How Are Treatment Progress And Side Effects Monitored
Lab tests play a big role in monitoring treatment progress and side effects. Your doctor will use lab tests to help diagnose and assess your multiple myeloma. Take a look at the Lab Test Tracker to familiarize yourself with the terms and reference ranges for different tests. This way, you can have a more productive conversation when speaking with your doctor about your treatment progress. Learn about NINLARO and side effects.
- Other common side effects have occurred. Tell your healthcare provider if you get new or worsening signs or symptoms of the following:
- back pain
- skin rash and pain as a result of reactivation of the chicken pox virus
- lowered white blood cells called neutrophils that may increase the risk of infection
- vision conditions including blurred vision, dry eye and pink eye
These are not all the possible side effects of NINLARO. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
How Is This Drug Best Taken
Use this drug as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.
- Take this drug at the same time of day.
- Keep taking this drug as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well.
- You will need to take special care when handling this drug. Check with the doctor or pharmacist to see how to handle this drug.
- Take with or without food.
- Take with a full glass of water.
- Swallow whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
- Do not open the capsules.
- People who are pregnant or of childbearing age must not touch the capsules.
- If you touch a broken capsule, or the drug inside the capsule, wash the area with soap and water.
- If a broken capsule or the drug inside the capsule touches your eyes, rinse your eyes right away with water.
- Do not donate blood while using this drug and for 1 month after stopping.
- Do not donate sperm while using this drug and for 1 month after stopping.
- If you have upset stomach, throwing up, diarrhea, or are not hungry, talk with your doctor. There may be ways to lower these side effects.
- Talk with your doctor before getting any vaccines. Use of some vaccines with this drug may either raise the chance of an infection or make the vaccine not work as well.
Financial And Insurance Assistance
If you need financial support to pay for Darzalex, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.
Janssen Biotech, Inc., the manufacturer of Darzalex, offers a program called Janssen CarePath. For more information and to find out if youre eligible for support, call 844-553-2792 or visit the program website.
The Darzalex dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- if your condition is newly diagnosed or youve received one or more previous multiple myeloma treatment
- any other treatments youre receiving along with Darzalex to treat multiple myeloma
- your weight
- other medical conditions you may have
- any side effects that dont go away
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to suit your needs. To get the most out of this treatment, its important to go to all of your appointments and not skip any days.
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How Serious Is My Multiple Myeloma
If you have multiple myeloma, the doctor will want to find out how advanced it is. This is called staging.
The stage of multiple myeloma is based on the results of x-rays and certain blood or urine tests. Be sure to ask the doctor about the stage of your multiple myeloma and what it means for you.
Questions to ask the doctor:
- Do you know the stage of my cancer?
- If not, how and when will you find out the stage of the cancer?
- Would you explain to me what the stage means in my case?
- Based on the stage of the cancer, how long do you think Ill live?
- What will happen next?
Treating Symptoms And Complications Of Myeloma
As well as the main treatments for multiple myeloma, you may also need treatment to help relieve some of the problems caused by the condition.
For example:
- painkillers to reduce pain
- radiotherapy to relieve bone pain or help healing after a bone is surgically repaired
- bisphosphonate medicine given as tablets or by injection to help prevent bone damage and reduce the levels of calcium in your blood
- blood transfusions or erythropoietin medication to increase your red blood cell count and treat anaemia
- surgery to repair or strengthen damaged bones, or treat compression of the spinal cord
- dialysis may be required if you develop kidney failure
- plasma exchange treatment to remove and replace the liquid that makes up blood if you have unusually thick blood
These treatments can each cause side effects and complications. Make sure you discuss the potential risks and benefits with your treatment team.
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Are There Any Other Precautions Or Warnings For This Medication
Before you begin taking a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should take this medication.
Bleeding: Lenalidomide may cause a reduced number of platelets in the blood, which can make it difficult to stop cuts from bleeding. If you notice any signs of bleeding, such as frequent nosebleeds, unexplained bruising, or black and tarry stools, notify your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will order routine blood tests to make sure potential problems are caught early.
Blood clots: Lenalidomide increases the risk of developing blood clots in the legs and lungs. If you experience sudden shortness of breath, blurred vision, difficulty speaking, chest pain, arm or leg pain, and swelling, contact your doctor immediately.
Blood donation: Do not give blood during and for 4 weeks after your treatment with lenalidomide. If a pregnant woman received your donated blood, her baby could be exposed to lenalidomide and might be born with birth defects.
Diabetes: Lenalidomide may cause an increase in blood sugar levels and glucose tolerance may change. People with diabetes may find it necessary to monitor their blood sugar more frequently while using this medication.
Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children.
Alcohol Use And Darzalex
Alcohol isnt known to interact with Darzalex. But its recommended that you avoid drinking alcohol the day before and after your infusions. Thats because alcohol can make you dehydrated. Its important to stay hydrated before, during, and after your infusions. This is because Darzalex can cause dehydration as well.
Alcohol might also increase your risk of certain side effects that you may have with Darzalex. These include nausea, diarrhea, or tiredness.
If you have questions about drinking alcohol while youre having Darzalex treatment, talk with your doctor.
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Velcade And Herbs And Supplements
Velcade may interact with certain herbs and supplements. Below, we describe two possible interactions. But other interactions may also be possible. Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any herb or supplement products while youre taking Velcade.
Velcade and St. Johns wort
St. Johns wort is an herbal supplement thats sometimes used by people with anxiety and depression. But taking St. Johns wort with Velcade may decrease levels of Velcade in your body. And this can prevent Velcade from working properly.
