Hycamtin (oral/injection)
Generic name:topotecan (oral/injection) [ TOE-poe-TEE-kan ]
Drug class:Miscellaneous antineoplastics
What is Hycamtin?
Hycamtin is used to treat ovarian cancer, small cell lung cancer, and certain types of cervical cancer.
Hycamtin is usually given after other treatments have failed.
Hycamtin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Warnings
Hycamtin affects your immune system. You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Call your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding, or signs of infection (fever, chills, cough, diarrhea, stomach cramps, pain or burning when you urinate).
Before taking this medicine
You should not use Hycamtin if you are allergic to it.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
severe diarrhea;
kidney disease;
lung problems; or
a chest X-ray or radiation treatment of your chest area.
Hycamtin can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects if the mother or the father is using Hycamtin.
If you are a woman, do not use Hycamtin if you are pregnant. You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 6 months after your last dose.
If you are a man, use effective birth control if your sex partner is able to get pregnant. Keep using birth control for at least 3 months after your last dose.
Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using Hycamtin.
This medicine may affect fertility (ability to have children) in both men and women. However, it is important to use birth control to prevent pregnancy because Hycamtin may harm the baby if a pregnancy does occur.
You should not breastfeed while using Hycamtin, and for at least 1 week after your last dose.
How should I use Hycamtin?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Hycamtin capsules are taken by mouth, with or without food. You may need to take two different colored capsules at one time. Make sure you know the difference between capsules because one contains 4 times as much this medicine as the other, even though they may look the same in size.
If you vomit after taking a Hycamtin capsule, do not take another dose that same day.
Do not use a broken or opened capsule. The medicine from a broken pill can be dangerous if it gets in ...
