Sipuleucel-t (Intravenous)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 2, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Provenge

Available Dosage Forms:

• Suspension

Therapeutic Class: Immunological Agent

Uses for sipuleucel-t

Sipuleucel-T is used to treat certain types of advanced prostate cancer. Sipuleucel-t is made from your own immune cells (autologous cellular immunotherapy).

Sipuleucel-t is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using sipuleucel-t

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 sipuleucel-t, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to sipuleucel-t 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

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of sipuleucel-T in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of sipuleucel-T in the elderly.

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.

Interactions with medicines

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. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Interactions with food/tobacco/alcohol

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 sipuleucel-t. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Heart disease or
• Heart rhythm problems (e.g., arrhythmia) or
• Lung disease or breathing problems or
• Stroke, history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

Proper use of sipuleucel-t

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you sipuleucel-t in a hospital. Sipuleucel-t is given through a needle placed in one of your veins.

Your doctor will tell you to have your immune cells collected three days before each scheduled infusion of sipuleucel-t at a cell collection center. This collection process is called leukapheresis. Your collected blood cells are mixed with a protein to make them ready for your infusion.

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