Alrubicin 50 Injection

Composition Epirubicin (50mg)
Rx Prescription Required
Pack vial of 1 Injection
Storage Store in a refrigerator (2 – 8°C). Do not freeze.
Chemical Class Anthracycline Derivative
Action Class Cytotoxic Alkaloids
Habbit Forming
Manufacturer Alkem Laboratories Ltd
Manufacturer address Alkem Laboratories Limited, Devashish Building, Alkem House, Senapati Bapat Road, Lower Parel, Mumbai – 400 013.

Alrubicin 50 Injection is used in the treatment of various types of cancers of blood, breast, stomach, lung, ovaries and soft tissues. It also helps to prevent the recurrence of bladder cancer after surgery.

It is given as a drip or infusion vein with extreme caution by a qualified medical professional. It can be used alone, or sometimes given together with certain other medicines as part of combination chemotherapy. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to. It makes contraceptive pills less effective, so it advised to both male and female to use reliable contraception during the treatment.

The most common side effects of this medicine include nausea, low blood platelets, hair loss, absence of menstrual periods, fever and rash. It is known to reduce the number of blood cells in your blood thereby, increasing the susceptibility to infections. Infections can sometimes be life threatening. Regular blood tests are required to monitor your blood cells along with kidney, liver and heart function during treatment with this medicine.

Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, or have heart problem. Your doctor should also know about all other medicines you are taking as many of these may make this medicine less effective or change the way it works. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Cancer

Your doctor or nurse will give you this medicine. Kindly do not self administer.

Alrubicin 50 Injection is an anti-cancer medication. It works by suppressing the activity of an enzyme (topoisomerase II) involved in DNA multiplication of the breast cancer cells. It also forms harmful chemicals (free radicals) which cause DNA damage. This slows the growth of breast cancer cells and eventually kills them.

Q: What if you forget to take this medicine?
A:

Alrubicin 50 Injection is used alone or in combination with other medicines for the treatment of various types of cancers.

It is given through a drip into a vein (intravenous infusion) by a doctor or nurse.

It may make you feel tired or sleepy. Do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how it affects you.

Use a reliable contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy while you are taking this medicine and for 6 months after stopping treatment.

Your doctor may get regular blood tests done to monitor your blood cells, liver, and heart function during treatment with this medicine.

Inform your doctor immediately if you notice any signs of infection such as fever, sore throat or rash.

Q. Is Alrubicin 50 Injection a vesicant (agent that causes tissue blistering and damage)?

Yes, Alrubicin 50 Injection is a vesicant; it may cause tissue blistering if it leaks out of the vein.

Q. How effective is Alrubicin 50 Injection?

Alrubicin 50 Injection is effective in the treatment of various cancers including cancer of the breast, ovary, stomach, lung, bowel or rectum, malignant lymphomas (a type of blood cancer of infection-fighting cells of the blood) such as Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia (blood cancer), multiple myeloma (a type of blood cancer of infection-fighting cells of the blood). It may be used in bladder cancers and to prevent reoccurrence of bladder cancer after surgery. It effectively slows or stops the growth of cancer cells in the body.

In Cancer

Alrubicin 50 Injection helps to treat certain kinds of cancer. It may be used alone or in combination with other medicines to treat cancer in various parts of the body. Alrubicin 50 Injection kills or stops the growth of cancer cells and also prevents the multiplication of cancer cells. It is a potent and very toxic medicine and you should discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. You should avoid drinking alcohol while having this treatment and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Low blood platelets

Nausea

Hair loss

Absence of menstrual periods

Fever

Anemia (low number of red blood cells)

Diarrhea

Weight loss

Decreased white blood cell count (neutrophils)

Hot flashes

Gastrointestinal inflammation

Rash

Low energy

Eye disorder

Alcohol:UNSAFE

It is unsafe to consume alcohol with Alrubicin 50 Injection.

Pregnancy:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

Alrubicin 50 Injection is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However, the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor.

Breast feeding:UNSAFE

Alrubicin 50 Injection is unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Data suggests that the drug may cause toxicity to the baby.

Driving:UNSAFE

Alrubicin 50 Injection may cause side effects which could affect your ability to drive.Alrubicin 50 Injection may cause episodes of nausea and vomiting, which can temporarily lead to an impairment of the ability to drive.

Kidney:SAFE IF PRESCRIBED

Alrubicin 50 Injection is probably safe to use in patients with kidney disease. Limited data available suggests that dose adjustment of Alrubicin 50 Injection may not be needed in these patients. Please consult your doctor.Lower doses may be considered in patients with serum creatinine > 5 mg/dL.

Liver:CAUTION

Alrubicin 50 Injection should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Alrubicin 50 Injection may be needed. Please consult your doctor.Use of Alrubicin 50 Injection is not recommended in patients with severe liver disease.

Chabner BA, Bertino J, Cleary J, et al. Cytotoxic Agents. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. p. 1715.
Chu E, Sartorelli AC. Cancer Chemotherapy. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. p. 952.
Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 478-79.
Epirubicin hydrochloride. Wedel, Germany: Medac GmbH; 2008 [revised Jun. 2016]. [Accessed 26 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from: View
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). [Accessed 27 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from: View