Thiotepa 15 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion

thiotepa

This medicine contains the active substance thiotepa, which belongs to a group of medicines called alkylating agents.

Thiotepa is used to prepare patients for bone marrow transplantation. It works by destroying bone marrow cells. This enables the transplantation of new bone marrow cells (haematopoietic progenitor cells), which in turn enable the body to produce healthy blood cells.

Thiotepa can be used in adults and children and adolescents.

Your doctor will calculate the dose according to your body surface or weight and your disease.

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

The most serious side effects of Thiotepa therapy or the transplant procedure may include:

• decrease in circulating blood cell counts (intended effect of the medicine to prepare you for your transplant infusion)
• infection
• liver disorders including blocking of a liver vein
• the graft attacks your body (graft versus host disease)
• respiratory complications

Your doctor will monitor your blood counts and liver enzymes regularly to detect and manage these events.

Side effects of Thiotepa may occur with certain frequencies, which are defined as follows:

Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)

• increased susceptibility to infection
• whole-body inflammatory state (sepsis)
• decreased counts of white blood cells, platelets and red blood cells (anaemia)
• the transplanted cells attack your body (graft versus host disease)
• dizziness, headache, blurred vision
• uncontrolled shaking of the body (convulsion)
• sensation of tingling, pricking or numbness (paraesthesia)
• partial loss of movement
• cardiac arrest
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea
• inflammation of the mucosa of the mouth (mucositis)
• irritated stomach, gullet, intestine
• inflammation of the colon
• anorexia, decreased appetite
• high glucose in the blood
• skin rash, itching, shedding
• skin colour disorder (do not confuse with jaundice -see below)
• redness of the skin (erythema)
• hair loss
• back and abdominal pain, pain
• muscle and joint pain
• abnormal electrical activity in the heart (arrhythmia)
• inflammation of lung tissue
• enlarged liver
• altered organ function
• blocking of a liver vein (Veno-Occlusive Disease, VOD)
• yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
• hearing impaired
• lymphatic obstruction
• high blood pressure
• increased liver, renal and digestive enzymes
• abnormal blood electrolytes
• weight gain
• fever, general weakness, chills
• bleeding (haemorrhage)
• nasal bleeding
• general swelling due to fluid retention (oedema)
• pain or inflammation at the injection site
• eye infection (conjunctivitis)
• decreased sperm cell count
• vaginal bleeding
• absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea)
• memory loss
• delaying in weight and height increase
• bladder disfunction
• underproduction of testosterone
• insufficient production of thyroid hormone
• deficient activity of the pituitary gland
• confusional state

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• anxiety, confusion
• abnormal bulging outward of one of the arteries in the brain (intracranial aneurysm)
• creatinine elevated
• allergic reactions
• occlusion of a blood vessel (embolism)
• heart rhythm disorder
• heart inability
• cardiovascular inability
• oxygen deficiency
• fluid accumulation in the lungs (pulmonary oedema)
• pulmonary bleeding
• respiratory arrest
• blood in the urine (haematuria) and moderate renal insufficiency
• inflammation of the urinary bladder
• discomfort in urination and decrease in urine output (disuria and oliguria)
• increase in the amount of nitrogen components in the blood stream (BUN increase)
• cataract
• inability of the liver
• cerebral haemorrhage
• cough
• constipation and upset stomach
• obstruction of the bowel
• perforation of stomach
• changes in muscle tone
• gross lack of coordination of muscle movements
• bruises due to a low platelet count
• menopausal symptoms
• cancer (second primary malignancies)
• abnormal brain function
• male and female infertility

Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• inflammation and exfoliation of the skin (erythrodermic psoriasis)
• delirium, nervousness, hallucination, agitation
• gastrointestinal ulcer
• inflammation of the muscular tissue of the heart (myocarditis)
• abnormal heart condition (cardiomyopathy)

Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data

• increased blood pressure in the arteries (blood vessels) of the lungs (pulmonary arterial hypertension)
• severe skin damage (e.g. severe lesions, bullae, etc.) potentially involving the full body surface which can be even life-threatening
• damage to a component of the brain (the so called white matter) which can be even life-threatening (leukoencephalopathy).

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and vial label after EXP.

The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Store and transport refrigerated (2°C-8°C).

Do not freeze.

After reconstitution the product is stable for 8 hours when stored at 2°C -8°C.

After dilution the product is stable for 24 hours when stored at 2°C -8°C and for 4 hours when stored at 25°C. From a microbiological point of view, the product should be used immediately.

Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.