vaccine, Live
  • Margetuximab
  • Pertuzumab
  • Poliovirus Vaccine, Live
  • Smallpox Monkeypox Vaccine, Live Non-Replicating
  • Smallpox Vaccine
  • Trastuzumab
  • Typhoid Vaccine, Live
  • Yellow Fever Vaccine

Other Interactions

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. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

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:

  • Bleeding problems or
  • Heart disease or
  • Kidney disease or
  • Liver disease or
  • Wilson's disease (high levels of copper in the body)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

Proper Use

Medicines used to treat cancer are very strong and can have many side effects. Before receiving this medicine, make sure you understand all the risks and benefits. It is important for you to work closely with your doctor during your treatment.

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 into one of your veins. It must be given slowly, so the needle will have to remain in place for over 90 minutes.

You may receive other medicines to help prevent vomiting before starting treatment with this medicine.

Missed Dose

This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose, call your doctor, home health caregiver, or treatment clinic for instructions.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood, heart, kidney, and liver tests are needed to check for unwanted effects before starting each cycle of treatment with this medicine.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. If you are a woman who can get pregnant, your doctor may do tests to make sure you are not pregnant before starting treatment. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant during treatment and for at least 6 months after the last dose of this medicine. Men should use an effective form of birth control during treatment and for at least 6 months after the last dose to prevent pregnancy in a sexual partner. If a pregnancy occurs while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Talk with your doctor before using this medicine if you plan to have children. Some men who use this medicine have become infertile (unable to have children).

Check with your doctor right away if you have any unusual bleeding or bruising, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine or stools, headache, dizziness, or weakness, pain, swelling, or discomfort in a joint, pinpoint red spots on your skin, unusual nosebleeds, or unusual vaginal bleeding that is heavier than normal. These may be signs of bleeding problems.

If you are rapidly gaining weight, having chest pain or discomfort, extreme tiredness or weakness, irregular breathing, irregular heartbeat, excessive swelling of the hands, wrist, ankles, or feet, or trouble breathing, check with your doctor right away. These may be symptoms of a heart problem or your body keeping too much water.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after receiving this medicine.

This medicine contains copper gluconate. Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, yellow eyes or skin, changes in mood, blurred or double vision, difficulty in walking, headache, numbness or tingling in your fingers and toes, or trouble sleeping. These could be symptoms of copper toxicity.

This medicine may cause tissue damage at the injection site where this medicine has leaked. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.

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

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

  1. Bleeding gums
  2. blood in the urine or stools
  3. blurred vision
  4. body aches or pain
  5. chest pain, discomfort, or tightness
  6. chills
  7. confusion as to time, place, or person
  8. cough
  9. coughing up blood
  10. deafness
  11. decreased frequency or amount of urine
  12. diarrhea
  13. difficulty in breathing or swallowing
  14. dizziness
  15. dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
  16. ear congestion
  17. facial swelling
  18. fainting
  19. fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
  20. fever
  21. general feeling of discomfort or illness
  22. headache
  23. holding false beliefs that cannot be changed by fact
  24. increased blood pressure
  25. increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding
  26. increased thirst
  27. itching of the genitals or other skin areas
  28. loss of appetite
  29. loss of voice
  30. lower back or side pain
  31. nausea
  32. nervousness
  33. nosebleeds
  34. painful or difficult urination
  35. pale skin
  36. paralysis
  37. pinpoint red spots on the skin
  38. pounding in the ears
  39. prolonged bleeding from cuts
  40. rapid, shallow breathing
  41. red or black, tarry stools
  42. red or dark brown urine
  43. runny or stuffy nose
  44. scaling
  45. seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
  46. skin rash
  47. sneezing
  48. sore throat
  49. stomach cramps or pain
  50. sweating
  51. swelling
  52. swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
  53. tenderness
  54. thickening of the bronchial secretions
  55. trouble breathing
  56. ulcers, sores, or white spots in the mouth
  57. unusual bleeding or bruising
  58. unusual excitement, nervousness, or restlessness
  59. unusual tiredness or weakness
  60. vomiting
  61. watery or bloody diarrhea
  62. weakness
  63. weight gain

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

  1. Anxiety
  2. belching
  3. bleeding after having a bowel movement
  4. bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site
  5. bone and muscle pain
  6. burning, dry, or itching of the eyes
  7. changes in vision
  8. constipation
  9. cracked lips
  10. decreased appetite
  11. discharge, excessive tearing
  12. heartburn
  13. indigestion
  14. redness, pain, or swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
  15. small red or purple spots on the skin
  16. stomach discomfort or upset
  17. trouble sleeping
  18. uncomfortable swelling around the anus

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.

Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/ar/drugs-supplements/daunorubicin-and-cytarabine-liposome-intravenous-route/precautions/drg-20406477