Talk with your doctor before taking St. Johns wort with Velcade.
Velcade and vitamin C
Vitamin C supplements are usually taken to help boost the activity of your immune system. But in one animal study , Velcades effect was blocked by vitamin C. This means Velcade wasnt able to work properly. However, keep in mind that animal studies dont always predict what will happen in people.
Talk with your doctor about whether its safe for you to take vitamin C while youre taking Velcade.
How Should I Use This Medication
Daratumumab may be injected intravenously through a specially prepared site on your skin or injected subcutaneously .
When given intravenously, the initial dose of daratumumab depends on body size and is usually 16 mg per kilogram of body weight. The treatment schedule varies depending on whether or not it is a newly diagnosed or a previously treated multiple myeloma.
The usual dose of daratumumab given subcutaneously is 1,800 mg injected slowly under the skin, in the stomach area, usually over a period of about 3 to 5 minutes. The treatment schedule varies depending the condition being treated, other medications being used and how far along you are in your treatment schedule.
Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, discuss any concerns with your doctor.
It is important this medication be given exactly as recommended by your doctor. If you miss an appointment to receive daratumumab, contact your doctor as soon as possible to reschedule your appointment.
This medication must be handled very carefully. Daratumumab should only be given by healthcare professionals familiar with the use of chemotherapy medications used to treat cancer. It is always given under the supervision of a doctor in a hospital or similar setting with access to sterile equipment for preparation.
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What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About Daratumumab
If you need to receive a blood transfusion, be sure to tell your caregivers that you are being treated with daratumumab.
If you’ve ever had hepatitis B, using daratumumab can cause this virus to become active or get worse. Tell your doctor if you don’t feel well and you have right-sided upper stomach pain, vomiting, loss of appetite, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.
Carefully follow all instructions about the use of birth control while you are using daratumumab in combination with other medicines.
How Long Will Velcade Stay In My Body
The length of time that Velcade stays in your body depends on a couple things, such as:
- your liver function
- your kidney function
- how quickly your body breaks down the drug
This length of time can vary from person to person. However, the average half-life of Velcade is between 40 hours and 193 hours.
Just one dose of Velcade can stay in your system over a long period of time. Because of this, its recommended that you wait at least 72 hours between Velcade doses.
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Kyprolis For Multiple Myeloma
The Food and Drug Administration approves prescription drugs such as Kyprolis to treat certain conditions.
Kyprolis is FDA-approved to treat multiple myeloma in adults. Its used in people whose past treatments didnt work to treat the condition.
Depending on how your multiple myeloma has been treated in the past, Kyprolis can be used in one of the following ways:
- If youve received one or more multiple myeloma treatments in the past, Kyprolis can be used on its own.
- If youve received one to three other treatments in the past, Kyprolis can be used with other drugs. Specifically, it can be given in combination with either:
- a steroid called dexamethasone
- both dexamethasone and a cancer drug called lenalidomide
- both dexamethasone and a cancer drug called daratumumab
Lenalidomide May Cause Side Effects Tell Your Doctor If Any Of These Symptoms Are Severe Or Do Not Go Away:
- diarrhea
- change in ability to taste
- pain or burning of the tongue, mouth, or throat
- burning or tingling in the hands or feet
- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- depression
- joint, muscle, bone, or back pain
- painful, frequent, or urgent urination
- sweating
- bloody, cloudy, or painful urination
- increased or decreased urination
If you are taking lenalidomide to treat multiple myeloma and you also receive melphalan or a blood stem cell transplant, you may have a higher risk of developing new cancers. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking lenalidomide. Your doctor will check you for new cancers during your treatment with lenalidomide.
Lenalidomide may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.
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Possible Side Effects Of Daratumumab
There are a number of things you can do to manage the side effects of daratumumab. Talk to your care team about these recommendations. They can help you decide what will work best for you. These are some of the most common or important side effects:
Allergic Reactions
Some patients will experience some form of an allergic reaction to daratumumab, most commonly during the first infusion. Almost all reactions occurred during the infusion or within 4 hours of completion of the infusion. Signs of a reaction can include cough, wheezing, throat tightness, swelling or irritation, nasal congestion, high or low blood pressure, high heart rate, dizziness, chest pain, headache, rash, itching, nausea, vomiting, and chills. If you notice any changes in how you feel during the infusion, let your nurse know immediately. The infusion will be stopped if this occurs and your side effects will be managed. If your side effects can be managed, the dose will continue to be administered, possibly at a slower rate.
Low White Blood Cell Count
White blood cells are important for fighting infection. While receiving treatment, your WBC count can drop, putting you at a higher risk of getting an infection. You should let your doctor or nurse know right away if you have a fever , sore throat or cold, shortness of breath, cough, burning with urination, or a sore that doesn’t heal.
Tips to preventing infection:
Low Platelet Count
Low Red Blood Cell Count
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Nausea and/or Vomiting
Dosage For Myelodysplastic Syndromes
If you have myelodysplastic syndromes and red blood cell transfusion-dependent anemia, you should take 10 mg of Revlimid daily. There are no dosing cycles for this condition. Your doctor will monitor how your body reacts to Revlimid. Based on this, theyll indicate when you should stop taking Revlimid.
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What Other Drugs Could Interact With This Medication
There may be an interaction between daratumumab and any of the following:
- 5-ASA medications
- BCG
- upadacitinib
- vaccines
If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:
- stop taking one of the medications,
- change one of the medications to another,
- change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
- leave everything as is.
An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.
Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter , and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 2022. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/drug/getdrug/Darzalex