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What is Xofigo? What is Xofigo used for?
Radium Ra 223 (Xofigo) is a radioactive medicine
(radiotherapeutic drug) that is used to treat male patients with symptoms of
advanced prostate cancer that has spread to the bones, but not to other parts of
the body. The radioactive particles emitted by radium Ra 223 helps kill cancer
cells in the bone by damaging their DNA. Radium Ra 223 causes minimal damage to
the nearby healthy cells. Radium Ra 223 can help some patients live longer.
Compared to placebo, radium Ra 223 extended life by 14.9 months vs. 11.3 months
for the placebo group. The FDA approved Radium Ra 223 in May 2013.
What brand names are available for radium Ra 223 dichloride Xofigo?
Xofigo
Is radium Xofigo available as a generic drug?
No
Do I need a prescription for radium Xofigo?
Yes
What are the side effects of Xofigo?
The most common side effects of radium Ra 223 are:
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- diarrhea,
- swelling of the arms or legs (peripheral edema), and
- low blood cell counts.
To avoid dehydration caused by diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting,
patients are advised to drink plenty of water and report any signs of
dehydration such as dry mouth or increased thirst.
Radium Ra 223 can cause bone marrow suppression, a potentially serious
condition in which blood cell counts decrease. In clinical studies, use of
radium Ra 223 caused a drop in red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets
in some patients. Because of serious bone marrow problems, some patients had to
permanently discontinue treatment, required blood transfusions, and some deaths
were reported.
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What is the dosage for Xofigo?
Radium Ra 223 dosing is based on body weight. The recommended dosage
of radium Ra 223 is 50 kBq or 1.35 microcurie per kg body weight, administered
intravenously every 4 weeks for a total of 6 injections. Radium Ra 223 should
only be administered by slow intravenous injection over 1 minute and the line
should be flushed with isotonic saline (salt water) before and after injection.
Which drugs or supplements interact with Xofigo?
Information on potential drug-drug interactions with
radium Ra 223 is not available as no formal drug interaction studies have been
performed.
Is radium Xofigo safe to take if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?
Radium Ra 223 can cause harm to the unborn baby and should not be
used in women who are or may become pregnant. Women who are pregnant or who may
become pregnant should not handle radium Ra 223 without wearing gloves or proper
protection. Radium Ra 223 is classified as FDA pregnancy risk category X. Male
patients who are sexually active should use condoms and their female partners
should use a highly effective method of birth control (for example, birth
control pills) during treatment and for 6 months after stopping treatment.
Radium Ra 223 should not be used by women. It is not known
if radium Ra 223 is excreted in breast milk.
What else should I know about Xofigo?
What preparations of radium Xofigo are available?
Solution for intravenous (IV) injection: 1000 kBq/ml (27
microcurie/ml).
How should I keep Xofigo stored?
Radium Ra 223 should be stored at room temperature, below 40 C (104
F).