Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
1. Why am I using Jevtana?
Jevtana contains the active ingredient cabazitaxel. Jevtana is used to treat prostate cancer that has progressed after having had other chemotherapy. For more information, see Section 1. Why am I using Jevtana? in the full CMI.
2. What should I know before I use Jevtana?
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to cabazitaxel or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI.
Do not use if the number of your white blood cells is too low, you have a liver disease or if you have recently received or are about to receive a vaccine against yellow fever.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines, or if your partner is pregnant, plans to become pregnant or breastfeed. For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before I use Jevtana? in the full CMI.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with Jevtana and affect how it works. A list of these medicines is in Section 3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI.
4. How is Jevtana given?
- Jevtana will be given by infusion into one of your veins (intravenous use). The infusion will last approximately 1 hour during which you will be in the hospital.
- You usually receive your infusion once every 3 weeks.
More instructions can be found in Section 4. How is Jevtana given? in the full CMI.
5. What should I know while using Jevtana?
Things you should do |
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Things you should not do |
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Driving or using machines |
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Looking after your medicine |
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For more information, see Section 5. What should I know while using Jevtana? in the full CMI.
6. Are there any side effects?
Very common side effects include: feeling tired, weak or lack of energy; symptoms of anaemia like tiredness, and inability to perform daily tasks (due to a decrease in the number of red blood cells); increased bleeding (due to a decrease in the number of platelets); loss of appetite (anorexia); alteration in sense of taste; shortness of breath; cough; stomach upsets including nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, constipation; abdominal pain; short term hair loss (in most cases normal hair growth should return after treatment has stopped); back pain; joint pain; blood in the urine.
Serious side effects include: symptoms of allergic reaction; fever; dehydration (possibly following severe or long-lasting diarrhoea, or vomiting; signs of infection such as fever, chills, sweats, feeling tired or fatigued.
For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section 6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.
Jevtana®(jev-ta-na)
Active ingredient(s): cabazitaxel (ca-ba-zi-tax-el)
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using Jevtana. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using Jevtana.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I using Jevtana?
2. What should I know before I use Jevtana?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How is Jevtana given?
5. What should I know while using Jevtana?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details
1. Why am I using Jevtana?
Jevtana contains the active ingredient cabazitaxel. It belongs to a group of medicines called ‘taxanes’ used to treat cancers.
Jevtana is used to treat prostate cancer that has progressed after having had other chemotherapy.
It works by stopping cells from growing and multiplying.
2. What should I know before I use Jevtana?
Warnings
Do not receive Jevtana if:
- the number of your white blood cells is too low (neutrophil counts of 1,500 per cubic millimetre, or less – your doctor will advise you on this),
- you have a liver disease
- you have recently received or are about to receive a vaccine against yellow fever
- you are allergic to cabazitaxel, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
- Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
Check with your doctor if you:
- have any other medical conditions, especially:
– a fever (during treatment with Jevtana, it is more likely that your white blood cell count may be reduced). Your doctor will monitor your blood and general condition for signs of infections.
– any allergies, especially to ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
– lung, liver or kidney problems
– any stomach problems past or present (including ulcers)
– severe or long-lasting diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting. Any of these events could cause dehydration. Your doctor may need to treat you.
– have a feeling of numbness, tingling, burning or decreased sensation in your hands or feet
– have any bleeding from the gut that may cause changes in the colour of your stool or stomach pain.
– suffer from alcoholism, liver disease or epilepsy/seizures. Jevtana contains alcohol (13% w/w ethanol, equivalent to 14 ml of beer or 6 ml of wine) - take any medicines for any other condition, especially medicines used to prevent blood clots and oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS).
- have previously received radiation therapy. Inflammation of the bladder may also occur. Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you have burning sensation when passing urine.
- plan to have surgery.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Jevtana could adversely affect your baby. Tell your doctor if your partner is pregnant or breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if your partner intends to become pregnant or breastfeed. Jevtana might be present in your semen and may affect the foetus. Therefore, the use of a condom is always recommended during sexual intercourse if your partner is or could become pregnant. You are advised not to father a child during and up to 6 months after treatment and to seek advice on conservation of sperm prior to treatment because Jevtana may alter male fertility.
