Mosby's 2014 Nursing Drug Reference (143 page)

Canada only   Side effects:
italics
= common;
bold
= life-threatening   
Nurse Alert

DOXOrubicin liposomal

(dox-oh-roo′bi-sin)

Doxil, Lipodex

Func. class.:
Antineoplastic, antibiotic

Chem. class.:
Anthracycline glycoside

Do not confuse:
DOXOrubicin
/DOXOrubicin liposomal/DAUNOrubicin

ACTION:

Inhibits DNA synthesis primarily; replication is decreased by binding to DNA, which causes strand splitting; active throughout entire cell cycle; a vesicant

USES:

AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma, multiple myeloma, metastatic ovarian carcinoma

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Pregnancy (D), breastfeeding, hypersensitivity, systemic infections, cardiac disorders

 

Black Box Warning:

Cardiotoxicity, infusion reactions, myelosuppression, hepatic disease

Precautions:
Children, infection, leukopenia, stomatitis, thrombo-cytopenia

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator

Max lifetime cumulative dose 550 mg/m
2
; 400 mg/m
2
for those that have received other cardiotoxics or mediastinal radiation

Kaposi’s sarcoma


Adult: IV
20 mg/m
2
every 3 wk

Multiple myeloma


Adult: IV
30 mg/m
2
IV infusion on day 4 every 3 wk plus bortezomib 1.3 mg/m
2
/dose IV bolus on days 1, 4, 8, 11 of each cycle; give DOXOrubicin liposomal after bortezomib receipt on day 4. Administer up to 8 treatment cycles or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs

Ovarian cancer that has progressed or recurred after platinum-based chemotherapy


Adult: IV
50 mg/m
2
every 4 wk. Continue treatment for as long as the patient shows benefit and does not progress. A minimum of 4 courses is recommended

Available forms:
Liposomal dispersion for inj: 2 mg/ml

Administer:

• 
Prepared liposomal DOXOrubicin is a translucent, red liposomal dispersion. Visually inspect for particulate matter and discoloration before use


 
Pegylated liposomal DOXOrubicin (Doxil) is for IV INF use only and should not be given IM/subcut, give under the supervision of a physician who is experienced in cancer chemotherapy

 

Black Box Warning:

Care should be taken to avoid extravasation because the drug is irritating to extravascular tissue

• 
Premedication with antiemetics is recommended

IV route

• 
Reconstitution (Doxil):
Dilute the appropriate dose, not to exceed 90 mg/250 ml D
5
W. Do not mix with any other diluent, drugs, or bacteriostatic agent, use aseptic technique; product contains no preservative or bacteriostatic agent; diluted solution must be refrigerated and used within 24 hr

• 
IV INF (Doxil):
Do not administer as a bolus injection or an undiluted solution. Rapid injection can increase the risk of an infusion-related reaction

 

Black Box Warning:

Care should be taken to avoid extravasation because the drug is irritating to extravascular tissue


 
An acute infusion reaction can occur during the first infusion and is usually resolved by slowing the rate of infusion. Most patients can tolerate subsequent infusions

• 
Rate:
Infuse at an initial rate of 1 mg/min. If no infusion-related action, the rate can be increased to complete the infusion over 1 hr; do not filter


 
For hematologic toxicity in patients with ovarian cancer or HIV-related Kaposi’s sarcoma: Grade 1 (ANC of 1500-1900/mm
3
, platelets ≥75,000/mm
3
):
No dose reduction.
Grade 2 (ANC of 1000-1499/mm
3
, platelets ≥50,000/mm
3
and < 75,000/mm
3
:
Wait until ANC ≥1500 cells/mm
3
and platelets ≥75,000 cells/mm
3
; redose with no dose reduction.
Grade 3 (ANC of 500-999/mm
3
, platelets ≥25,000/mm
3
and <50,000/mm
3
):
Wait until ANC ≥1500 cells/mm
3
and platelets ≥75,000 cells/mm
3
; redose with no dose reduction.
Grade 4 (ANC <500/mm
3
, platelets <25,000/mm
3
):
Wait until ANC ≥1500 cells/mm
3
and platelets ≥75,000 cells/mm
3
; reduce dose by 25% or continue with full dose with colony-stimulating factor

• 
Give antiemetic 30-60 min before product to prevent vomiting

• 
Use allopurinol or sodium bicarbonate to maintain uric acid levels, alkalinization of urine

• 
Avoid mixing with other products

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Paresthesias, headache, depression, insomnia, fatigue, fever

CV:
Chest pain, decreased B/P,
cardiomyopathy, heart failure, dysrhythmias, tachycardia

