Irinosol 100mg/5ml IV Inj

Oncologists give it alone or with fluorouracil and leucovorin through an intravenous drip.

Irinosol 100mg/5ml IV Injection Ingredients and Usage

Irinosol 100mg/5ml IV Injection contains irinotecan, a topoisomerase I inhibitor. A topoisomerase I inhibitor is a chemotherapy drug that blocks an enzyme cancer cells need to copy their DNA. Irinotecan is a camptothecin derivative used in cancer treatment.

Irinosol 100mg/5ml IV Injection treats metastatic carcinoma of the colon and rectum in adults. Oncologists use it as first line therapy combined with fluorouracil and leucovorin. They also give Irinosol alone after a fluorouracil based regimen stops working.

How Does Irinosol 100mg/5ml IV Injection Work?

Irinosol 100mg/5ml IV Injection blocks topoisomerase I, the enzyme that relaxes coiled DNA during cell division. The liver converts irinotecan into SN-38, a metabolite up to 1000 times more potent than the parent drug. SN-38 binds the topoisomerase I and DNA complex and stops the strands from rejoining.

This action creates permanent breaks in the DNA of rapidly dividing cancer cells. The accumulated damage triggers apoptosis, the programmed death of the tumour cell. Irinosol therefore halts cancer cell growth and slows tumour spread.

Irinosol 100mg/5ml IV Injection Side Effects

Irinosol 100mg/5ml IV Injection causes side effects common to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Diarrhoea and low blood counts are the most frequent and most serious effects.

• Early and late diarrhoea

• Nausea and vomiting

• Neutropenia and leukopenia (low white blood cells)

• Anaemia and low platelets

• Hair loss (alopecia)

• Fatigue and weakness (asthenia)

• Decreased appetite and abdominal pain

• Mucositis and fever

Warnings

• Irinosol carries a boxed warning for severe diarrhoea, which can be life threatening. Early diarrhoea responds to atropine, while late diarrhoea needs prompt loperamide treatment.

• Irinosol carries a boxed warning for severe myelosuppression, a sharp drop in blood cell production. Deaths from sepsis after severe neutropenia have occurred.

• Patients with reduced UGT1A1 enzyme activity face higher risk of severe neutropenia. The UGT1A1 gene controls how the body clears the active metabolite.

• Irinosol causes embryo fetal harm and is contraindicated in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Both male and female patients must use effective contraception during treatment.

• Strong CYP3A4 inducers and inhibitors interact with Irinosol and must be avoided. Patients with hepatic impairment or raised bilirubin face greater toxicity risk.

Irinosol 100mg/5ml IV Injection Storage Conditions

Store Irinosol 100mg/5ml IV Injection below 25°C in its original carton to protect it from light. Do not freeze the vial, as freezing damages the solution. Keep Irinosol out of the reach of children, and let only trained hospital staff handle and administer it.