CYCLOBLASTIN is used to treat certain types of cancer such as:
CYCLOBLASTIN is also used to:
CYCLOBLASTIN belongs to a group of medicines called antineoplastic medicines. You may also hear of these being called chemotherapy medicines.
In the treatment of cancer, CYCLOBLASTIN works by stopping cancer cells from growing and multiplying.
Your doctor may have prescribed CYCLOBLASTIN for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why CYCLOBLASTIN has been prescribed for you.
CYCLOBLASTIN is not addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Do not use CYCLOBLASTIN if you have an allergy to:
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to CYCLOBLASTIN may include:
Do not use CYCLOBLASTIN if you have an infection.
Do not use CYCLOBLASTIN if you have any of the following medical conditions:
Do not use CYCLOBLASTIN if you have had major surgery in the last 4 to 8 days.
Do not use CYCLOBLASTIN in the first 3 months of pregnancy. If you are more than 3 months pregnant, discuss using CYCLOBLASTIN with your doctor before starting the treatment.
Do not use CYCLOBLASTIN after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack.
Do not use CYCLOBLASTIN if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If you are not sure whether you should use CYCLOBLASTIN, talk to your doctor.
Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to:
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
Tell your doctor if you are taking insulin or other drugs for diabetes, barbiturates or you are having or have recently had corticosteroid therapy.
Tell your doctor if you have had previous chemotherapy, x-ray or radiotherapy.
Tell your doctor if you are or have been taking any other medicine for cancer.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. CYCLOBLASTIN should not be used during pregnancy, particularly in the first three months of pregnancy.
If there is any need to consider giving you CYCLOBLASTIN during your pregnancy, your doctor or pharmacist will discuss with you the benefits and risks of using it.
Use a proven method of birth control, such as the contraceptive pill or a condom, while taking the medicine and for at least 12 weeks after stopping treatment.
The medicine may cause birth defects if either you or your partner is taking it.
If you become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.
Following treatment with CYCLOBLASTIN you or your partner may not be able to become pregnant. Ask your doctor to discuss this with you.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start using CYCLOBLASTIN.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines, procedures and CYCLOBLASTIN may interfere with each other. These include:
These medicines may be affected by CYCLOBLASTIN or they may affect how well CYCLOBLASTIN works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.
Your doctor and pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking CYCLOBLASTIN.
It is advisable that you take your dose in the morning.
Your doctor will decide what dose you will receive. This depends on your condition and other factors, such as your weight, kidney function and the effect on your bone marrow of any previous treatment you may have had with x-ray or chemotherapy medicines.
Ask your doctor if you want to know more about the dose of CYCLOBLASTIN you receive.
Take the tablets exactly as instructed by your doctor.
Always read the pharmacist's label to check the exact dose and how often to take it.
Only take your dose on the days agreed with your doctor or pharmacist.
The dose depends on the condition this medicine is being used for.
Take the tablets at about the same time of day.
Taking the tablets at the same time of day will have the best effect. It will also help you to remember when to take the medicine.
Your doctor will decide how long to continue your treatment with CYCLOBLASTIN.
If you forget to take a dose, ask your doctor for advice.
Do not use a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 131 126), or go to accident and emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much CYCLOBLASTIN. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
Symptoms of a CYCLOBLASTIN overdose include the side effects listed below in the 'Side Effects' section, but are usually of a more severe nature.
Drink plenty of fluids before taking your medication and for 24 hours after you've taken your medication.
Empty your bladder frequently, especially for 24 hours after you've taken your medication.
Keep all your doctor's appointments so your progress can be checked. Your doctor may want to check your blood pressure and do some blood and other tests from time to time to check on your progress and detect any unwanted side effects.
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are having treatment with CYCLOBLASTIN.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor, dentist or pharmacist that you are having treatment with CYCLOBLASTIN.
If you plan to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic, it is very important you tell your doctor or dentist that you are having treatment with CYCLOBLASTIN.
If you become pregnant while you are having treatment with CYCLOBLASTIN, tell your doctor immediately.
Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
Grapefruit contains a substance that can reduce the effect of CYCLOBLASTIN.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking CYCLOBLASTIN.
CYCLOBLASTIN can lower the number of white blood cells and platelets in your blood. This means that you have an increased chance of getting an infection or bleeding. The following precautions should be taken to reduce your risk of infection or bleeding.
Do not give CYCLOBLASTIN to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not use CYCLOBLASTIN to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Avoid any contact with CYCLOBLASTIN.
Contact with the skin or eyes should be treated immediately by washing the affected area with water or sodium bicarbonate solution. Seek medical attention.
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how CYCLOBLASTIN affects you.
As with other antineoplastic medicines, CYCLOBLASTIN may cause dizziness and tiredness in some people. Make sure you know how you react to CYCLOBLASTIN before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or tired. If this occurs, do not drive. If you drink alcohol, the dizziness may be worse.
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are being treated with CYCLOBLASTIN.
Like other medicines that treat cancer, CYCLOBLASTIN may have unwanted side effects, some of which may be serious. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
These may be serious side effects. You may need medical attention.
Tell your doctor or nurse immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if any of the following happen:
These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients. Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
The benefits and side effects of CYCLOBLASTIN may take some time to occur. Therefore, even after you have finished your CYCLOBLASTIN treatment you should tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the side effects listed in this section.
Keep tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25 degrees C.
Do not store CYCLOBLASTIN or any other medicines in a bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it in the car or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep CYCLOBLASTIN where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
CYCLOBLASTIN 50 mg tablets are brown and have a round convex shape.
They are available in bottles of 50 tablets.
The active ingredient in CYCLOBLASTIN is cyclophosphamide.
CYCLOBLASTIN tablets also contain microcrystalline cellulose, maize starch, pregelatinised maize starch, lactose, gelatin, sodium stearylfumarate, magnesium stearate, macrogol 6000, sucrose, povidone, calcium carbonate, carnauba wax and a brown colouring agent (Opalux brown AS-9486).
CYCLOBLASTIN 50 mg tablets can be identified by the Australian Register Number on the carton label:
AUST R 73468.
CYCLOBLASTIN is made by Orion Corporation in Finland and supplied in Australia by:
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
ABN 50 008 422 348
38-42 Wharf Road
West Ryde NSW 2114
Australia
For medical enquiries call 1800 675 229.
This leaflet was revised in February 2006.
© Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
® Registered Trademark