Health Information
Epirubicin
What To Think About
Epirubicin should only be given by a doctor experienced in the use of chemotherapy medicines (medical oncologist).
Long-term use of epirubicin can damage your heart muscle and may cause congestive heart failure. Though there are medicines to treat heart muscle damage from epirubicin, in some cases the damage is irreversible. This medicine also may increase your chances of having leukemia in the future.
Epirubicin also can cause birth defects. Don't take this medicine if you are pregnant or wish to become pregnant or father a child while you are being treated. Discuss birth control with your doctor if you are able to become pregnant and are planning treatment with epirubicin.
Women who are taking epirubicin should not breast-feed.
You may not be able to take epirubicin if you've taken it or some other chemotherapy medicines in the past. Tell your doctor if you've ever been treated with doxorubicin, daunorubicin, mitoxantrone or mitomycin C, or anthracene derivatives.
Alcohol, alcohol-containing mouthwashes, and any form of tobacco should be avoided. All of these can aggravate the mouth sores that sometimes affect people who take epirubicin.
Talk with your doctor about all of the other medicines—including prescription, nonprescription, and any herbal or vitamin supplements—that you are taking. Some medicines can be dangerous when mixed with epirubicin. And some medicines may cause unpleasant side effects.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF) 
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| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: August 11, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Reference Douglas A. Stewart, MD - Medical Oncology |
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