Adult Dosing
Palliative treatment of GI adenocarcinoma
- 0.1-0.6 mg/kg/day intra-arterially
Pediatric Dosing
- Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established
See Supplemental Patient Information
- Possibility of severe toxic reactions exists. Hospitalize all patients for initiation of the first course of therapy [US Black Box Warning]
- Not intended as an adjuvant to surgery
- Floxuridine is associated with fetal harm on administration to a pregnant woman
- Therapy associated with adding stress to the patient, interfering with nutrition or depressing bone marrow function increases the toxicity of floxuridine
- This drug is highly toxic drug having a narrow margin of safety. Carefully supervise patients as therapeutic response is unlikely to occur without evidence of toxicity
- Severe hematological toxicity, GI hemorrhage and even death have occurred from the use of floxuridine despite meticulous selection of patients and careful adjustment of dosage
- Rare occasions of fatalities have also occurred in patients in relatively good condition
- Promptly discontinue therapy on occurrence of MI/ stomatitis or esophagopharyngitis/ leukopenia (WBC <3500) or a rapidly falling white blood count/intractable vomiting/diarrhea, frequent bowel movements or watery stools/GI ulceration and bleeding/thrombocytopenia (platelets <100,000)/ hemorrhage
- Carefully monitor WBC count and platelet count
Cautions: Use cautiously in
- Renal impairment
- Hepatic impairment
- Poor risk patients
- History of high-dose pelvic irradiation
- Previous use of alkylating agents
Supplemental Patient Information
- Carefully monitor WBC count and LFTs
Pregnancy Category:D
Breastfeeding: Unknown whether floxuridine is excreted in human milk. Manufacturer advises mothers to refrain from nursing while receiving this drug.
