VP-16 (Etoposide) for Myeloma

Overview
VP-16, also known as VePesid, is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat several types of cancer. VP-16 is sometimes combined with other drugs such as Platinol, Cytoxan, and a corticosteroid in a chemotherapy regimen to treat myeloma. VP-16 is also known by its drug name, etoposide.

VP-16 is an anti-cancer drug used in chemotherapy. VP-16 is a member of a class of drugs called plant alkaloids. VP-16 is also a topoisomerase II inhibitor. VP-16 is believed to work by preventing the replication of cancer cells.

How do I take it?
VP-16 is taken orally as a tablet or administered as an intravenous infusion during chemotherapy treatment.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for VP-16 lists common side effects including hair loss, mouth sores, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, low blood pressure, early menopause in women, and loss of fertility in men or women.

Rare but serious side effects listed for VP-16 include allergic reaction, suppression of the immune system, fetal harm in pregnant women, and increased risk for developing other cancers.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Etoposide — Chemocare
http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/eto...

Drug Therapy for Multiple Myeloma — American Cancer Society
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/multiple-myeloma/...