Aldesleukin injection must be given in a hospital or medical facility under the supervision of a doctor who is experienced in giving chemotherapy medications for cancer.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain tests before and during your treatment to see if it is safe for you to receive aldesleukin injection and to check your body's response to aldesleukin injection.
Aldesleukin may cause a severe and life-threatening reaction called capillary leak syndrome (a condition that causes the body to keep excess fluid, low blood pressure, and low levels of a protein [albumin] in the blood) which may result in damage to your heart, lungs, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract. Capillary leak syndrome may occur immediately after aldesleukin is given. If you experience any of the following symptoms, tell your doctor immediately: swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs; weight gain; shortness of breath; fainting; dizziness or lightheadedness; confusion; bloody or black, tarry, sticky stools; chest pain; fast or irregular heartbeat.
Aldesleukin may cause a decrease in the number of white blood cells in the blood. A decrease in the number of white blood cells in your body may increase the risk that you will develop a serious infection. If you experience any of the following symptoms, tell your doctor immediately: fever, chills, sore throat, cough, frequent or painful urination, or other signs of infection.
Aldesleukin may affect the nervous system and can cause coma. If you experience any of the following symptoms, tell your doctor immediately: extreme sleepiness or tiredness.
Aldesleukin is used to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC, a type of cancer that begins in the kidney) that has spread to other parts of your body. Aldesleukin is also used to treat melanoma (a type of skin cancer) that has spread to other parts of your body. Aldesleukin is in a class of drugs known as cytokines. It is a man-made version of a naturally occurring protein that stimulates the body to produce other chemicals which increase the body's ability to fight cancer.
Aldesleukin comes as a powder to be mixed with liquid to be injected over intravenously (into a vein) over 15 minutes by a doctor or nurse in a hospital. It is usually injected every 8 hours for 5 days in a row (a total of 14 injections). This cycle may be repeated after 9 days. The length of treatment depends on how well your body responds to treatment.
Your doctor may need to delay or permanently stop your treatment if you experience certain side effects. You will be carefully monitoring during your treatment with aldesleukin. It is important for you to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment with aldesleukin.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.
loss of appetite
sores in the mouth and throat
general feeling of being unwell
pain or redness at the place where the injection was given
abnormal excitement or agitation
new or worsening depression
seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist (hallucinating)
changes in your vision or speech
loss of coordination
unusual bruising or bleeding
extreme sleepiness or tiredness
yellowing of the skin or eyes
difficulty breathing or swallowing
Aldesleukin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
fast or irregular heartbeat
swelling of the face, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds
blood in the stool
black and tarry stools
If you are having x-rays, tell the doctor that you are receiving aldesleukin therapy.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Last Revised - 02/15/2013
AHFS® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2015. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.