Precautions

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

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

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. If you are a woman who can get pregnant, your doctor may do tests to make sure you are not pregnant before starting treatment with this medicine. Use an effective form of birth control that does not contain hormones (eg, condoms, diaphragms, and spermicide) to keep from getting pregnant during treatment and for as long as this medicine is detected in your blood. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Check with your doctor right away if you get a serious injury, infection, or illness of any kind. This medicine may weaken your body's defenses against infection or inflammation.

This medicine may cause adrenal gland problems. Check with your doctor right away if you have darkening of the skin, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, loss of appetite, mental depression, nausea, skin rash, unusual tiredness or weakness, or vomiting.

Check with your doctor right away if you have dizziness or lightheadedness, drowsiness, feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings, sensation of spinning, sleepiness, unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness or feeling of sluggishness. These may be symptoms of nerve problems.

This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert.

This medicine may cause cysts in the ovaries in premenopausal women (have menstrual cycles). Tell your doctor if you have bloating, sudden or severe pelvic pain, or vaginal bleeding.

This medicine may cause serious liver problems. Check with your doctor right away if you have dark urine, general tiredness or weakness, light-colored stools, nausea and vomiting, upper right stomach pain, or yellow eyes and skin.

This medicine can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, which will increase 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 immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.
  • Check with your doctor immediately 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 prolonged bleeding. Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine.

This medicine may cause changes in hormone levels. Check with your doctor right away if you have swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in males.

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.

Portions of this document last updated: May 01, 2024

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