Mylotarg (Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Mylotarg Used For?
Mylotarg is a specialized cancer treatment medication that targets specific cancer cells in your blood and bone marrow.
Primary Uses
Mylotarg is used to treat patients aged 15 years and above with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), a cancer of the blood and bone marrow where the bone marrow makes too many immature white blood cells that crowd out normal blood cells.
How It Works
This medicine works by stopping the abnormal growth of cancer cells and destroying them. It belongs to a group of medicines called antineoplastic agents that specifically target cancer cells.
How to Take Mylotarg
Mylotarg is given as a hospital treatment under careful medical supervision. You cannot take this medication at home.
Dosage Instructions
Your doctor will calculate your exact dose based on your height and weight. Mylotarg is given through a drip in your vein over 2 hours. Treatment is given in cycles: the first cycle (Induction) includes doses on Day 1, Day 4, and Day 7 of Week 1. If the treatment works well, you may receive two additional cycles (Consolidation) with one dose on Day 1 of each cycle. Before each treatment, you’ll receive other medicines to help prevent side effects like fever and chills.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you miss a scheduled treatment, contact your doctor or nurse as soon as possible to make a new appointment. Do not try to make up for missed doses on your own.
Important: Never stop this treatment suddenly – always discuss any concerns with your healthcare team first.
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- High or low blood pressure
- Irregular or racing heart rhythm
- Nausea and vomiting
- Mouth ulcers, redness or pain
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Decreased appetite
- Constipation
- Skin itching, redness, rash or blistering
- Yellowish color of skin, eyes, and other tissues
- High blood sugar
- Fatigue
- Headache
- General weakness
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Venoocclusive liver disease (rapid weight gain, upper right abdominal pain, abdominal swelling)
- Infusion-related reactions (fever, chills, hot flush, dizziness, rash, trouble breathing)
- Lung problems (shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, blue skin color, feeling of lung congestion)
- Infections (fever, sweating, chills)
- Blood problems (easy bruising, frequent nosebleeds, bleeding)
- Tumour lysis syndrome (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heart rhythm changes, decreased urine, blood in urine, muscle spasms, weakness, cramps)
Important Warnings
Mylotarg can cause serious, potentially life-threatening side effects that require careful monitoring.
Who Should Not Take Mylotarg
Do not use Mylotarg if you are allergic to gemtuzumab ozogamicin or any of the other ingredients. This medication should not be used in children and adolescents under 15 years of age due to limited safety information.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have liver problems, kidney problems, an infection, bleeding disorders, anemia, or have had previous infusion reactions. If you have abnormal liver function or are receiving a stem cell transplant, you may have an increased risk of serious liver complications.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
You must avoid becoming pregnant or fathering a child while receiving Mylotarg. Use effective contraception during treatment and for at least 7 months (women) or 4 months (men) after your last dose. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for at least 1 month after your last dose. Mylotarg may affect your fertility, so discuss fertility preservation with your doctor before starting treatment.
Life-threatening liver condition: Mylotarg may cause hepatic venoocclusive disease, a potentially fatal condition where blood vessels in the liver become damaged and blocked. Watch for rapid weight gain, pain in the upper right side of your stomach, and abdominal swelling.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with how Mylotarg works in your body.
- Tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take
- You may need different amounts of your medicines or different medicines altogether
- Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re unsure about any interactions
Alcohol & Driving
Mylotarg can affect your ability to drive and operate machinery safely.
Alcohol
Information about alcohol use with Mylotarg was not specifically mentioned in the source material. Discuss alcohol consumption with your healthcare team.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Mylotarg affects you. This medicine may cause fatigue in some people. If you feel tired, dizzy, lightheaded, or faint, do not drive or operate machinery. When getting up from bed or chairs, stand up slowly to help your body adjust to changes in position and blood pressure.
Storage
Mylotarg will be stored and handled by healthcare professionals at the hospital or clinic. The medication must be kept in its original packaging in a refrigerator, protected from light, before use. You will not need to store this medicine at home.
Overdose Information
It is unlikely that you will receive too much Mylotarg since your dose is carefully calculated and given under medical supervision in a specialized healthcare setting. In the unlikely event of an overdose, your healthcare team will monitor you closely for side effects and provide appropriate treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mylotarg is given in cycles. You may receive between one and three cycles. The first cycle (Induction) includes doses on Day 1, Day 4, and Day 7. If the treatment works well, you may receive two additional cycles (Consolidation) with one dose each. Your doctor will discuss how long your specific treatment will last.
Each Mylotarg dose is given gradually over 2 hours through a drip in your vein. Before each treatment, you’ll receive other medicines to help prevent side effects like fever, chills, and hot flushes. The infusion will be given under the supervision of experienced healthcare professionals.
Tell your doctor immediately if you experience fever, chills, hot flush, dizziness, rash, trouble breathing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in heartbeat, decreased urine, blood in urine, or muscle weakness. Also watch for rapid weight gain, upper right abdominal pain, or abdominal swelling, which could indicate serious liver problems.
You must avoid becoming pregnant or fathering a child while receiving Mylotarg. Use effective contraception during treatment and for at least 7 months (women) or 4 months (men) after your last dose. Mylotarg may affect fertility, so discuss fertility preservation with your doctor before treatment begins.
Your doctor will take regular blood tests to check that Mylotarg is working and to monitor for side effects. Your blood counts and liver function will be checked before each treatment. Your doctor will also monitor you for signs of infection, bleeding, and breathing problems.
If you do not respond to the medicine after the first cycle (Induction), your treatment will be stopped. If the medicine works well after the Induction cycle, you may receive two additional Consolidation cycles.
No, you must not breastfeed during treatment with Mylotarg and for at least 1 month after your last dose. It is not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk, but it could potentially harm your baby.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.