Teniposide

Pronunciation: TEN-i-POE-side
Generic Name: Teniposide
Brand Name: Vumon

Severe infections or bleeding can occur with Teniposide.

Teniposide is used for:

Treating certain types of leukemia. Teniposide is used in combination with other medicines.

Teniposide is an antineoplastic. It works by damaging the tumor cell's DNA, resulting in tumor cell death.

Do NOT use Teniposide if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Teniposide, including polyoxyethylated castor oil


• you are taking disulfiram, insulin, or sodium oxybate (GHB)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Teniposide:

Some medical conditions may interact with Teniposide. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding


• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement


• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances


• if you have Down syndrome


• if you have a history of alcohol abuse

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Teniposide. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Cimetidine, enprostil, salicylates, sulfonamides (eg, sulfamethizole), and sulfonylureas (eg, tolbutamide) because the actions and side effects of Teniposide may be increased


• Barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), carbamazepine, and hydantoins (eg, phenytoin) because they may decrease Teniposide's effectiveness


• Acetaminophen, acitretin, amprenavir, calcineurin inhibitors (eg, pimecrolimus, tacrolimus), CNS depressants (eg, lorazepam), insulin, methotrexate, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) (eg, phenelzine), nitrates (eg, nitroglycerin), phenformin/metformin, sodium oxybate (GHB), or vinca alkaloids (eg, vincristine) because the actions and side effects of these medicines may be increased


• Cephalosporins (eg, cefazolin), disulfiram, fluorouracil, furazolidone, or metronidazole because an acute alcohol intolerance reaction may occur

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Teniposide may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Teniposide:

Use Teniposide as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Teniposide is usually given as an injection at your doctor's office, hospital, or clinic. If you will be using Teniposide at home, a health care provider will teach you how to use it. Be sure you understand how to use Teniposide. Follow the procedures you are taught when you use a dose. Contact your health care provider if you have any questions.


• Do not use Teniposide if it contains particles, is cloudy or discolored, or if the vial is cracked or damaged.


• If you spill Teniposide on your skin, wash it off right away with soap and water.


• Keep this product, as well as syringes and needles, out of the reach of children and pets. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials. Ask your health care provider how to dispose of these materials after use. Follow all local rules for disposal.


• If you miss a dose of Teniposide, contact your doctor immediately.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Teniposide.

Important safety information:

• If nausea or vomiting occurs, ask your doctor or pharmacist for ways to lessen these effects.


• Teniposide may cause dizziness or blurred vision. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Teniposide with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.


• Teniposide may lower the ability of your body to fight infection. Avoid contact with people who have colds or infections. Tell your doctor if you notice signs of infection like fever, sore throat, rash, or chills.


• Teniposide may reduce the number of clot-forming cells (platelets) in your blood. Avoid activities that may cause bruising or injury. Tell your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding. Tell your doctor if you have dark, tarry, or bloody stools.


• Do not receive a live vaccine (eg, measles, mumps) while you are taking Teniposide. Talk with your doctor before you receive any vaccine.


• Lab tests, including complete blood cell counts and kidney and liver function tests, may be performed while you use Teniposide. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.


• Use Teniposide with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects.


• Teniposide has benzyl alcohol in it. Do not use it in NEWBORNS or INFANTS. It may cause serious and sometimes fatal nervous system problems and other side effects.


• Use Teniposide with extreme caution in NEWBORNS; safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been confirmed.


• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Teniposide has been shown to cause harm to the fetus. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Teniposide while you are pregnant. It is not known if Teniposide is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Teniposide.

Possible side effects of Teniposide:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Diarrhea; hair loss; nausea; rash; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blurred vision; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, sore throat, or cough; flushing; mouth sores; pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site; severe or persistent dizziness or headache; severe or persistent nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness or weakness.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: Teniposide side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately.

Proper storage of Teniposide:

Store Teniposide in the refrigerator, between 36 and 46 degrees F (2 and 8 degrees C) in the original package. Store away from heat and light. Keep Teniposide, as well as needles and syringes, out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Teniposide, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.


• Teniposide is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.


• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.


• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Teniposide. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Teniposide resources

• Teniposide Side Effects (in more detail)
• Teniposide Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Teniposide Drug Interactions
• Teniposide Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Teniposide - Add your own review/rating

• Teniposide Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Teniposide Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)


• teniposide Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)


• teniposide Intravenous Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Vumon Prescribing Information (FDA)

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