Campto: application, side effects and treatment features
Campto, also known by its international name irinotecan, is a synthetic anticancer drug used to treat locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer. The drug is manufactured by several pharmaceutical groups, including Rhone-Poulenc Rohrer from Switzerland and the UK, and Aventis Pharma from the UK.
Campto is available in several dosage forms, including solutions for infusion of various strengths and concentrates for the preparation of infusion solution. The main active ingredient in the drug is irinotecan hydrochloride trihydrate.
Indications for use of Campto include the treatment of colorectal cancer in combination with other chemotherapy drugs, as well as monotherapy in patients with advanced disease after conventional treatment. However, the drug has a number of contraindications, including hypersensitivity to irinotecan or other components of the drug, ulcerative colitis and/or intestinal obstruction, severe inhibition of bone marrow hematopoiesis, blood bilirubin levels exceeding more than 3 times the upper limit of normal, general condition of patients, assessed according to the WHO scale>2, pregnancy and lactation.
Like many chemotherapy drugs, Campto can cause side effects. These may include neutropenia, fever, anemia, thrombocytopenia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, anorexia, mucositis, constipation, involuntary muscle twitching or cramps, paresthesia, asthenia, allergic reactions, dehydration, renal failure, arterial hypotension, insufficiency blood circulation and local reactions at the injection site.
Interaction of Campto with other drugs may lead to undesirable effects, so you should avoid mixing it with other drugs in the same bottle. It should also be taken into account that Campto has anticholinesterase activity, which may lead to an increase in the duration of neuromuscular blockade when used simultaneously with suxamethonium and anesthetics.
Treatment with Campto should only be carried out under the supervision of a physician in specialized medical institutions where the necessary resources and qualified personnel are available to administer infusion therapy and monitor the patient's condition.
The dosage of Campto may vary depending on the type and stage of cancer, the patient's age and general condition, and other factors that may be considered by the healthcare provider. The drug is usually given as an infusion into a vein and may be given every two weeks or every three weeks in combination with other chemotherapy drugs.
Overall, Campto is an effective drug for treating colon and rectal cancer, however, like any other chemotherapy drug, it can have side effects that can be serious. Therefore, before using Campto, you must discuss in detail with your doctor all the possible risks and benefits of its use, and also follow all the doctor’s recommendations and prescriptions.