PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET

What's in your medicine?

Each tablet contains Cyclophosphamide 50 mg, and also contains the following inactive ingredients: maize starch, pregelatinised starch, lactose, gelatin, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium stearyl fumarate, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol, sucrose, calcium carbonate, povidone, opalux AS-9486 (sucrose, titanium dioxide, purified water, red iron oxide, yellow iron oxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, sodium benzoate) and carnauba wax.

Cyclophosphamide is one of a group of medicines called cytotoxics which are used to kill cells in tumours.

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What is your medicine for?

Cyclophosphamide is used to treat a wide range of tumours. Cyclophosphamide can be given alone or in combination with other medicines.

Your doctor will be able to explain how cyclophosphamide might help in your particular condition.

How does your medicine work?

Cyclophosphamide works by killing cells in the tumour.

Before receiving your medicine

If you can answer Yes to any of the following questions tell your doctor.

• Have you ever been sensitive to this medicine before?
• Do you have kidney or liver disease?
• Have you received or are you receiving radiotherapy?
• Are you taking any other medicines, in particular any sulphonylurea-type hypoglycaemics (used to treat diabetes), doxorubicin (another cytotoxic drug), allopurinol (used to treat gout and reduce levels of uric acid), suxamethonium (a muscle relaxant used in surgery)?
• Have you received any anti-tumour drugs or x-rays before?
• Are you pregnant, trying to become pregnant now, or likely to want to try to become pregnant in the future?
• Are you breast-feeding?

How will your medicine be administered

Your medicine is to be taken orally, but must be taken under the supervision of specialists.

Your doctor will advise you of how much and how often you will need to take your medicine. Dosage is calculated from the ratio of your weight and total body surface area (mg/m2).

Much higher doses may be used if the specialist thinks it is necessary.

Your doctor may also give you another drug called Mesna (Uromitexan) to try to prevent some of the side effects.

What might happen while you are receiving your medicine

Cyclophosphamide can cause the following side-effects:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache
• Kidney or liver problems resulting in reduced function. Blood tests will be done by your doctor.
• Blood problems such as decreased number of formed white and red blood cells, anaemia and thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), which might make you more susceptible to infection and bleeding (blood tests will be done by your doctor).
• Hair loss
• Lack of menstruation (periods) in females and infertility in men. Both of which are reversible.
• Sore mouth
• Colouration of skin
• Thickening of the lining of the lungs leading to shortness of breath.
• Allergic symptoms such as flushing, wheezing and swelling of the face, decreased blood pressure and increased heart rate.
• Inflammation of the pancreas.
• Alterations in blood sugar levels.
• Increased risk of blood clotting

There is an increased risk of leukaemia and some other cancers following Cyclophosphamide therapy.

If you suffer from these or any other unwanted effects during or after treatment with cyclophosphamide, tell your doctor.

Storing your medicine

Cyclophosphamide should not be used after the expiry date printed on the box and on the container. Do not store above 25 °C. Store in the original container in order to protect from moisture.

KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN