Oforta

Pronunciation: floo-DAYR-a-been
Generic Name: Fludarabine
Brand Name: Oforta

Some patients who received high doses of Oforta to treat acute leukemia developed severe nervous system side effects, including blindness, coma, and death. Similar nervous system side effects, including coma, seizures, agitation, and confusion, have occurred in patients at doses recommended for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor. Contact your doctor right away if any of these effects occur.

Oforta may severely decrease bone marrow function. This can lower your body's ability to fight infection and reduce the ability of your blood to clot properly. Some patients have developed severe and sometimes fatal blood problems (eg, hemolytic anemia, autoimmune thrombocytopenia, hemophilia) while using Oforta. Your doctor will need to monitor you closely for these conditions. Tell your doctor right away if you develop signs or symptoms of an infection (eg, swollen glands, sore throat, fever, chills), bleeding problems (eg, easy bruising; black, tarry stools; bleeding from the gums), or hemolytic anemia (eg, yellowing of eyes or skin, dark urine, severe tiredness or weakness). Be sure to keep all doctor and laboratory appointments.

Fatal lung problems have been reported in patients receiving Oforta along with pentostatin. Oforta is not recommended for use with pentostatin.

Oforta is used for:

Treating patients with certain types of leukemia who have not responded to other therapy or whose disease has progressed during treatment with other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Oforta is an antimetabolite. It works by preventing the cancer cell from reproducing, which results in death of the cell.

Do NOT use Oforta if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Oforta


• you are taking pentostatin

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Oforta:

Some medical conditions may interact with Oforta. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding


• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement


• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances


• if you have a history of bone marrow problems, blood or bleeding problems, kidney problems, immune system problems, nervous system problems, infections, or skin cancer


• if you receive other chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or you have received radiation or chemotherapy in the past


• if you will be having a blood transfusion

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Oforta. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Pentostatin because the risk of fatal lung problems may be increased


• Digoxin because its effectiveness may be decreased by Oforta

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Oforta may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Oforta:

Use Oforta as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• An extra patient leaflet is available with Oforta. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.


• Take Oforta by mouth with or without food. Take it with plenty of water.


• Swallow Oforta whole. Do not break, crush, chew, or hold it in your mouth before swallowing.


• Do not remove the tablet from the blister until immediately before you take your dose. Push the tablet through the foil to remove it from the blister.


• Ask your doctor how you should safely handle Oforta. Do not get Oforta on your skin. If contact occurs, wash well with soap and water. Tell your doctor if you develop a skin reaction from Oforta.


• Do not get any dust from Oforta in your eyes or nose. If contact occurs, rinse immediately with gently flowing water for at least 15 minutes. Tell your doctor if you get Oforta in your eyes.


• If you no longer need Oforta, do not throw it in the trash. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to safely dispose of it.


• If you miss a dose of Oforta, contact your doctor right away.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Oforta.

Important safety information:

• Oforta may cause drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness, weakness, vision problems, confusion, agitation, or seizures. Some of these effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Oforta with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.


• If vomiting or diarrhea occurs, you will need to take care not to become dehydrated. Contact your doctor for instructions.


• Oforta may reduce the number of clot-forming cells (platelets) in your blood. Avoid activities that may cause bruising or injury. Tell your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding. Tell your doctor if you have dark, tarry, or bloody stools.


• Oforta may lower the ability of your body to fight infection and may increase the risk of severe and sometimes fatal infection. Avoid contact with people who have colds or infections. Tell your doctor if you notice signs of infection like fever, sore throat, rash, or chills.


• Do not receive a live vaccine (eg, measles, mumps) during or after treatment with Oforta. Talk with your doctor before you receive any vaccine.


• New or worsening skin cancer has been reported with Oforta. Tell your doctor if you have a history of skin cancer. Contact your doctor right away if you notice a change in the appearance of a mole, new growth on the skin, or any unusual skin change.


• A severe and possibly fatal nervous system problem (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy [PML]) has been reported in patients who use Oforta. This has been reported to develop between a few weeks and as long as about 1 year after starting treatment. Many of these patients were also taking other chemotherapy or had received other chemotherapy in the past. Contact your doctor right away if you develop signs of PML, such as trouble walking or talking, confusion, vision problems, or vision loss.


• Men who may father a child and women who may become pregnant must use an effective form of birth control while using Oforta and for 6 months after stopping treatment. If you have questions about effective birth control, talk with your doctor.


• Lab tests, including complete blood cell counts, may be performed while you use Oforta. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.


• Oforta should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.


• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Oforta has been shown to cause harm to the fetus. Avoid becoming pregnant while you use it and for 6 months after you stop treatment. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Oforta while you are pregnant. It is not known if Oforta is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Oforta.

Possible side effects of Oforta:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Diarrhea; general body discomfort; increased sweating; loss of appetite; muscle pain; nausea; sinus inflammation; stuffy nose; tiredness; vomiting; weakness.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); abnormal thinking; black, tarry, or bloody stools; blood in the urine; changes in strength or the way you walk; chest pain; confusion; coughing or vomiting blood; dark urine; difficult or painful urination; fainting; hearing loss; irregular heartbeat; lower back or side pain; mental or mood changes (eg, agitation, confusion); muscle weakness or cramps; numbness or tingling in the hands or feet; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; seizures; severe or persistent tiredness or weakness; shortness of breath; signs of infection (eg, fever, chills, cough, or sore throat); skin changes; sores on the mouth or lips; swelling of the fingers, hands, or feet; unusual bruising or bleeding; vision changes or blindness; vomit that looks like coffee grounds; yellowing of the eyes or skin.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: Oforta side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include bleeding; blindness; coma; infection.

Proper storage of Oforta:

Store Oforta at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Oforta out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Oforta, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.


• Oforta is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.


• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.


• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Oforta. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Oforta resources

• Oforta Side Effects (in more detail)
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• Oforta Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Oforta Drug Interactions
• Oforta Support Group
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