What to Expect DURING Your Treatment
Camptosar® (irinotecan HCl injection) is a chemotherapy drug used to treat cancers of the colon and rectum that have spread to other areas of the body. It is used when another chemotherapy drug, called fluorouracil, doesn't work or has stopped working. Camptosar has been shown to help some people with cancers of the colon and rectum live longer and feel better. It is an IV (intravenous) chemotherapy drug. That means it is given through your vein. Each of your treatments with Camptosar will take about 90 minutes, but your total treatment time may take longer if you are getting other medicines.
You may feel one or more of these symptoms during treatment or within a few hours afterwards:
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Runny nose, watery eyes, more saliva (spit) in your mouth
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Sweating
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Flushing (your face and neck may feel hot and look red)
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Diarrhea and/or stomach cramps
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You may also start to feel queasy or vomit during the treatment.
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If you have any of the above symptoms, tell your doctor or nurse right away.
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Your doctor can give you medicine to relieve or prevent these symptoms.
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What to Expect AFTER Each Treatment
As with many cancer treatments, you may experience side effects with Camptosar 
some of these can become serious. The following side effects may appear at any time (even days or weeks) after each of your treatments with Camptosar:
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is the most common side effect. To keep it under control, be alert and act quickly. If you do not treat diarrhea right away, it can become serious and may require you to be hospitalized.
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If you have diarrhea (more bowel movements than usual or stools that are more loose,
soft or watery), start taking Imodium A-D* (loperamide HCl) right away. See The Four-Step Plan to treat diarrhea in this guide.
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Nausea and Vomiting
Your doctor can give you a medicine to help relieve any nausea and vomiting you may have. Ask about taking medicine before your next treatment to prevent nausea and vomiting.
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Call your doctor's office if nausea and vomiting lasts more than 12 hours, or still occurs even though you are already taking medicine to control it.
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Low White Blood Cell Count
White blood cells help your body fight off infection. If your doctor or nurse tells you your white blood cell count is LOW, be alert for signs of infection - fever (a temperature over 100.4°F) or chills.
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If you think you may have an infection, call your doctor's office right away.
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Hair loss is another possible side effect. Your nurse can share ideas and tips to help you prepare for the possible loss of hair.
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Make sure you have Imodium A-D at home before your first chemotherapy treatment. Imodium A-D is also called loperamide and comes in 2 mg caplets. If you are not sure what to buy, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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Four-Step Plan to Treat Diarrhea
Follow this plan to stop diarrhea before it gets serious.
Step 1.
Before you have your first chemotherapy treatment, describe your usual bowel habits as they are now:
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Step 2.
Start taking Imodium A-D at the first sign of diarrhea (diarrhea is any change in your usual bowel movements including an increase in the number of stools, OR stools that are more loose, soft or watery). Do not delay taking your first dose of Imodium A-D.
Imodium A-D is only used to stop diarrhea -- NOT to prevent it.
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Step 3.
Follow these Imodium A-D dosing directions exactly. Do not use the original directions on the Imodium A-D package. Do not skip doses. Do not delay doses.
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First Dose:
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During the Day:
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During the Night:
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Take 2 caplets (4 mg) of Imodium A-D.
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Take 1 caplet (2 mg) every 2 hours.
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Take 2 caplets (4 mg) at bedtime and 2 caplets every 4 hours until morning. You must set your alarm clock to wake up during the night to take your Imodium A-D.
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Step 4.
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Stop taking Imodium A-D when you have not had any bowel movements for 12 hours.
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Call your doctor or nurse right away if:
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You have taken Imodium A-D for 24 hours and still have diarrhea.
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You also have a fever or are vomiting.
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You have questions or concerns.
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Drink plenty of liquids.
Drink 6 to 8 glasses of clear, mild liquids every day such as water, clear broths, apple juice, and Gatorade®.
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Stay away from these things. They may make diarrhea worse...
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Laxatives (such as Phillips'® Milk of Magnesia, Dulcolax®, Metamucil®, or Peri-Colace®)
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Medicines that have magnesium (such as Maalox® and Mylanta®)
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Milk or beverages that have alcohol or caffeine (coffee, tea, and colas)
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Prune juice
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High-fiber foods such as beans, raw fruits and vegetables, popcorn and bran
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Spicy, greasy, or fried foods
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Eat bland foods instead (such as rice, white bread, applesauce, bananas, and chicken).
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Call Your Doctor's Office If:
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You have taken Imodium A-D for 24 hours and still have diarrhea.
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You have a fever (temperature over 100.4°F) or chills
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Your vomiting lasts more than 12 hours or still occurs even though you are taking medicine to control it.
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You have symptoms of dehydration such as feeling faint, light-headed or dizzy.
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You have questions for your doctor or nurse.
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Other reasons:
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______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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Your doctor and nurse's names:________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Doctor's office phone number:_________________________________________________
Who you should call if you can't reach your doctor:
______________________________________________________________________________
Phone number:_________________________________________________________________
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* Imodium A-D is a registered trademark of Janssen/McNeil Consumer Products. All rights reserved.
Phillips' Milk of Magnesia is registered trademark of Bayer Corporation; Maalox is registered trademark of Rhone-Poulenc Rorer; Dulcolax is a registered trademark of CIBA Consumer; Mylanta is a registered trademark of Johnson & Johnson Merck; Metamucil® is a registered trademark of Procter and Gamble; Peri-Colace ® is a registered trademark of Mead Johnson; Gatorade® is a registered trademark of the Gatorade Company.
