Epixtra 50 Injection is an anti-cancer medicine that is used in conjunction with other drugs to treat breast cancer in people who have had tumor removal surgery. Epixtra 50 Injection is used as adjuvant chemotherapy in women with axillary lymph nodes with involvement resection of breast cancer (abnormal growth in the cells of the breast).

Epixtra 50 Injection contains Epirubicin, which belongs to the class of anthracycline topoisomerase inhibitors. It inhibits the topoisomerase II enzyme by intercalating the DNA base pairs. This causes double helix DNA to be uncoiled, thereby destroying the DNA and RNA synthesis.

Epixtra 50 Injection may cause certain side effects such as nausea, headache, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, vomiting, dizziness, mouth sores, tiredness, back pain, diarrhoea, and pain at the site of injection. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist, please consult your doctor. A trained healthcare doctor will administer Epixtra 50 Injection. So, do not self-administer. Your doctor will decide the dose of the medicine based on your health condition.

Epixtra 50 Injection should be avoided if you are allergic to it. It is contraindicated in patients having a recent history of myocardial infarction (MI) or heart attack, patients with baseline neutrophil count < 1500 cells/mm3, severe arrhythmias, previous treatment with anthracyclines, and severe hepatic dysfunction. Hence avoid using this medicine under such conditions. Inform your doctor if you have any cardiovascular conditions, liver/kidney disease, or taking any medicines such as cardiotoxic drugs (eg, Thalidomide, doxorubicin, Abiraterone, tamoxifen, letrozole), and cimetidine, as it can cause serious adverse effects. Epixtra 50 Injection is known to cause embryo-fetal toxicity. Hence it is contraindicated in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Epixtra 50 Injection is not recommended for children as it is known to cause anthracycline-induced acute manifestations of cardiotoxicity and chronic CHF.

Epixtra 50 Injection contains Epirubicin, which belongs to the class of anthracycline topoisomerase inhibitors. It inhibits the topoisomerase II enzyme by intercalating the DNA base pairs. This causes double helix DNA to be uncoiled, thereby destroying the DNA and RNA synthesis. It is used as adjuvant chemotherapy in women with axillary lymph nodes with involvement resection of breast cancer.

• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Back pain
• Pain at the site of injection
• Red discoloration of urine
• Loss of appetite
• Mouth sores
• Tiredness
• Weight gain
• Pale skin

Epixtra 50 Injection should be avoided if you are allergic to it. It is contraindicated in patients having a recent history of myocardial infarction (MI) or heart attack, patients with baseline neutrophil count < 1500 cells/mm3, severe arrhythmias, previous treatment with anthracyclines and severe hepatic dysfunction. Hence avoid using this medicine under such conditions. Inform your doctor if you have any cardiovascular conditions, liver/kidney disease, or taking any medicines such as cardiotoxic drugs (e.g., Thalidomide, doxorubicin, Abiraterone, tamoxifen, letrozole), and cimetidine, as it can cause serious adverse effects. Epixtra 50 Injection is known to cause embryo-fetal toxicity. Hence it is contraindicated in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Epixtra 50 Injection is not recommended for children as it is known to cause anthracycline-induced acute manifestations of cardiotoxicity and chronic CHF. Do not stop receiving Epixtra 50 Injection without a doctor’s advice, as it can cause serious health conditions. Epixtra 50 Injection is known to cause severe life-threatening haematological reactions, tissue necrosis, cardiomyopathy, secondary acute myelogenous leukaemia, and severe myelosuppression in some patients. Hence careful monitoring of the patient is needed while receiving the medicine.

Drug-Drug Interactions: Epixtra 50 Injection may interact with cardiotoxic drugs (e.g., Thalidomide, doxorubicin, Abiraterone, tamoxifen, letrozole), antimicrotubular agents ((paclitaxel, docetaxel), antihistamine (cimetidine), calcium channel blockers (cilnidipine, nifedipine).

Drug-Food Interactions: Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.

Drug-Disease Interactions: Inform your doctor if you have cardiac problems, liver or kidney disease, heart attack, severe MI, or cardiomyopathy.

• THALIDOMIDE
• DOXORUBICIN
• ABIRATERONE
• TAMOXIFEN
• LETROZOLE
• PACLITAXEL
• DOCETAXEL
• CIMETIDINE
• CILNIDIPINE
• NIFEDIPINE

• Try to eat more healthy fats, fruits, vegetables and whole-grain foods to give you more energy. 
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, as dehydration is often seen in cancers.
• Taking a stroll in the garden or spending 30 minutes of your time doing some light physical activity can be very useful. However, do not over-exert yourself if you feel too tired. 
• Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
• Doing meditation and yoga for some time is very effective in helping cancer patients maintain a healthy attitude and body.

• Avoid having intercourse while on treatment with Epixtra 50 Injection.
• Regular monitoring of complete blood count  (CBC) and liver function (LFT) is important while receiving Epixtra 50 Injection.

Breast Cancer: Breast cancer is a type of cancer with abnormal growth in the cells of the breast. There are different kinds of breast cancer, such as cancer occurring in lobules (glands that produce milk), ducts of the breast (the pathway that brings milk from glands to the nipple), and in the fatty tissue or the fibrous connective tissue within the breast. Symptoms of breast cancer include a lump in the breast, breast pain, redness, swelling, nipple discharge other than breast milk, bloody discharge, a lump or swelling under the arm, unexplained change in shape, size or appearance of the breast, peeling, flaking or scaling of the skin.