Zanosar
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Accepted at over 60,000 pharmacies nationwide
Generic Name: streptozocin
(STREP toe zoe sin)
What is Zanosar?
Zanosar is an antineoplastic medication. Streptozocin interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.
Zanosar is used to treat cancer of the pancreas.
Zanosar may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about Zanosar?
Zanosar 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 Zanosar including: allergic reactions (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); kidney damage (little or no urine production, blood in the urine); liver problems (changes in blood test results, abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes, decreased appetite, nausea); decreased bone marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; or fever, chills, or signs of infection); severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; secondary cancers; and others. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from treatment with streptozocin.
Treatment with Zanosar may cause drowsiness or confusion. Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities if drowsiness or confusion occurs.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using Zanosar?
Do not use Zanosar without first talking to your doctor if you have
The use of Zanosar may be dangerous if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Zanosar is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that streptozocin is known to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use streptozocin without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Discuss with your doctor the appropriate use of birth control during treatment with streptozocin if necessary.
It is not known whether Zanosar passes into breast milk. Breast-feeding should be avoided during treatment with streptozocin.
How should I use Zanosar?
Zanosar 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 Zanosar, 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.
Zanosar is usually administered as an intravenous (into a vein) injection.
Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests and other medical evaluations during treatment with Zanosar to monitor progress and side effects.
Your healthcare provider will store Zanosar as directed by the manufacturer. If you are storing streptozocin at home, follow the directions provided by your healthcare provider.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of Zanosar.
What happens if I overdose?
If an overdose of Zanosar is suspected, seek emergency medical attention or contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Symptoms of a Zanosar overdose tend to be similar to side effects caused by the medication, although often more severe.
What should I avoid while using Zanosar?
Zanosar 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 streptozocin. 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.
Treatment with Zanosar may cause drowsiness or confusion. Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities if drowsiness or confusion occurs.
What are the possible side effects of Zanosar?
If you experience any of the following serious side effects from Zanosar, contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical attention:
- an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives)
- kidney damage (little or no urine production, blood in the urine)
- liver problems (changes in blood test results, abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes, decreased appetite, nausea)
- decreased bone marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; or fever, chills, or signs of infection); or
- severe nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or diarrhea.
In some cases, secondary cancers have been reported to occur during and following treatment with Zanosar. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of this medication.
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue taking Zanosar and talk to your doctor if you experience:
- mild nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or diarrhea
- drowsiness
- confusion
- depression; or
- swelling, redness, burning, or tenderness at the injection site.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect Zanosar?
Do not receive "live" vaccines during treatment with Zanosar. Administration of a live vaccine may be dangerous during treatment with streptozocin.
Other medications may interact with Zanosar. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products, during treatment with streptozocin.
Where can I get more information?
Your healthcare provider may have additional information about Zanosar that you may read.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2009 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.04. Revision Date: 4/12/2009.