EENT:
Optic neuritis, rhinitis, pharyngitis, stomatitis

GI:
Nausea, vomiting
, anorexia,
mucositis
,
hepatotoxicity, constipation, oral candidiasis, abdominal pain

HEMA:
Thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, anemia, neutropenia

INTEG:
Rash
,
necrosis at inj site,
dermatitis, reversible
alopecia
,
exfoliative dermatitis, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia,
thrombophlebitis at inj site

RESP:
Dyspnea, cough, respiratory infections

PHARMACOKINETICS

Half-life 55 hr; metabolized by liver; crosses placenta; excreted in urine, bile, breast milk

INTERACTIONS

Increase:
life-threatening dysrhythmias—posaconazole, fluconazole, do not use together

Increase:
QT prolongation—other drugs that increase QT prolongation

Increase:
neutropenia, thrombocytopenia—progesterone

Increase:
cardiomyopathy—calcium-channel blockers

Increase:
toxicity—other antineoplastics, cycloSPORINE, radiation, mercaptopurine

Increase:
hemorrhagic cystitis risk, cardiac toxicity—cyclophosphamide

Increase:
effect of—phenytoin, fosphenytoin

Increase:
DOXOrubicin effect—streptozocin

Decrease:
DOXOrubicin effect—PHENobarbital

Decrease:
antibody response—live virus vaccine

Decrease:
antineoplastic effect—hematopoietic progenitor cell; do not use 24 hr before or after treatment

Decrease:
clearance of DOXOrubicin—PACLitaxel

Drug/Lab Test

Increase:
uric acid

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

 

Black Box Warning:

Bone marrow depression:
CBC, differential, platelet count weekly; withhold product if WBC is <4000/mm
3
or platelet count is <75,000/mm
3
; notify prescriber of these results

• 
Renal studies: BUN, serum uric acid, urine CCr, electrolytes before, during therapy

• 
I&O ratio: report fall in urine output to <30 ml/hr

• 
Monitor temp; fever can indicate beginning infection

 

Black Box Warning:

Hepatotoxicity:
Hepatic studies before, during therapy: bilirubin, AST, ALT, alk phos as needed or monthly; check for jaundice of skin and sclera, dark urine, clay-colored stools, itchy skin, abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea

 

Black Box Warning:

Dysrhythmias:
ECG: watch for ST-T wave changes, low QRS and T, possible dysrhythmias (sinus tachycardia, heart block, PVCs), ejection fraction before treatment, signs of irreversible cardiomyopathy, can occur up to 6 mo after treatment begins

• 
Bleeding: hematuria, guaiac, bruising, petechiae of mucosa or orifices every 8 hr

• 
Effects of alopecia on body image; discuss feelings about body changes; almost total alopecia is expected

• 
Inflammation of mucosa, breaks in skin

• 
Buccal cavity every 8 hr for dryness, sores, ulceration, white patches, oral pain, bleeding, dysphagia

• 
Alkalosis if severe vomiting is present

 

Black Box Warning:

Extravasation:
Local irritation, pain, burning at inj site; a vesicant; if extravasation occurs, stop drug, restart at another site, apply ice, elevate extremity to reduce swelling; if resolution does not occur, surgical debridement may be required

• 
GI symptoms: frequency of stools, cramping

Perform/provide:

• 
Liquid diet: carbonated beverages, gelatin may be added if patient is not nauseated or vomiting

• 
Increased fluid intake to 2-3 L/day to prevent urate, calculi formation

• 
Rinsing of mouth tid-qid with water, club soda; brushing of teeth bid-tid with soft brush or cotton-tipped applicators for stomatitis; use unwaxed dental floss

• 
Store refrigerated for 24 hr after reconstituting

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: decreased tumor size, spread of malignancy

Teach patient/family:

• 
To add 2-3 L of fluids unless contraindicated before and for 24-48 hr after to decrease possible
hemorrhagic cystitis

• 
To report any complaints, side effects to nurse or prescriber

• 
That hair may be lost during treatment; that wig or hairpiece might make patient feel better; that new hair may be different in color, texture

• 
To avoid foods with citric acid, hot or rough texture

• 
To report any bleeding, white spots, ulcerations in mouth to prescriber; to examine mouth daily

• 
That urine, other body fluids may be red-orange for 48 hr

• 
To avoid crowds and persons with infections when granulocyte count is low


 
That barrier contraceptive measures are recommended during therapy and for 4 mo after (pregnancy [D]); to avoid breastfeeding

• 
To avoid vaccinations because reactions can occur; to avoid alcohol

Canada only   Side effects:
italics
= common;
bold
= life-threatening   
Nurse Alert

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