Ganite Side Effects

Generic Name: Gallium Nitrate

Please note - some side effects for Ganite may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Ganite - for the consumer

Ganite

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Ganite:

Constipation; diarrhea; mouth sores; weakness.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); abnormal dreams; changes in vision; chills; confusion; decreased urination or dark urine; difficulty breathing; dry mouth; fast heartbeat; hallucinations; increased urination at night; muscle cramps; nausea; ringing in the ear; swelling of ankles or feet; unpleasant taste; vomiting.

For the professional

Ganite

Kidney Adverse renal effects, as demonstrated by rising BUN and creatinine, have been reported in about 12.5% of patients treated with Ganite. In a controlled clinical trial of patients with cancer-related hypercalcemia, two patients receiving Ganite and one patient receiving calcitonin developed acute renal failure. Due to the serious nature of the patients’ underlying conditions, the relationship of these events to the drug was unclear. Ganite should not be administered to patients with serum creatinine >2.5 mg/dL .

Metabolic Hypocalcemia may occur after Ganite treatment.

Transient hypophosphatemia of mild-to-moderate degree may occur in up to 79% of hypercalcemic patients following treatment with Ganite. In a controlled clinical trial, 33% of patients had at least 1 serum phosphorus measurement between 1.5-2.4 mg/dL, while 46% of patients had at least 1 serum phosphorus value <1.5 mg/dL. Patients who develop hypophosphatemia may require oral phosphorus therapy.

Decreased serum bicarbonate, possibly secondary to mild respiratory alkalosis was reported in 40-50% of cancer patients treated with Ganite. The cause for this effect is not clear. This effect has been asymptomatic and has not required specific treatment.

Hematologic The use of very high doses of gallium nitrate (up to 1400 mg/m2) in treating patients for advanced cancer has been associated with anemia, and several patients have received red blood cell transfusions. Due to the serious nature of the underlying illness, it is uncertain that the anemia was caused by gallium nitrate.

Blood Pressure A decrease in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was observed several days after treatment with gallium nitrate in a controlled clinical trial. The decrease in blood pressure was asymptomatic and did not require specific treatment.

Visual and Auditory In cancer chemotherapy trials, a small proportion (<1%) of patients treated with multiple high doses of gallium nitrate combined with other investigational anticancer drugs, have developed acute optic neuritis. While these patients were critically ill and had received multiple drugs, a reaction to high-dose gallium nitrate is possible. Most patients had full recovery; however, at least one case of permanent blindness has been reported. One patient with cancer-related hypercalcemia was reported to develop decreased hearing following gallium nitrate administration. Due to the patient’s underlying condition and concurrent therapies, the relationship of this event to gallium nitrate administration is unclear. Tinnitus and partial loss of auditory acuity have been reported rarely (<1%) in patients who received high-dose gallium nitrate as anticancer treatment.

Miscellaneous Other clinical events reported in association with gallium nitrate treatment for cancer as well as cancer-related hypercalcemia include: nausea and/or vomiting, tachycardia, lethargy, confusion, dreams and hallucinations, diarrhea, constipation, lower extremity edema, hypothermia, fever, dyspnea, rales and rhonchi, anemia, leukopenia, paresthesia, skin rash, pleural effusion, and pulmonary infiltrates. Due to the serious nature of the underlying condition of these patients, the relationship of these events to therapy with gallium nitrate is unknown. A single case of encephalopathy followed rapidly by coma and death has been reported after treatment in a cancer chemotherapy trial with gallium nitrate 300 mg/m2/day for 7 days. Treatment with gallium nitrate other than as described in this labeling may be complicated by adverse events not listed.

More resources:

Ganite

Ganite

Ganite - Includes detailed dosage instructions.

Ganite

Gallium Nitrate

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