Etoposide

The Basics

What is Etoposide?

Used to treat certain forms of lung cancer (such as small cell lung cancer) by slowing the growth of cancer cells.

Brand names for Etoposide

Etoposide

How Etoposide is classified

Antineoplastic Agents

Etoposide During Pregnancy

Etoposide pregnancy category

Category N/ANote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Etoposide while pregnant

Based on animal data and its mechanism of action, ETOPOPHOS can cause fetal harm when, administered to a pregnant woman. Etoposide, the active moiety of etoposide phosphate is, teratogenic in mice and rats. Advise pregnant women of the potential hazard to a, fetus. Advise women of childbearing potential to avoid becoming pregnant., In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and, miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively

Taking Etoposide While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Etoposide?

Most sources consider breastfeeding to be contraindicated during maternal antineoplastic drug therapy. It might be possible to breastfeed safely during intermittent therapy with etoposide after an appropriate period of breastfeeding abstinence. A period of at least 24 hours is required after a dose of 80 mg/sq m or less. Others have suggested an abstinence period of 72 hours after etoposide use.[1] Chemotherapy may adversely affect the normal microbiome and chemical makeup of breastmilk.[2] Women who receive chemotherapy during pregnancy are more likely to have difficulty nursing their infant.

Maternal / infant drug levels

Most sources consider breastfeeding to be contraindicated during maternal antineoplastic drug therapy. It might be possible to breastfeed safely during intermittent therapy with etoposide after an appropriate period of breastfeeding abstinence. A period of at least 24 hours is required after a dose of 80 mg/sq m or less. Others have suggested an abstinence period of 72 hours after etoposide use.[1] Chemotherapy may adversely affect the normal microbiome and chemical makeup of breastmilk.[2] Women who receive chemotherapy during pregnancy are more likely to have difficulty nursing their infant.

Possible effects of Etoposide on milk supply

A telephone follow-up study was conducted on 74 women who received cancer chemotherapy at one center during the second or third trimester of pregnancy to determine if they were successful at breastfeeding postpartum. Only 34% of the women were able to exclusively breastfeed their infants, and 66% of the women reported experiencing breastfeeding difficulties. This was in comparison to a 91% breastfeeding success rate in 22 other mothers diagnosed during pregnancy, but not treated with chemotherapy. Other statistically significant correlations included: 1. mothers with breastfeeding difficulties had an average of 5.5 cycles of chemotherapy compared with 3.8 cycles among mothers who had no difficulties; and 2. mothers with breastfeeding difficulties received their first cycle of chemotherapy on average 3.4 weeks earlier in pregnancy. Of the 9 women who received a taxane-containing regimen, 7 had breastfeeding difficulties.[4]

Possible alternatives to Etoposide

None listed