VePesid

Pronunciation: EH-toe-POE-side
Generic Name: Etoposide
Brand Name: VePesid

VePesid may decrease your body's ability to fight infections (due to bone marrow suppression). Immediately notify your doctor if you develop symptoms of an infection (persistent sore throat, fever), easy bruising or bleeding, or unusual fatigue. Your doctor will closely monitor you while you are using VePesid.

VePesid is used for:

Treating patients with lung cancer and recurrent testicular tumors. It is used in combination with other cancer medications.

VePesid is an antineoplastic. It works by stopping the tumor cells from dividing (mitosis), which prevents the spread of certain types of cancer.

Do NOT use VePesid if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in VePesid

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

Before using VePesid:

Some medical conditions may interact with VePesid. 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 kidney disease, bone marrow depression, an infection, or a history of blood conditions

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

• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) because their actions and side effects may be increased by VePesid


• Cyclosporine because the actions and side effects of VePesid may be increased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if VePesid 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 VePesid:

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

• VePesid may be taken with or without food.


• If you miss a dose of VePesid, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

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

Important safety information:

• VePesid may cause dizziness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to VePesid. Using VePesid alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or perform other potentially dangerous tasks.


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


• VePesid may reduce the number of clot-forming cells (platelets) in your blood. To prevent bleeding, avoid situations in which bruising or injury may occur. Report any unusual bleeding, bruising, blood in stools, or dark, tarry stools to your doctor.


• VePesid may lower your body's ability to fight infection. Prevent infection by avoiding contact with people with colds or other infections. Notify your doctor of any signs of infection, including fever, sore throat, rash, or chills.


• Check with your doctor before having vaccinations while you are using VePesid.


• LAB TESTS, including complete blood cell counts, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.


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


• VePesid is not recommended for use in CHILDREN. Safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.


• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: VePesid has been shown to cause harm to the fetus. If you become pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using VePesid during pregnancy. It is unknown if VePesid is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking VePesid.

Possible side effects of VePesid:

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:

Appetite loss; bruising; diarrhea; hair loss; increased sweating; nausea; voice changes; 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); chills; cough; decreased ability to fight infection; dizziness; fever; loss of consciousness; seizure; sore throat; sores on the mouth or lips; temporary blindness; tingling of the fingers or toes; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness.

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: VePesid 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 VePesid:

Store VePesid in the refrigerator, between 36 and 46 degrees F (2 and 8 degrees C). Do not freeze. Keep VePesid out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

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


• VePesid 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 VePesid. 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 VePesid resources

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

• VePesid Prescribing Information (FDA)


• VePesid Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)


• Etoposide Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Etoposide Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Etoposide Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)


• etoposide Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Toposar Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Vepesid Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

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