• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is etoposide?
Etoposide is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body. Etoposide is used to treat cancer of the lung or testicles. Etoposide may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Back to Top

What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

Back to Top

What are the possible side effects of etoposide?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;

• white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;

• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

• fast heart rate;

• severe nausea and vomiting;

• feeling light-headed, fainting; or

• low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:

• mild nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;

• mild itching or skin rash; or

• temporary hair loss.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Back to Top

How should I use etoposide?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Take each dose with a full glass of water. Do not break or open an etoposide capsule. The medicine from a broken capsule can be dangerous if it gets in your eyes, mouth, or nose, or on your skin. If skin contact occurs, wash the area with soap and water or rinse the eyes thoroughly with plain water. If you must handle a broken capsule, ask your doctor or pharmacist how to safely dispose of the capsule.

Back to Top

What is the most important information I should know about etoposide?
Do not use this medication without your doctor's consent if you are pregnant. It could cause harm to the unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Do not break or open an etoposide capsule. The medicine from a broken capsule can be dangerous if it gets in your eyes, mouth, or nose, or on your skin. If skin contact occurs, wash the area with soap and water or rinse the eyes thoroughly with plain water. If you must handle a broken capsule, ask your doctor or pharmacist how to safely dispose of the capsule.

Back to Top

What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Back to Top

What other drugs will affect etoposide?
Before using etoposide, tell your doctor if you are using cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf). There may be other drugs that can affect etoposide. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Back to Top

Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Etoposide has been assigned to pregnancy category D by the FDA. Animal studies have revealed evidence of teratogenicity in mice and rats. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while receiving this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus. Women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant during therapy. Etoposide should only be given during pregnancy when there are no alternatives and benefit outweighs risk.

Etoposide is teratogenic and embryocidal in rats and mice at doses of 1% to 3% of the recommended clinical dose based on body surface area. In a teratogenicity study in rats, etoposide was administered intravenously at doses of 0.13, 0.4, 1.2, and 3.6 mg/kg/day on days 6 to 15 of gestation. Dose-related maternal toxicity, embryotoxicity and teratogenicity at dose levels of 0.4 mg/kg/day and higher were reported. Embryonic resorptions were 90% and 100% at the 2 highest dosages. At 0.4 and 1.2 mg/kg, fetal weights were decreased and fetal abnormalities including decreased weight, major skeletal abnormalities, exencephaly, encephalocele and anophthalmia occurred. Even at the lowest dose tested, 0.13 mg/kg, a significant increase in retarded ossification was observed. Etoposide administered as a single intraperitoneal injection in mice at dosages of 1, 1.5, and 2 mg/kg on days 6, 7, or 8 of gestation caused dose related embryotoxicity, cranial abnormalities and major skeletal malformations.

There are no data on the excretion of etoposide into human milk.

Back to Top

Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to etoposide, etoposide phosphate, or any ingredient in the formulations.

Back to Top

What does my medication look like?
Etoposide injection is available with a prescription under the brand name VePesid. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

Back to Top

What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of an etoposide overdose may include severe nausea and vomiting, fever, chills, sore throat, flu symptoms, easy bruising, or extreme weakness.

Back to Top

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking etoposide?
Before using etoposide, tell your doctor if you have: kidney disease; or a weak immune system (from disease or from taking certain medicines). If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use etoposide, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment. FDA pregnancy category D. This medication can cause harm to an unborn baby. Do not use etoposide without your doctor's consent if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are using this medication.

Back to Top

Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

Back to Top

I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

Back to Top

Where can I get more information?
More Information

Back to Top