Teniposide (Intravenous)
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 12, 2022.
Teniposide should be administered under the supervision of a qualified physician experienced in prescribing chemotherapy. Severe myelosuppression, resulting in infection or bleeding, may occur with teniposide. Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis-like symptoms, may occur with initial dosing or with repeated exposure to teniposide. Epinephrine, with or without corticosteroids and antihistamines, has been used to treat hypersensitivity reactions .
Commonly used brand name(s)
In the U.S.
- Vumon
Available Dosage Forms:
- Solution
Therapeutic Class: Antineoplastic Agent
Pharmacologic Class: Mitotic Inhibitor
Uses for teniposide
Teniposide injection is used in combination with other medicines to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Teniposide belongs to the group of medicines known as antineoplastic agents. It interferes with the growth of the cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by teniposide, other effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other effects, like hair loss, may not be serious but may cause concern. Some effects may not occur until months or years after the medicine is used.
Before you begin treatment with teniposide, you and your doctor should talk about the benefits of teniposide as well as the risks of using it.
Teniposide is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor.
Before using teniposide
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 teniposide, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to teniposide 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 teniposide injection in children.
Geriatric
No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of teniposide injection in geriatric patients. However, elderly patients are more likely to have unwanted side effects (e.g., hypotension or low blood pressure), which may require caution in patients receiving teniposide injection.
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. When you are taking teniposide, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the me..
