About etoposide
Anticancer medicine; topoisomerase II inhibitor
Used for
- Treats certain cancers, including testicular cancer and small-cell lung cancer.
- Used in some blood cancers and other cancers, usually with other medicines.
Usual adult dose
Varies by cancer and treatment plan; commonly 50–100 mg/m² intravenously daily for 3–5 days per cycle.
Usual dose in children
Varies by cancer and protocol; specialist-directed dosing is based on body surface area.
Common side effects
- Low blood cell counts, increasing infection or bleeding risk
- Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite
- Hair loss
- Mouth sores and tiredness
Important warnings
- Can cause severe bone-marrow suppression and serious infections or bleeding.
- Can cause severe allergic reactions during infusion; intravenous administration requires monitoring.
- May increase risk of a later blood cancer.
- Requires careful dosing and monitoring by an oncology team.
Pregnancy
May harm an unborn baby. Avoid pregnancy during treatment; effective contraception is important.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment because of potential serious harm to the infant.
Interactions
- Ciclosporin may raise etoposide levels and increase toxicity.
- Other medicines that suppress bone marrow can increase blood-related side effects.
- Live vaccines may pose risks during cancer treatment.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.