Drug Interaction Report

MONITOR: The use of topotecan with other cytotoxic agents is likely to result in greater myelosuppression due to additive or synergistic pharmacologic effects. Severe neutropenia and neutropenic sepsis resulting in death were reported with topotecan and cisplatin.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised if topotecan is used with other cytotoxic agents. Dosage reductions may be required, and bone marrow function should be closely monitored. Patients should be advised to contact their physician if they develop signs and symptoms of myelosuppression such as pallor, dizziness, fatigue, lethargy, fainting, easy bruising or bleeding, or signs of infection such as fever, chills, sore throat, body aches, and other influenza-like symptoms.

GENERALLY AVOID: Concurrent use of ethanol and phenothiazines may result in additive CNS depression and psychomotor impairment. Also, ethanol may precipitate dystonic reactions in patients who are taking phenothiazines. The two drugs probably act on different sites in the brain, although the exact mechanism of the interaction is not known.

MANAGEMENT: Patients should be advised to avoid alcohol during phenothiazine therapy.