Generic Name: valrubicin (val ROO bi sin)
Brand Names: Valstar
What is valrubicin?
Valrubicin is a cancer (antineoplastic) medication. Valrubicin interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.
Valrubicin is used to treat bladder cancer.
Valrubicin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about valrubicin?
Valrubicin should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Serious side effects have been reported with the use of valrubicin including: allergic reactions (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); severe heart damage with prolonged use; decreased bone marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; fever or chills; or signs of infection); severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite; and others. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from treatment with valrubicin.
Who should not use valrubicin?
Do not use valrubicin without first talking to your doctor if you have
a urinary tract infection;
a perforated or otherwise damaged bladder;
- kidney disease; or
irritable bladder disorder.
The use of valrubicin may be dangerous if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Valrubicin is in the FDA pregnancy category C. Systemic exposure to valrubicin may result in harm to an unborn baby. Do not use valrubicin without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant. Men and women being treated with valrubicin should discuss with their doctor the appropriate use of birth control during treatment with valrubicin if necessary. Because of the potential for serious side effects in a nursing infant, breast-feeding should be avoided during treatment with valrubicin. The safety and effectiveness of valrubicin in children has not been established.
How should I use valrubicin?
Valrubicin should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Your doctor will determine the correct amount and frequency of treatment with valrubicin depending upon the type of cancer being treated and other factors. Valrubicin has caused a complete response in only about 1 in 5 patients and delaying surgery could lead to wide-spread bladder cancer, which is lethal. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns regarding the treatment schedule.
Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests and other medical evaluations during treatment with valrubicin to monitor progress and side effects.
Skin accidentally exposed to valrubicin should be rinsed thoroughly with soap and warm water.
Your healthcare provider will store valrubicin as directed by the manufacturer. If you are storing valrubicin at home, follow the directions provided by your healthcare provider.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of valrubicin.
What happens if I overdose?
If for any reason an overdose of valrubicin is suspected, seek emergency medical attention or contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Symptoms of a valrubicin overdose tend to be similar to side effects caused by the medication, although often more severe.
What should I avoid while using valrubicin?
Valrubicin can lower the activity of your immune system making you susceptible to infections. Avoid contact with people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses and do not receive vaccines that contain live strains of a virus (e.g., live oral polio vaccine) during treatment with valrubicin. In addition, avoid contact with individuals who have recently been vaccinated with a live vaccine. There is a chance that the virus can be passed on to you.
Skin accidentally exposed to valrubicin should be rinsed thoroughly with soap and warm water.
Valrubicin side effects
If you experience an allergic reaction (including difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives) to valrubicin, seek emergency medical attention.
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue taking valrubicin and talk to your doctor if you experience:
bladder irritation (increased frequency of urination, painful urination, a very strong feeling of needing to urinate, blood in the urine);
urinary incontinence;
urinary tract infection;
red colored urine for 24 hours following a dose; or
nausea.
Talk to your doctor immediately if you have prolonged (longer than 24 hours after a dose) red-colored urine or prolonged bladder irritation.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Valrubicin Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Urinary Tumor:
For intravesical therapy of BCG-refractory carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the urinary bladder in patients for whom immediate cystectomy would be associated with unacceptable morbidity or mortality:
Valrubicin is recommended at a dose of 800 mg administered intravesically once a week for six weeks. Administration should be delayed at least two weeks after transurethral resection and/or fulguration. For each instillation, four 5 mL vials (200 mg valrubicin/5 mL vial) should be allowed to warm slowly to room temperature, but should not be heated. Twenty milliliters of valrubicin should then be withdrawn from the four vials and diluted with 55 mL 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP providing 75 mL of a diluted valrubicin solution. A urethral catheter should then be inserted into the patient's bladder under aseptic conditions, the bladder drained, and the diluted 75 mL valrubicin solution instilled slowly via gravity flow over a period of several minutes. The catheter should then be withdrawn. The patient should retain the drug for two hours before voiding. At the end of two hours, all patients should void. (Some patients will be unable to retain the drug for the full two hours.) Patients should be instructed to maintain adequate hydration following treatment.
What other drugs will affect valrubicin?
Do not receive "live" vaccines during treatment with valrubicin. Administration of a live vaccine may be dangerous during treatment with valrubicin.
Other drugs may interact with valrubicin. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products, during treatment with valrubicin.
More valrubicin resources
- Valrubicin Side Effects (in more detail)
- Valrubicin Dosage
- Valrubicin Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Valrubicin Drug Interactions
- Valrubicin Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Valrubicin - Add your own review/rating
- valrubicin Intravesical Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Valrubicin MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Valrubicin Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)
- Valstar Prescribing Information (FDA)
Compare valrubicin with other medications
- Urinary Tract Tumors
Where can I get more information?
- Your healthcare provider may have additional information about valrubicin that you may read.
See also: valrubicin side effects (in more detail)
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