DBL Gemcitabine Injection (Gemcitabine Hydrochloride)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is DBL Gemcitabine Injection Used For?
DBL Gemcitabine Injection is a chemotherapy medicine that fights cancer by killing cancer cells and stopping them from growing and multiplying.
Primary Uses
This medicine is used to treat several types of cancer including lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer.
How It Works
DBL Gemcitabine Injection belongs to a group of medicines called antineoplastic or cytotoxic medicines. It works by killing cancer cells and preventing cancer cells from growing and multiplying.
How DBL Gemcitabine Injection Is Given
This medicine is always given by a doctor or nurse in a hospital or treatment center. You cannot take this medicine at home.
Administration Method
DBL Gemcitabine Injection is given as an infusion (slow injection via a drip) into a vein. The infusion takes approximately 30 minutes. It may be given alone or combined with other cancer medicines.
Treatment Schedule
Your doctor will decide your dose, how often you receive it, and how long treatment continues. This depends on your condition, weight, height, kidney and liver function, and other medicines you may be taking. Several courses of treatment may be needed depending on how you respond. Additional treatment may not be given until your blood cell counts return to acceptable levels.
Important: This medicine must only be given by a doctor or nurse in a medical facility.
Available Tablet Strengths
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:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Skin rash, sunburn-like symptoms, redness, swelling, itching
- Swelling of ankles, hands, feet, or face
- Flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, headache, weakness, loss of appetite, back and muscle pain
- Cough, runny or blocked nose, sneezing, sweating
- Generally feeling unwell, fatigue
- Sleepiness, drowsiness, difficulty sleeping
- Unusual hair loss or thinning
- Soreness, swelling or ulcers in the mouth
- Scaling, ulceration or sore formation on the skin
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Sudden signs of allergy such as rash, itching, hives, swelling of face, lips, tongue, shortness of breath, wheezing
- Fever with signs of infection such as feeling unwell, shivers, shakes, sore throat or ulcers
- Difficulty breathing, fast shallow breathing, wheezing, skin or nail discoloration, fast heart rate, tiredness, cough, chest pain
- Fever, bruising or bleeding more easily than normal, yellowing of skin and/or eyes, passing less urine than normal, swollen legs
- Headache with vision changes, confusion, seizures or fits
- Severe rash with itching, blistering, peeling skin with widespread pain, often with fever
- Severe chest pain, pain in arm, back or neck (usually left side), changes in heart rhythm or rate
- Sudden body swelling, rapid drop in blood pressure, lightheadedness, weakness, nausea, abdominal pain, increased thirst, sudden weight gain
Important Warnings
There are several important safety considerations before and during treatment with DBL Gemcitabine Injection.
Who Should Not Receive DBL Gemcitabine Injection
You should not receive this medicine if you are allergic to gemcitabine or any of the ingredients listed in the medicine information.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have liver problems, kidney problems, or bone marrow/blood disorders with low numbers of red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
You should not receive gemcitabine if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, as it may cause birth defects. Effective contraception should be used during treatment. If you become pregnant while receiving treatment, tell your doctor immediately. You should not breastfeed while being treated with this medicine, as it is not known whether gemcitabine passes into breast milk.
Children: The safety and effectiveness of this medicine in children has not been established.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines and treatments may interfere with DBL Gemcitabine Injection and affect how it works.
Important: Always tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you are taking, including those bought without a prescription.
- Other cancer medicines (such as oxaliplatin, bevacizumab, or cisplatin)
- Radiation therapy
- Live vaccines (such as yellow fever vaccine)
Alcohol & Driving
DBL Gemcitabine Injection may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. No specific information is available about alcohol interactions with this medicine.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how DBL Gemcitabine Injection affects you. This medicine may cause sleepiness or drowsiness in some people, which could make driving or using machinery dangerous.
Storage
DBL Gemcitabine Injection will be stored appropriately under refrigeration in the pharmacy or hospital ward. You do not need to worry about storing this medicine as it is only given in medical facilities.
Overdose Information
Since DBL Gemcitabine Injection is given in a hospital under medical supervision, an overdose is very unlikely. However, if you think you have received too much or experience severe side effects, symptoms may include more severe versions of the listed side effects, particularly affecting your blood, stomach, liver, or kidneys. If this occurs, immediately alert the doctor or nurse, phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if you feel no discomfort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Several courses of gemcitabine therapy may be needed, depending on your response to treatment. Your doctor will monitor your progress and determine the effectiveness through regular check-ups and blood tests.
Your doctor will decide how often and how long you will receive treatment based on your condition, weight, height, kidney and liver function, and other medicines you may be taking. Additional treatment may not be repeated until your blood cell numbers return to acceptable levels.
You should avoid people who are unwell or have infections, be careful with sharp objects to prevent cuts, avoid contact sports, and follow special hygiene precautions for handling body fluids for one week after treatment.
Yes, before each dose your doctor will do blood tests to check you have enough blood cells to receive the medicine. Your doctor will also test your kidney and liver function from time to time during treatment.
You should avoid live vaccines such as yellow fever vaccine while receiving this treatment. Always tell your doctor about any vaccines you need.
Always remind any doctor, nurse, pharmacist, dentist, surgeon, or anaesthetist that you are receiving DBL Gemcitabine Injection, as it may affect other medicines or treatments.
You should take precautions to protect others from exposure to body fluids and waste while receiving chemotherapy and for one week after each treatment period.
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.