GEMCITABINE

Antimetabolite anticancer

Dosage Forms

Powder for Injection

200 mg

Uses

Locally advanced or metastatic:
  • Non-small cell lung cancer
  • Bladder cancer
  • Adenocarcinoma of pancreas
  • Epithelial ovarian carcinoma
  • Breast cancer

Dose and Duration

Bladder cancer (in combination with cisplatin)
1000 mg/m² by IV infusion over 30 minutes on day 1, 8 and 15 of each 28-day cycle. Cycle repeated and dose reduced as necessary
Pancreatic cancer
1000 mg/m² by IV infusion over 30 minutes. Repeat once weekly for up to 7 weeks followed by 1 week of rest. Repeat once weekly for 3 consecutive weeks out of every 4 weeks.
Non-small cell lung cancer (monotherapy)
1000 mg/m² by IV infusion over 30 minutes. Repeat once weekly for 3 weeks followed by a 1-week of rest. Repeat once weekly for 3 consecutive weeks out of every 4 weeks
Breast cancer (in combination with paclitaxel)
1250 mg/m² by IV infusion over 30 minutes (given after paclitaxel infusion) on day 1 and 8 of each 21-day cycle. Cycle repeated as necessary
Ovarian cancer (in combination with carboplatin)
1000 mg/m² by IV infusion over 30 minutes (given before carboplatin infusion) on day 1 and 8 of each 21-day cycle. Cycle repeated as necessary

Contraindications

  • Children < 18 years
  • Hypersensitivity to gemcitabine

Side Effects

  • Myelosuppression (leucopoenia, thrombocytopenia, anaemia, neutropenia)
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea
  • Musculoskeletal pain
  • Influenza-like symptoms, cough, difficulty in breathing
  • Rashes
  • Headache, insomnia, somnolence, fever, chills
  • Haematuria, mild proteinuria
  • Liver damage (worsen existing disease)

Interactions

  • Radiotherapy (increased toxicity)
  • Live vaccines (risk of developing disease in vaccines)

Pregnancy

  • Do not use

Breast-feeding

  • Discontinue breastfeeding

Storage

  • Do not refrigerate reconstituted gemcitabine to prevent crystallisation. Keep at 30°C and use within 24 hours

⚠️ Caution

  • Monitor platelet and granulocyte counts. Patient should have an absolute granulocyte count of at least 1500 (x 10⁶/L) and platelet count of 100,000 (x 10⁶/L) prior to initiation of treatment
  • For repeat cycles, reduce dose based on platelet and granulocyte count as specified in product literature
  • Men and women should take adequate contraception during treatment with gemcitabine
  • Anticancer medicines should only be handled by health workers trained and experienced in cytotoxic medicines