Hycamtin Side Effects

Generic name: topotecan

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 30, 2025.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Hycamtin Side Effects associated with topotecan. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Hycamtin.

Applies to topotecan: oral capsule.

Other dosage forms:

• intravenous powder for solution, intravenous solution

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood tests are needed to check for unwanted effects.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. It may also cause birth defects if the father is using it when his sexual partner becomes pregnant. Female patients should use an effective form of birth control during treatment with this medicine and for at least 6 months after the last dose. Male patients who have female partners should use effective birth control during treatment with this medicine and for at least 3 months after the last dose. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Topotecan can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:

• If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor right away if you think you are getting an infection or if you have a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.
• Check with your doctor right away if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine or stools, or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
• Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done.
• Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.
• Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects, such as a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.
• Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.

This medicine may cause a serious bowel problem called typhlitis (neutropenic enterocolitis), which could be life-threatening. Tell your doctor right away if you have a fever, abdominal or stomach pain, or a low count of white blood cells after using this medicine.

Topotecan may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may make the diarrhea worse or make it last longer. If you have any questions about this or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

This medicine may cause some people to become more tired or weaker than they are normally. If either of these side effects occurs, do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

Check with your doctor right away if you have breathing problems, cough, fever, or fast heartbeat. These could be symptoms of a serious lung problem.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of Hycamtin

Along with its needed effects, topotecan (the active ingredient contained in Hycamtin) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking topotecan:

Other side effects of Hycamtin

Some side effects of topotecan may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to topotecan: intravenous powder for injection, intravenous solution, oral capsule.

General adverse events

The most common adverse events were hematologic: neutropenia, leukopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia.^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Very common (10% or more): Neutropenia (up to 97%), leukopenia (97%), anemia (up to 94%), thrombocytopenia (up to 74%), pyrexia/grade 4 neutropenia (28%), febrile neutropenia (28%), hemorrhage (15%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Pancytopenia, coagulation adverse event
• Postmarketing reports: Severe bleeding (in association with thrombocytopenia)^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Nausea (64%), other gastrointestinal adverse event (63%), vomiting (45%), diarrhea (32%), constipation (29%), abdominal pain (22%), stomatitis (18%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, dyspepsia
• Frequency not reported: Neutropenic colitis
• Postmarketing reports: Abdominal pain potentially associated with neutropenic colitis^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Very common (10% or more): Alopecia (49%), dermatologic adverse reaction (48%), rash (16%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Pruritus
• Frequency not reported: Urticaria
• Postmarketing reports: Angioedema, severe dermatitis, severe pruritus^[Ref]

Rash includes pruritus, rash erythematous, urticaria, dermatitis, bullous eruption, and maculopapular rash.^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Very common (10% or more): Sepsis or pyrexia/infection with neutropenia (43%), infection-febrile neutropenia (28%), infection (27%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Pneumonia, allergy-immunology adverse event, pharyngitis, rhinitis, sepsis

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Constitutional (69%), pain (up to 59%), fatigue (29%), pyrexia (28%), asthenia (25%), mucositis (14%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Treatment related death, malaise

Pain includes abdominal pain or cramping, arthralgia, bone pain, chest pain (non-cardiac and non-pleuritic), dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, earache, headache, hepatic pain, myalgia, neuropathic pain, pain due to radiation, pelvic pain, pleuritic pain, rectal or perirectal pain, tumor pain, body pain, back pain, and skeletal pain.

"Constitutional" is a composite term that includes fatigue (lethargy, malaise, asthenia), fever (in the absence of neutropenia), rigors, chills, sweating, and weight gain or loss.

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Dyspnea (22%), pulmonary adverse event (17%), coughing (15%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Epistaxis, respiratory disorder
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Interstitial lung disease
• Postmarketing reports: Fatal interstitial lung disease^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Very common (10% or more): Hepatic adverse event (24%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Transient elevations in hepatic enzymes, hyperbilirubinemia, elevated ALT, elevated AST^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Non-neuropathy neurologic adverse event (35%), headache (18%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Paresthesia, neuropathy, dizziness
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypoesthesia, peripheral neuropathy, paresis^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Very common (10% or more): Cardiovascular adverse event (25%)^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Very common (10% or more): Metabolic-laboratory adverse event (39%), anorexia (19%)
• Frequency not reported: Dehydration

Musculoskeletal

• Very common (10% or more): Musculoskeletal adverse event (14%)^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypersensitivity (including rash)
• Postmarketing reports: Allergic manifestations, anaphylactoid reactions^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Very common (10% or more): Genitourinary adverse event (36%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Sexual reproduction function adverse event^[Ref]

Local

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Extravasation
• Postmarketing reports: Inadvertent extravasation

Endocrine

• Common (1% to 10%): Endocrine adverse event

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Ocular-visual adverse event

See also:

Further information

Hycamtin side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer