Gem-C Injection

Gemcitabine Injection is a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor indicated: - in combination with carboplatin, for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer that has relapsed at least 6 months after completion of platinum-based therapy. - in combination with paclitaxel, for first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer after failure of prior anthracycline-containing adjuvant chemotherapy, unless anthracyclines were clinically contraindicated. - in combination with cisplatin for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. - as a single agent for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Ovarian Cancer Gemcitabine Injection in combination with carboplatin is indicated for the treatment of patients with advanced ovarian cancer that has relapsed at least 6 months after completion of platinum-based therapy. Breast Cancer Gemcitabine Injection in combination with paclitaxel is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer after failure of prior anthracycline-containing adjuvant chemotherapy, unless anthracyclines were clinically contraindicated. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Gemcitabine Injection in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with inoperable, locally advanced (Stage IIIA or IIIB) or metastatic (Stage IV) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Pancreatic Cancer Gemcitabine Injection is indicated as first-line treatment for patients with locally advanced (nonresectable Stage II or Stage III) or metastatic (Stage IV) adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Gemcitabine Injection is indicated for patients previously treated with fluorouracil.

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Source: US FDA prescribing information, via openFDA. Provided for general information only — it is not a substitute for your doctor's or pharmacist's advice. Always follow your prescriber's instructions.

• Schedule-Dependent Toxicity: Increased toxicity with infusion time greater than 60 minutes or dosing more frequently than once weekly. - Myelosuppression: Monitor for myelosuppression prior to each cycle and reduce or withhold dose for severe myelosuppression. - Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions (SCARs): Permanently discontinue Gemcitabine Injection if SCARs occur. - Pulmonary Toxicity and Respiratory Failure: Discontinue Gemcitabine Injection for unexplained dyspnea or other evidence of severe pulmonary toxicity. - Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS): Monitor renal function prior to initiation and during treatment. Discontinue Gemcitabine Injection for HUS or severe renal impairment. - Hepatic Toxicity: Monitor hepatic function prior to initiation and during treatment. Discontinue Gemcitabine Injection for severe hepatic toxicity. - Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Can cause fetal harm. Advise females and males of reproductive potential to use effective contraception. - Exacerbation of Radiation Therapy Toxicity: May cause severe and life-threatening toxicity when administered during or within 7 days of radiation therapy. - Capillary Leak Syndrome: Discontinue Gemcitabine Injection. - Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES): Discontinue Gemcitabine Injection. Schedule-Dependent Toxicity In clinical trials evaluating the maximum tolerated dose of Gemcitabine, prolongation of the infusion time beyond 60 minutes or more frequent than weekly dosing resulted in an increased incidence of clinically significant hypotension, severe flu-like symptoms, myelosuppression, and asthenia. The half-life of Gemcitabine is influenced by the length of the infusion. Refer to the recommended Gemcitabine Injection dosage. Myelosuppression manifested by neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia, occurs with Gemcitabine as a single agent and the risks are increased when Gemcitabine is combined with other cytotoxic drugs. In clinical trials, Grade 3 to 4 neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia occurred in 25%, 8%, and 5%, respectively of the 979 patients who received single agent Gemcitabine. The frequencies of Grade 3 to 4 neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia varied from 48% to 71%, 8% to 28%, and 5% to 55%, respectively, in patients receiving Gemcitabine in combination with another drug. Prior to each dose of Gemcitabine Injection, obtain a complete blood count (CBC) with a differential and a platelet count. Modify the dosage as recommended. Abridged from the full prescribing information.

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Source: US FDA prescribing information, via openFDA. Provided for general information only — it is not a substitute for your doctor's or pharmacist's advice. Always follow your prescriber's instructions.

The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: - Hypersensitivity - Schedule-Dependent Toxicity - Myelosuppression - Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions - Pulmonary Toxicity and Respiratory Failure - Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome - Hepatic Toxicity - Exacerbation of Radiation Therapy Toxicity - Capillary Leak Syndrome - Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome The most common adverse reactions for the single agent (≥20%) are nausea/vomiting, anemia, increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST), increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT), neutropenia, increased alkaline phosphatase, proteinuria, fever, hematuria, rash, thrombocytopenia, dyspnea, and edema. Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Single Agent The data described below reflect exposure to Gemcitabine as a single agent administered at doses between 800 mg/m 2 to 1250 mg/m 2 intravenously over 30 minutes once weekly, in 979 patients with various malignancies. The most common (≥20%) adverse reactions of single agent Gemcitabine are nausea/vomiting, anemia, increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT), increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST), neutropenia, increased alkaline phosphatase, proteinuria, fever, hematuria, rash, thrombocytopenia, dyspnea, and edema. The most common (≥5%) Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions were neutropenia, nausea/vomiting, increased ALT, increased alkaline phosphatase, anemia, increased AST, and thrombocytopenia. Approximately 10% of the 979 patients discontinued Gemcitabine due to adverse reactions. Adverse reactions resulting in discontinuation of Gemcitabine in 2% of 979 patients were cardiovascular adverse reactions (myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, arrhythmia, and hypertension) and adverse reactions resulting in discontinuation of Gemcitabine in <1% of 979 patients were anemia, thrombocytopenia, hepatic dysfunction, renal dysfunction, nausea/vomiting, fever, rash, dyspnea, hemorrhage, infection, stomatitis, somnolence, flu-like syndrome, and edema. Tables 5 and 6 present the incidence of selected adverse reactions and laboratory abnormalities reported in patients with various malignancies receiving single agent Gemcitabine across 5 clinical trials. Additional clinically significant adverse reactions are provided following Table 6. Abridged from the full prescribing information.

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Source: US FDA prescribing information, via openFDA. Provided for general information only — it is not a substitute for your doctor's or pharmacist's advice. Always follow your prescriber's instructions.