Ixempra (ixabepilone) is used to treat advanced breast cancer. Ixempra is usually given after other cancer medications have been tried without successful treatment.

Side effects:  If any of the following side effects occur while taking ixabepilone, check with your doctor or nurse immediately:

More common:

• Black, tarry stools
• Body aches or pain
• Burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations
• Burning pain on urination
• Chest pain
• Chills
• Cough
• Difficult or labored breathing
• Ear congestion
• Fever
• Headache
• Loss of voice
• Lower back or side pain
• Nasal congestion
• Painful or difficult urination
• Pale skin
• Red, swelling, or painful skin
• Runny nose
• Scaling of the skin on the hands and feet
• Shortness of breath
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips, tongue, or inside the mouth
• Swelling of the hands, ankles, feet, or lower legs
• Swollen glands
• Tightness in the chest
• Tingling of the hands and feet
• Troubled breathing with exertion
• Ulceration of the skin
• Unsteadiness or awkwardness
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Unusual weight gain
• Weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
• Wheezing

Less common:

• Bleeding gums
• Blood in the urine or stools
• Confusion
• Decreased urination
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Fainting
• Fast heartbeat
• Hives
• Hoarseness
• Increase in heart rate
• Irritation
• Itching
• Joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
• Lightheadedness
• Pinpoint red spots on the skin
• Rapid breathing
• Rash
• Sunken eyes
• Swelling of the eyelids, face, or lips
• Thirst
• Trouble with swallowing
• Wrinkled skin

Minor side effects: Some of the side effects that can occur with ixabepilone may not need medical attention. As your body adjusts to the medicine during treatment these side effects may go away. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to reduce or prevent some of these side effects. If any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome or if you have any questions about them, check with your health care professional:

More common:

• Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
• Bone pain
• Change in taste
• Cracked lips
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
• Discoloration of the fingernails or toenails
• Feeling of warmth
• Hair loss or thinning of the hair
• Heartburn
• Lack or loss of strength
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
• Stomach pain
• Sudden sweating
• Swelling or inflammation of the mouth
• Vomiting
• Weight loss

Less common:

• Darkening of the skin
• Flaking and falling off of the skin
• Sleeplessness
• Trouble with sleeping
• Unable to sleep
• Watering of the eyes

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 012

Ixempra (ixabepilone) is used to treat advanced breast cancer. Ixempra is usually given after other cancer medications have been tried without successful treatment.

Side effects:  If any of the following side effects occur while taking ixabepilone, check with your doctor or nurse immediately:

More common:

• Black, tarry stools
• Body aches or pain
• Burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations
• Burning pain on urination
• Chest pain
• Chills
• Cough
• Difficult or labored breathing
• Ear congestion
• Fever
• Headache
• Loss of voice
• Lower back or side pain
• Nasal congestion
• Painful or difficult urination
• Pale skin
• Red, swelling, or painful skin
• Runny nose
• Scaling of the skin on the hands and feet
• Shortness of breath
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips, tongue, or inside the mouth
• Swelling of the hands, ankles, feet, or lower legs
• Swollen glands
• Tightness in the chest
• Tingling of the hands and feet
• Troubled breathing with exertion
• Ulceration of the skin
• Unsteadiness or awkwardness
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Unusual weight gain
• Weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
• Wheezing

Less common:

• Bleeding gums
• Blood in the urine or stools
• Confusion
• Decreased urination
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Fainting
• Fast heartbeat
• Hives
• Hoarseness
• Increase in heart rate
• Irritation
• Itching
• Joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
• Lightheadedness
• Pinpoint red spots on the skin
• Rapid breathing
• Rash
• Sunken eyes
• Swelling of the eyelids, face, or lips
• Thirst
• Trouble with swallowing
• Wrinkled skin

Minor side effects: Some of the side effects that can occur with ixabepilone may not need medical attention. As your body adjusts to the medicine during treatment these side effects may go away. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to reduce or prevent some of these side effects. If any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome or if you have any questions about them, check with your health care professional:

More common:

• Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
• Bone pain
• Change in taste
• Cracked lips
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
• Discoloration of the fingernails or toenails
• Feeling of warmth
• Hair loss or thinning of the hair
• Heartburn
• Lack or loss of strength
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
• Stomach pain
• Sudden sweating
• Swelling or inflammation of the mouth
• Vomiting
• Weight loss

Less common:

• Darkening of the skin
• Flaking and falling off of the skin
• Sleeplessness
• Trouble with sleeping
• Unable to sleep
• Watering of the eyes

Additional Information:

• Item Code: 012