Cytarabine Liposome

(sye-tare-uh-been lip-uh-soam)

Trade/other name(s): DepoCyt

Why would this drug be used?

Cytarabine liposome is used to treat lymphoma that has spread to the lining of the spinal cord (lymphomatous meningitis)

How does this drug work?

Cytarabine liposome belongs to a class of drugs known as anti-metabolites. It keeps cells from making DNA and RNA. This helps stop the growth of cancer cells. Because this form of the drug is enclosed in a fat-like, protective covering (liposome), it doesn't break down quickly. One dose lasts for about two weeks.

Before taking this medicine

Tell your doctor…

• If you are allergic to anything, including medicines, dyes, additives, or foods.
• If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or if there is any chance of pregnancy. This drug may cause birth defects if either the male or female is taking it at the time of conception or during pregnancy. Check with your doctor about what kinds of birth control can be used with this medicine.
• If you are breast-feeding. It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. If it does, it could harm the baby.
• If you think you might want to have children in the future. Although risk may be lower with this medicine because most of it is not absorbed into the blood, some chemotherapy drugs can cause sterility. Talk with your doctor about the possible risk with this drug and the options that may preserve your ability to have children.
• About any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines you are taking, including vitamins and herbs. In fact, keeping a written list of each of these medicines (including the doses of each and when you take them) with you in case of emergency may help prevent complications if you get sick.

Interactions with other drugs

Other types of chemotherapy or radiation given during the same time as cytarabine liposome may increase the risk of brain or neurologic damage.

Check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about other medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements, and whether alcohol can cause problems with this medicine.

Interactions with foods

No serious interactions with food are known at this time. Check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about whether foods may be a problem.

Tell all the doctors, dentists, nurses, and pharmacists you visit that you are taking this drug.

How is this drug taken or given?

Cytarabine liposome is given into the fluid around the spinal cord. The dose of liposomal cytarabine depends on your weight and what other medicines you take. Your doctor can answer any questions about the right dose of cytarabine for you. You should also get dexamethasone, a steroid medicine, along with cytarabine liposome.

Precautions

If the cytarabine liposome is given by lumbar puncture (LP), make sure you lie flat for an hour after the medicine is given to prevent a headache.

Make sure you take the dexamethasone as directed starting the first day you get the drug and continuing on for the full 5 days. This will lower your chance of getting a bad headache, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, and other serious effects.

Let your doctor know right away if you have nausea, vomiting, headache, fever, neck pain, or stiff neck within a day or two after getting the cytarabine liposome by lumbar puncture. These symptoms could be signs of a complication called chemical arachnoiditis, which needs to be treated.

This drug can affect the nerves in the lower part of the body. If you notice weakness or numbness in the legs or feet, or lose control of your bladder or bowels, contact your doctor right away.

Avoid pregnancy during and for at least a few months after treatment, since exposure to the drug can harm the fetus. Talk with your doctor about this.

Possible side effects

You will probably not have most of the following side effects, but if you have any talk to your doctor or nurse. They can help you understand the side effects and cope with them.

Common

• headache*
• nausea*
• vomiting*
• fever*
• back pain
• stiff neck*
• sleepiness
• weakness

Less common

• numbness and tingling of the fingers and toes
• trouble walking
• dehydration
• confusion
• seizures
• dizziness
• trembling
• trouble sleeping
• depression
• agitation
• trouble breathing
• incontinence (being unable to control the output of urine or stool)

Rare

• blurred vision, blindness (which may be permanent)
• deafness
• paralysis
• death due to infection, inflammation of tissues around the brain, or other cause

*See "Precautions" section for more detailed information.

There are other side effects not listed above that can also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or nurse if you develop these or any other problems.

FDA approval

Yes – first approved in 1999.

Disclaimer: This information does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions. It is not intended as medical advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for talking with your doctor, who is familiar with your medical needs.