Bexarotene : Before Using

Bexarotene - Systemic

Brand Names

Targretin Bexarotene *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For bexarotene, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to bexarotene or other retinoid - vitamin A preparations. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy care

Bexarotene must not be taken during pregnancy because of the possible chance to the infant. In addition, bexarotene must not be taken if there is a risk that you may become pregnant 1 month before treat, during treat and within 1 month after treat is ended. Women who are able to have children must have a pregnancy test done within 1 week before starting bexarotene, to make sure they are not pregnant. The pregnancy test must be repeated once a month during treat. For 1 month before treat with bexarotene, during treat and for 1 month after treat is over, you must use two effective forms of birth control at the same time. Bexarotene may interfere with the effectiveness of hormonal birth control - such as the pills, so one form of birth control must be non-hormonal, such as condoms. Male diseaseds with sexual partners who are pregnant, possibly pregnant, or who could become pregnant must use condoms during sexual intercourse while taking bexarotene and for at least 1 month after taking the last dose. Be sure you have discussed this information with your family doctor.

Breast-feeding problem

It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. However, bexarotene is not recommended during breast-feeding, because it may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies.

Use for Children

Studies of this drug have been done only in adult diseaseds and there is no special info comparing the use of bexarotene in child with use in other age groups.

Elderly care

This drug has been tested in diseaseds 60 years of age or older and has not been shown to cause various side effects or problems in elderly people than it does in adults people. However, elderly diseaseds may be more sensitive to the effects of bexarotene.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking bexarotene, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are using any of the following:

Acyclovir - Zovirax
Anticonvulsants - seizure drug
Antidiabetics, oral - diabetes drug taken by mouth
Anti-infectives by mouth or by injection - drug for infection
Antipsychotics - drug for mental illness
Captopril - Capoten
Enalapril - Vasotec
Flecainide - Tambocor
Gold salts - drug for arthritis
Imipenem
Inflammation or pain drug, except narcotics
Lisinopril - Prinivil, Zestril
Maprotiline - Ludiomil
Penicillamine - Cuprimine
Pimozide - Orap
Procainamide - Pronestyl
Promethazine - Phenergan
Ramipril - Altace
Sulfasalazine - Azulfidine
Tiopronin - Thiola
Tocainide - Tonocard
Tricyclic antidepressants - drug for depression
Trimeprazine - Temaril Concurrent use of these agents with bexarotene may cause blood disorders

Alpha interferons - Intron A, Roferon-A
Amphotericin B by injection - Fungizone
Antineoplastics, other - cancer drug
Antithyroid agents - drug for overactive thyroid
Azathioprine - Imuran
Chloramphenicol - Chloromycetin
Colchicine
Cyclophosphamide - Cytoxan
Flucytosine - Ancobon
Ganciclovir - Cytovene
Zidovudine - AZT, Retrovir Concurrent use of these agents with bexarotene increases the risk of infection

If you have ever been treated with radiation or cancer medication Bexarotene may increase the effects that these medication or radiation therapy may have on the blood

Phenobarbital
Phenytoin - Dilantin
Rifampin - Rifadin, Rimactane
Erythromycin - E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, Ilotycin
Grapefruit juice
Itraconazole - Sporanox
Ketoconazole - Nizoral These medication may increase or decrease the metabolism - breakdown of bexarotene, leading to higher-than-usual or lower-than-usual amounts of bexarotene in the body

Gemfibrozil - Lopid This drug may lead to higher-than-usual amounts of bexarotene in the body

Insulin - Humulin, Novolin
Medications that make your body more sensitive to insulin, such as:
- Pioglitazone - Actos
- Rosiglitazone - Avandia
Medications that help your body to secrete more insulin, such as:
- Acetohexamide - Dymelor
- Chlorpropamide - Diabinese
- Glimepiride - Amaryl
- Glipizide - Glucotrol
- Glyburide - DiaBeta
- Tolazamide - Tolinase
- Tolbutamide - Orinase Use of bexarotene may increase the side effects of medication, which may cause low blood sugar - hypoglycemia

Tamoxifen - Nolvadex Bexarotene may lead to lower-than-usual amounts of tamoxifen in the body

Vitamin A supplements - Aquasol A May increase the risk of side effects

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of bexarotene. Make sure to tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially

Bone marrow depression, existing
Infection There may be an increased risk of infections or worsening of infections because of the body's reduced ability to fight them
Cataracts May cause new cataracts or worsen previous cataracts
Chickenpox - including recent exposure
Herpes zoster - shingles chance of severe disease effecting other parts of the body
Diabetes mellitus May be more likely to experience low blood sugar - hypoglycemia.
High cholesterol Bexarotene can cause an increase in cholesterol levels.
Kidney disease May increase the risk of side effects

Liver disease Effects of bexarotene may be increased because of slower removal from the body.

Pancreatitis
chance factors for pancreatitis, such as:
- Drinking large quantities of alcohol
- Problems with your gallbladder or biliary tract
- Diabetes mellitus - sugar diabetes that is not well-controlled
- High cholesterol that is not well-controlled
- Taking medication that cause high levels of triglycerides - fat-like substances
- Taking medication that are toxic to the pancreas
- Prior pancreatitis Bexarotene can cause an increase in triglyceride levels which can cause inflammation of the pancreas.
Photosensitivity Bexarotene may cause increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight