Precautions

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

It is very important that your doctor check your progress closely while receiving the medicine and at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to receive it. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Receiving this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. It may also cause birth defects if the father is receiving it when his sexual partner becomes pregnant. If you can get pregnant, your doctor may do tests to make sure you are not pregnant before starting treatment. Female patients should use effective birth control during treatment with this medicine and for 7 months after the last dose. Male patients who have female partners should use effective birth control during treatment with this medicine and for 4 months after the last dose. If you think you have become pregnant while receiving the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Talk with your doctor before receiving this medicine if you plan to have children. Some male patients who receive this medicine have become infertile (unable to have children).

Tell your doctor right away if you are having chest pain or tightness, chills, cough, fever, general feeling or discomfort or illness, thickening of bronchial secretions, or trouble breathing while receiving this medicine. These could be symptoms of a serious lung problem (eg, interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis).

This medicine 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:

  • If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you have fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.
  • Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine or stools, or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
  • Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done.
  • Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.
  • Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.
  • Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.

This medicine may cause heart failure. Your doctor may test your heart before and during treatment. Contact your doctor right away if you have chest pain, increased coughing, trouble breathing, rapid weight gain, or swelling in your ankles or legs. These could be symptoms of heart failure.

Portions of this document last updated: May 01, 2024

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