Brand Names: Kepivance

Generic Name: palifermin

What is palifermin (Kepivance)?
What are the possible side effects of palifermin (Kepivance)?
What is the most important information I should know about palifermin (Kepivance)?
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving palifermin (Kepivance)?
How is palifermin given (Kepivance)?
What happens if I miss a dose (Kepivance)?
What happens if I overdose (Kepivance)?
What should I avoid while using palifermin (Kepivance)?
What other drugs will affect palifermin (Kepivance)?
Where can I get more information (Kepivance)?

What is palifermin (Kepivance)?

Palifermin is used to help prevent or heal mouth sores and ulcers in people being treated with chemotherapy and stem cell treatment.

Palifermin is used in people receiving chemotherapy to treat blood cancers (Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, leukemia). This medicine is not a treatment for the cancer itself.

Palifermin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of palifermin (Kepivance)?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights.

Common side effects may include:

fever;
swelling or redness of your skin;
itching or rash; or
abnormal blood test.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about palifermin (Kepivance)?

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving palifermin (Kepivance)?

You should not use palifermin if you are allergic to it.

Palifermin may cause growth in tumors that are not related to a blood cancer. Talk to your doctor if you have a history of any type of tumor.

Palifermin may harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

This medicine may affect fertility (your ability to have children), whether you are a man or a woman.

Do not breastfeed while using this medicine, and for at least 2 weeks after your last dose.

Palifermin is not approved for use by anyone younger than 1 year old.

How is palifermin given (Kepivance)?

Palifermin is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection before and after your chemotherapy treatment.

Your palifermin injections are timed to take place at certain intervals as part of your treatment. Carefully follow your doctor's instructions about when to receive each injection.

Palifermin should not be given within 24 hours before you receive your chemotherapy.

QUESTION

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What happens if I miss a dose (Kepivance)?

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your palifermin injection.

What happens if I overdose (Kepivance)?

Since this medicine is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid while using palifermin (Kepivance)?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

What other drugs will affect palifermin (Kepivance)?

Other drugs may affect palifermin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information (Kepivance)?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about palifermin.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.