Eflornithine (oral route)
Available brands
Iwilfin
About this medication
Eflornithine is used to reduce the risk of relapse (coming back) in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (a type of cancer that most often occurs in young children) who have had at least a partial response to previous treatment (eg, anti-GD2 immunotherapy). This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Before using this medication
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of eflornithine in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have been established. No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of eflornithine in geriatric patients. Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
How to use this medication
Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. This medicine should come with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. You may take this medicine with or without food. If you are unable to swallow the tablet whole, you may crush and mix it with 2 tablespoons of soft food or liquid. Mix and eat the mixture. If any crushed tablet pieces remain, mix it with another 2 tablespoons of soft food or liquid. Take all mixture within 1 hour of mixing. Throw away unused mixture 1 hour after mixing. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. If you miss a dose and it iswithin 7 hoursuntil your next regular dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. If you vomit after taking a dose, do not take an extra dose. Take the next dose at the regular time. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
Disclaimer: August is a health information platform and its responses don't constitute medical advise. Always consult with a licenced medical professional near you before making any changes.