ESTRAMUSTINE

Brand & Generic Names

Emcyt

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? No
• Drug class: Antineoplastic

Uses

Treats prostate cancer.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Capsule--Swallow with liquid. If you can't swallow whole, open capsule and take with liquid or food. Instructions to take on empty stomach mean 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating.

When to take:
According to doctor's instructions. Try to take 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating or drinking any milk products.

If you forget a dose:
Skip dose. Never double dose.

What drug does:
Suppresses growth of cancer cells.

Time lapse before drug works:
Within 20 hours.

Don't take with:
Any other medicines (including over-the-counter drugs such as cough and cold medicines, laxatives, antacids, diet pills, caffeine, nose drops or vitamins) without consulting your doctor.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
None expected.

WHAT TO DO:

Overdose unlikely to threaten life. If person takes much larger amount than prescribed, call doctor, poison-control center or hospital emergency room for instructions.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

Sudden headaches, Seek emergency treatment chest pain, shortness immediately. of breath, leg pain, vision changes, slurred speech.

Common:

• Skin rash, itching.
• Increased sun sensitivity.
• Diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache, swelling in hand or feet.

Infrequent:

• Joint or muscle pain, difficulty swallowing, sore throat and fever, peeling skin, jaundice.
• Mouth or tongue irritation, breast tenderness or enlargement, decreased interest in sex.

Rare:

Bloody urine, hearing loss, back pain, abdominal pain.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:
You have active thrombophlebitis.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have jaundice.
• If you have history of thrombophlebitis.
• If you have peptic ulcer.
• If you have mental depression.
• If you have migraine headaches.
• You have chicken pox.
• You have shingles (herpes zoster).
• You have had a recent heart attack.

Over age 60:
Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons. You may need smaller doses for shorter periods of time.

Pregnancy:
Used in men only.

Breast-feeding:
Used in men only.

Infants & children:
Not used.

Prolonged use:
Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check complete blood counts (white blood cell count, platelet count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit), blood pressure, liver function, serum acid, serum calcium and alkaline phosphatase.

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
No special problems expected.

Discontinuing:
No special problems expected.

Others:

• Advise any doctor or dentist whom you consult that you take this medicine.
• May affect results in some medical tests.
• May decrease sperm count in males.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME OR DRUG CLASS	COMBINED EFFECT
Calcium supplements*	Decreased absorption of
	estramustine.
Hepatotoxic medications*	Increased risk of liver toxicity.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Increased "hangover effect" and
	other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Milk and milk products.	Decreased absorption of
	estramustine.
Cocaine:	No special problems expected.
Foods high in calcium.	Decreased absorption of
	estramustine.
Marijuana:	No special problems expected.
Tobacco:	Increased risk of heart attack and
	blood clots.