The prescribing information in the BOXED WARNING, WARNINGS, and PRECAUTIONS sections of the cancer medication Camptosar were recently revised to identify patients at higher risk of severe toxicity, to clarify dose modification guidelines, and to augment information about management of treatment-related toxicities, including severe and occasionally life-threatening diarrhea.

Patients with diarrhea should be carefully monitored and given fluid and electrolyte replacement if they become dehydrated. Antibiotic therapy should be administered if they develop ileus, fever, or severe neutropenia.

Additionally, after the first treatment, subsequent weekly chemotherapy treatments should be delayed in patients with active diarrhea until return of pretreatment bowel function for at least 24 hours without need for antidiarrhea medication. If grade 2, 3, or 4 late diarrhea occurs, subsequent doses of Camptosar should be decreased within the current cycle.