What is the most important information I should know about plicamycin?
Plicamycin should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider
experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Serious side effects have been reported with the use of plicamycin including: allergic reactions
(difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); decreased bone
marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry
stools; fever or chills; or signs of infection such as fever; chills, or sore throat); severe nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, and loss of appetite; and others. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from
treatment with plicamycin.
Plicamycin should not be used in women who are or may become
pregnant.
What is plicamycin?
Plicamycin is a cancer (antineoplastic) medication. Plicamycin interferes with the growth of
cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.
Plicamycin is used to treat cancer of the testicles. Plicamycin is also used in the treatment of
treat too much calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia) and too much calcium in the urine (hypercalciuria)
associated with a variety of advanced forms of cancer.
Plicamycin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
Who should not take plicamycin?
Before taking plicamycin, tell your doctor if you have
You may not be able to take plicamycin, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Plicamycin is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that plicamycin is known to
cause
birth defects in an unborn baby. Plicamycin may also affect egg production in women and
sperm
production in men.
Do not take plicamycin if you are pregnant or could become
pregnant during treatment. Contraceptive measures are recommended during treatment with plicamycin.
It is not known whether plicamycin passes into breast milk. Do not take
plicamycin without first talking to your doctor if you are breast feeding a baby.
How should I take plicamycin?
Plicamycin should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider
experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Your doctor will determine the correct amount and frequency of treatment with plicamycin
depending upon the type of cancer being treated and other factors. Talk to your doctor if you have any
questions or concerns regarding the treatment schedule.
Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests and other medical
evaluations during treatment with plicamycin to monitor progress and side effects.
Your healthcare provider will store cladribine as directed by the manufacturer. If you are storing
cladribine, follow the directions provided by your healthcare provider.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of plicamycin injection.
What happens if I overdose?
If for any reason an overdose of plicamycin is suspected, seek emergency medical attention
or contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Symptoms of a plicamycin overdose tend to be similar to side effects caused by the medication,
although often more severe.
What should I avoid while taking plicamycin?
Plicamycin can lower the activity of your immune system making you susceptible to infections.
Avoid contact with people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses and do not receive
vaccines that contain live strains of a virus (e.g., live oral polio vaccine) during treatment with
plicamycin. In addition, avoid contact with individuals who have recently been vaccinated with a live
vaccine. There is a chance that the virus can be passed on to you.
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