Adolescents and children
- Do not give Jevtana to a child or adolescent.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with Jevtana and affect how it works. These include:
- medicines used to treat bacterial, fungal or viral infections (e.g. clarithromycin, ketoconazole, rifampicin)
- medicines used to treat seizures or epilepsy (e.g. carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin)
- herbal remedy for depression and other conditions (St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect Jevtana.
4. How is Jevtana given?
How much is given?
- Jevtana will be given by infusion into one of your veins (intravenous use). The infusion will last approximately 1 hour during which you will be in the hospital.
- The dose will depend on your height and weight. Your doctor will calculate your body surface area in square meters (m2) and will determine the dose you should receive.
- The standard dose of Jevtana is 20 mg per square meter. Your doctor may decide on an alternative dose depending on your condition.
- Follow any instructions provided by your doctor.
Duration of treatment
- You should usually receive your infusion once every 3 weeks.
- Each 3 week period is called one cycle of chemotherapy. Your doctor will decide how many of these cycles you will need.
Additional medications
As part of your treatment for prostate cancer, you will also take an oral corticosteroid medicine (prednisone or prednisolone) daily.
Half an hour before you receive Jevtana, you will be given the following medications to reduce your chance of developing an allergic reaction or nausea:
- antihistamine (diphenhydramine or equivalent)
- corticosteroid (dexamethasone or equivalent)
- H2 antagonist (ranitidine or equivalent)
- anti-nausea medication (if required)
If you are given too much Jevtana
As Jevtana is given to you under the supervision of your doctor, it is very unlikely that you will receive too much. However, if you experience any unexpected or worrying side effects after being given Jevtana, you should immediately:
- phone the Poisons Information Centre
(by calling 13 11 26), or - contact your doctor, or
- go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
If you receive too much Jevtana, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms: fever, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, including upper abdominal pain, indigestion, and reflux.
5. What should I know while using Jevtana?
Things you should do
- Use a condom during sex if your partner is or could become pregnant.
Jevtana could be present in your semen and may affect the foetus. You are advised not to father a child during and up to 6 months after treatment and to seek advice on conservation of sperm prior to treatment because Jevtana may alter male fertility.
- If you plan to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor or dentist that you are being given this medicine.
- Talk to your doctor before getting vaccinations while you are receiving Jevtana.
- Keep all of your doctor’s appointments so that your progress can be checked. If you do not complete the full course prescribed by your doctor, Jevtana may not work as well as it’s supposed to.
Call your doctor straight away if:
- your partner becomes pregnant while you are being given this medicine
Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using Jevtana.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Jevtana affects you.
Jevtana may cause side effects such as fatigue or dizziness that may affect your ability to drive and use machinery. Make sure you know how you react to Jevtana before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you feel dizzy or fatigued.
If you experience these symptoms, do not drive or use any tools or machines until they have fully resolved.
Looking after your medicine
Jevtana is stored in the pharmacy or on the ward. Do not store at home.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.
Less serious side effects
Less serious side effects | What to do |
Gut-related
Nervous system-related
Blood-related
Muscle and bone-related
Other reactions:
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Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you. |
Serious side effects
Serious side effects | What to do |
Allergic reaction-related:
Other reactions:
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Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects. |
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.
What Jevtana contains
Active ingredient (main ingredient) |
Cabazitaxel One ml of concentrate contains 40 mg cabazitaxel. Each vial of concentrate contains 60 mg cabazitaxel. |
Other ingredients (inactive ingredients) |
polysorbate 80 citric acid ethanol 96% water for injections |
Potential allergens | ethanol 13% w/w |
Jevtana does not contain gluten, sucrose, lactose, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What Jevtana looks like
One pack of Jevtana consists of:
- One vial of 60 mg/1.5 mL concentrate (which is a clear yellow to brownish-yellow oily solution)
- One vial of 4.5 mL of 13% w/w ethanol in water for injections (which is a clear and colourless solution)
(Aust R 175500)
Who distributes Jevtana
Jevtana is supplied in Australia by:
sanofi-aventis australia pty ltd
12-24 Talavera Road
Macquarie Park NSW 2113
This leaflet was prepared in March 2023.
jevtana-ccdsv12-cmiv7-27mar23
Published by MIMS May 2023