We know that getting treatment for cancer is not easy. It is normal to have a lot of questions and some fear, especially when your doctor starts you on a new medication. Today we are talking about the pill Decitabine and Cedazuridine (brand name: INQOVI), which is used to treat such a cancer condition. Let's take a look at what this medication is, how exactly it is used, and what we need to be especially careful about.
What exactly is this medicine?
Simply put, it is a chemotherapy drug. It is mainly used to treat a condition called Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) . This is a disease that occurs in our bone marrow. This condition prevents the body from producing healthy blood cells (red cells, white cells, and platelets). Decitabine and Cedazuridine work together to control the growth of abnormal cells and help produce healthy blood cells.
Your doctor may also prescribe this medicine for other medical conditions, so if you have any questions, ask your doctor.
Things you need to tell your doctor before starting medication
Before starting this medication, it is very important to give your doctor a complete description of your health condition. Be sure to tell them about the following:
- Allergies: Tell us if you have any allergies to these medications (Decitabine, Cedazuridine), other medications, foods, certain dyes, or preservatives.
- Kidney or liver disease: If you have kidney disease or liver disease, please inform us.
- Current infections: If you currently have any infections, for example, chickenpox, a viral infection like herpes, fever, or cough, please tell us about them.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding, you should definitely tell your doctor.
How to use this pill correctly?
Taking medication exactly as prescribed by the doctor and at the right time is very important for the success of the treatment.
- Fill a glass of water and drink this pill with it.
- Very important: Do not break, crush, or chew the tablet. Swallow the tablet whole.
- This medicine should be taken on an empty stomach . That is, it should be taken either 2 hours before or 2 hours after a meal. Do not take it with food.
- Never stop taking medication or change the prescribed dosage without your doctor's advice.
- This medicine is given to children only under special medical supervision.
Warning: This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not share your medicine with anyone else for any reason.
Overdose
If you think you have taken more of this medicine than prescribed, do not panic and immediately contact the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital. Or go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
What if I forget to take my medicine?
If it is a once-daily dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is less than 12 hours until your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the regular time. If you vomit after taking the medication, skip that dose and take the next dose at the regular time. Never take a double dose. If you miss a dose, it is best to inform your doctor.
Things to be especially careful about while taking the medicine
You need to take great care of your body while taking this medicine.
- Regular medical checkups: Your doctor will need to see you regularly. He or she will also order regular blood tests to check your blood counts. This will help to see if the treatment is working and if there are any side effects.
- Strict pregnancy warning:
- For women: Avoid getting pregnant completely while taking this medicine and for at least 6 months after stopping the medicine. If you are planning to become pregnant or have any suspicion that you may be pregnant, inform your doctor immediately.
- For men: Men should avoid fathering a child while taking this medication and for at least 3 months after stopping the medication.
- Reason: This medicine may cause serious harm to the unborn baby.
- Breastfeeding: Avoid breastfeeding your baby while taking this medicine and for 2 weeks after stopping.
- Fertility: This medicine may affect your ability to conceive. If you have any concerns about this, talk to your doctor.
Side effects that may occur due to medication
Like any medication, this one can cause some side effects. Some are serious, some are common. The most important thing is to be aware of these symptoms and inform your doctor as soon as possible if necessary.
| Type of side effect | Symptoms you may see |
|---|---|
| Serious side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue. |
| Low blood counts | This medicine can cause a decrease in white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets, which increases the risk of infection and bleeding. |
| Signs of infection | Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, pain when urinating. |
| Signs of bleeding | Unexplained bruising, small red spots on the skin, black stools, and blood in the urine. |
| Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Digestive system problems | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite. |
| General physical discomfort | Headache, dizziness, body and joint pain, extreme fatigue, cough. |
If you experience any other unusual symptoms not mentioned in this list, tell your doctor about them as well.
How do you keep this medicine safe?
- Keep out of reach of children and pets.
- Store at a temperature between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius (20-25 °C).
- Keep the medicine in the original bottle or packet it came in.
- Do not use expired medications. Ask your doctor for advice on how to safely dispose of expired or unwanted medications.
Take-Home Message
- Decitabine and Cedazuridine are powerful chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer conditions such as Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS).
- Swallow this tablet whole, without breaking, crushing, or chewing it. Always take it on an empty stomach.
- Tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, traditional medicines, and all your medical conditions.
- Avoid getting pregnant completely while taking this medicine and for a certain period of time after stopping it. This applies to both women and men.
- If you develop a fever, rash, or other signs of infection, notify your doctor immediately.
- This medicine is for you only. Never give it to others. Talk to your doctor if you have any problems.
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