THIOTEPA is prescribed for the treatment of some types of cancer. These include cancer of the breast, bladder and ovary.
It is also recommended to be used in order to control fluid leaking into body spaces, affected by the secondary tumours.
It is also prescribed prior to bone marrow transplantation or high dose therapy with stem cell rescue in order to help treat certain sorts of cancer as well as metabolic conditions.
Thiotepa falls under a group of medications named antineoplastic or cytotoxic medicines. You may also hear of these being called chemotherapy or anticancer medications.
What dosage form it comes: It is Available in Single-Dose Vials as the following strength:
- thiotepa 100 mg
- thiotepa 15 mg
How it is given: Thiotepa is usually given as an injection into your veins (intravenously) or into a body space. This medicine must only be administered by a doctor/nurse.
In patients with bladder cancer, you will not be allowed to drink fluids for 8 to 12 hours prior to the treatment. Then 60mg thiotepa along with 30-60mL of water is recommended to be given through a rubber tube (called a catheter) into your bladder. This solution is then kept in your bladder for a couple of hours.
How long it is given: In most cases of cancer, Thiotepa injection is usually given at 1 to 4 week intervals.
For bladder cancer, the usual treatment course is once a week for 4 weeks. This is known as a single cycle of chemotherapy. Your healthcare practitioner will decide how many of these cycles you will need.
Mechanism of Action: Thiotepa specifically works by interfering with the growth of cancer cells. This helps in order to slow their growth and eventually kills them. The growth of the normal cells in other parts of the body is affected as well.
Side Effects: Tell your healthcare team as soon as possible if you do not feel well while taking treatment with tepadina.
- Fever
- Hair loss
- Tiredness
- Pain at injection site
- Feeling sick or nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulty passing urine
- Pain when passing urine
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Lowering of sperm count
- Skin rash or dermatitis
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling of the throat
- Loss of menstrual periods
These are the more common thiotepa side effects. Tell your healthcare practitioner if you notice any of the above mentioned side effects.
Warning and Precautions:
- You must inform your doctor in case you've liver/kidney problems, heart/lung problems, seizures/fits (epilepsy) or have had them in the past (in case treated with phenytoin or fosphenytoin).
- Because thiotepa destroys the bone marrow cells responsible for making blood cells, regular blood tests will be taken while on treatment for checking the blood cell counts.
- In order to prevent as well as manage the infections, you will be prescribed anti-infectives.
- The drug tepadina may be responsible for causing another type of cancer in the future. Your healthcare practitioner will discuss this risk with you.
- Inform your healthcare team if you are receiving, have recently received or might receive any other drugs.
- It is likely that certain side effects of thiotepa like headache, blurred vision and dizziness could affect your ability to drive as well as use machines.
Skin care for Thiotepa: The medicine Thiotepa can come through the skin as part of patients sweat. Patients and caregivers should be protected from excessive exposure to this medicinal product. Please follow below mentioned guidelines while receiving thiotepa injection, and keep following these guidelines for 24 hours after the final dose.
- Thiotepa baths typically occur every six hours. The baths start six hours after the first dose starts. They continue until 24 hours after the final dose ends.
- Only soap and water should be used for bathing. Kindly be sure to rinse the soap off thoroughly. Dry skin folds well and watchfully. Avoid rubbing; it may be responsible for injuring the skin. Pat these portions dry.
- Patient’s clothes, linens, and central line dressing should be changed at every bath. Consider povidone-iodine in order to clean the central line site while on thiotepa.
- A same disposable blood pressure cuff can be used during the entire course of thiotepa. Blood pressure cuffs should be thrown away and replaced after the last bath.
- In case the patient is in diapers, please change the diaper frequently. Wear gloves and avoid using baby wipes. Clean the bottom through a warm moist washcloth only.
- Avoid using any kind of moisturizer or barrier creams throughout the treatment.
- Avoid applying deodorants or antiperspirants.
- If you're handling patient’s linens and clothing, please wear gloves.
- All caregivers should prefer wearing long sleeves, long pants, or some kind of covering, such as a small blanket. These work as barriers between them and the patient’s skin.
Overdose: As this medication is given to you under the supervision of a healthcare team, it is very unlikely that you will be given excess dose. However, in case you have any adverse reactions after being given it, just report your doctor as soon as you can or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital.
Storage: Thiotepa injection should be stored in a cool dry place, protected from light, where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Things must be avoided to do:
- Avoid giving this drug to anyone else, even if they have the identical condition as you.
- Avoid using this medication to treat any other complaints unless your healthcare practitioner tells you to.
- Avoid having any immunisations while you are on with thiotepa or for some time following you stopped treatment.
- Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this drug. Consumption of alcohol may make some side effects such as dizziness worse.
- Avoid taking more than your healthcare practitioner has prescribed. High doses of thiotepa 100 mg/15 mg may be associated with a serious blood disorder.
Things must be followed:
- All the follow up appointments must be kept with your doctor.
- Inform any other doctors, who are treating you that you're receiving Thiotepa.
- If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your healthcare professional that you are having this drug..
- In case you plan to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic, inform your healthcare practitioner that you are taking thiotepa 15 mg/100 mg.
- In case you become pregnant while taking this medicine, inform your doctor.
- Tell your healthcare provider in case you notice any sign of bleeding or infection.
NOTE: The information provided in this article is only for informational purposes and is not served as a substitute for the medical treatment, consultation, diagnosis, of a qualified healthcare practitioner.
