You may be prescribed oral chemotherapy medicine for your medical condition. This medicine is important to treat your condition, but it may cause harm when exposed to unintended users. It is thus important to handle this medicine with care.
Accidental exposure may occur through:
- inhalation of dust produced when crushing or breaking the tablets / capsules
- inhalation of droplets produced when there is spillage of liquid syrups
- ingestion after contact with contaminated hands or environment
General Precautions
- Tablets / capsules should be swallowed whole (not chewed).
- Do not crush or break tablets / capsules. Check with your pharmacist or doctor if you are unable to swallow them.
- If it is necessary to cut the tablets (e.g. into halves or quarters) to obtain the correct dose, a tablet cutter should be used. Do not use the same tablet cutter for cutting other medicines.
- Wash hands before and after taking the medications.
- Caregivers should not handle the medication with bare hands. Gloves should be worn. If there is accidental contact, hands should be washed immediately with soap and water.
- Pregnant and lactating females should avoid handling the medications.
- Keep all medicines in a safe place out of reach from children.
- If the medication requires refrigeration, it should be properly separated from other foods (i.e. use a resealable plastic bag or container). Do not store other foods or medicines in the same container.
- Use designated oral syringes or spoons for taking the medications. You may wash and reuse these for further doses, but do not use them for other purposes.
- If the doctor decides to stop treatment, return the remaining medicine to the pharmacy for proper disposal.
