Overview Introduction Cantret Capsule is used to treat cancer of the ovaries. It may also be used to treat other types of cancer as determined by your doctor. It can be given alone or in combination with certain other medicines as part of combination chemotherapy. Cantret Capsule should be taken after meals or during bedtime but at the same time every day. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to. The most common side effects of this medicine include anemia (low number of red blood cells), decreased white blood cell count, increased bleeding tendency, infection, nausea, and vomiting. If these bother you or appear serious, let your doctor know. There may be ways of reducing or preventing them. Some serious side effects which require immediate action are nerve pain damage. Inform your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms such as pain, burning, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet, weakness in the arms or legs, loss of ability to move arms or legs, and loss of consciousness. Before taking this medicine, let your doctor know if you have a history of nerve damage. This medicine is known to reduce the number of blood cells in your blood thereby, increasing the susceptibility to infections. Regular blood tests are required to check your blood cells along with kidney, liver and heart function during treatment with this medicine. The use of effective contraception by both males and females during treatment is important to avoid pregnancy. Uses of Cantret Capsule Ovarian cancer Side effects of Cantret Capsule Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them Common side effects of Cantret Anemia (low number of red blood cells) Decreased white blood cell count (neutrophils) Nausea Vomiting Confusion Uncoordinated body movements Depression Dizziness Drowsiness Hallucination Low blood platelets Vertigo How to cope with side effects? The occurrence of side effects varies from person to person. The following are a few ways of dealing with some of the common side effects. However, consult your doctor if these persist. Coping with Anemia (low number of red blood cells) Making some simple lifestyle changes can raise your red blood cell count. Reduce the amount of alcohol you drink, eat a well-balanced healthy diet and take regular exercise. Physical activities make your body need more oxygen and this stimulates the production of red blood cells. There are some vitamins which are important such as vitamin B-12, vitamin B-9, vitamin C and Vitamin A. Also, some minerals such as iron (especially) and copper. Aim for foods which contain higher quantities of these vitamins and minerals or ask your doctor for supplements. Make sure to consult your doctor for complete evaluation and treatment of anemia. Coping with Decreased white blood cell count (neutrophils) If you have a low level of white blood cells, you are more likely to get infections. There are several ways to reduce your chances of catching or spreading an infection. Avoid unnecessary exposure to germs when you can. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap or use a sanitiser. Avoid crowds and avoid contact with people who are ill or have infections. Use disposable tissues for coughs and sneezes. Consider using an appropriate face mask. Do not share personal items like cutlery, glasses, towels or toothbrushes with others. Get enough rest and eat a well balanced healthy diet. Coping with Nausea You can help yourself by eating small, frequent meals rather than large ones and drinking plenty of fluids. Eat slowly. Avoid fatty, fried, spicy and very sweet foods. Eat cold or slightly warm food if the smell of cooked or cooking food makes you feel sick. Get plenty of fresh air. You could also try chewing ginger or drinking ginger tea. Eat bananas to replace potassium in your blood which can drop if you are sick (vomit). Use oral rehydration salts to replace vitamins and minerals lost through being sick. There are some medicines that can help you stop from feeling sick. Speak to your doctor if your condition does not improve. Coping with Vomiting You can help yourself by eating small, frequent meals rather than large ones and drinking plenty of fluids. Eat slowly. Avoid fatty, fried, spicy and very sweet foods. Eat cold or slightly warm food if the smell of cooked or cooking food makes you feel sick. Get plenty of fresh air. You could also try chewing ginger or drinking ginger tea. Eat bananas to replace potassium in your blood which can drop if you are sick (vomit). Use oral rehydration salts to replace vitamins and minerals lost through being sick. There are some medicines that can help you stop feeling sick. Speak to your doctor if your condition does not improve. Coping with Confusion If this medicine makes you feel this way, stop what you are doing and sit or lie down until you feel better. If the feeling does not go away or troubles you, do not take any more medicine and speak to a pharmacist or your doctor. Coping with Depression It is important to talk to your doctor if you think you may be depressed. The sooner you do this, the sooner you can recover. Treatment for depression can involve a combination of lifestyle changes, talking therapies (such as counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy) and medicines (antidepressants). There are many things you can do for yourself if your depression is not too severe. Exercise is an extremely effective treatment for depression, so make sure you keep as active as possible. It can really lift your mood. A healthy diet can also make a big difference to your mood (as well as improving your physical health). Mindfulness is a technique that many people find helpful. It may be tempting to smoke or drink alcohol, but both will make things worse in the long run. Try talking to a friend or family member even if you do not feel comfortable doing this. Get into a routine with regular sleep patterns and meals. If you have thoughts of self-harm or suicide, contact your doctor immediately. Coping with Dizziness This is usually short-lived and should go away within a few days. If this happens, stop what you are doing and sit or lie down until you feel better. Lying still in a dark, quiet room may help reduce the spinning feeling. Sleep with your head slightly raised on two or more pillows. Get up slowly from a lying or sitting position. Get plenty of rest and try to relax as being anxious can make it worse. Try taking this medicine at bedtime to reduce the symptoms. Drinking plenty of water and ginger tea may also help. Avoid alcohol, caffeine and smoking as it will make you feel worse. Avoid driving or using tools or machinery until you feel better. Coping with Drowsiness If the medicine is making you drowsy during the day, stop what you are doing and sit or lie down until you feel better. You can also consider taking a nap. Physical exercises such as walking may be helpful. Do not drink alcohol, as it will make you feel more tired. Avoid driving or operating heavy equipment when you are feeling drowsy. This problem usually goes away as your body gets used to the medicine. However, if it does not, ask your doctor if you can take your medicine at bedtime or whether the dose can be reduced. Coping with Low blood platelets You will need a blood test to find out if your blood platelet level is low. If this medicine is causing your platelet levels to drop, your doctor may suggest an alternative medicine. There are also medicines that can boost your blood platelet level. Consider asking your doctor about this. A low platelet count can put you at risk for bleeding. Try to be careful when doing activities that might cause an injury or a cut as it may take longer to stop bleeding. Coping with Vertigo This is usually short-lived and should go away within a few days. If this happens, stop what you are doing and sit or lie down until you feel better. Lying still in a dark, quiet room may help reduce the spinning feeling. Sleep with your head slightly raised on two or more pillows. Get up slowly from a lying or sitting position. Get plenty of rest and try to relax, as being anxious can make it worse. Try taking this medicine at bedtime to reduce the symptom. Drinking plenty of water and ginger tea may also help. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and smoking as it will make you feel worse. Avoid driving or using tools or machinery until you feel better. show more show less How to use Cantret Capsule Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Do not chew, crush or break it. Cantret Capsule is to be taken with food. How Cantret Capsule works Cantret Capsule is an anti-cancer medication. It works by damaging the genetic material (DNA and RNA) of the cancer cells. This stops their growth and multiplication. Safety Advice Alcohol UNSAFE Cantret Capsule may cause excessive drowsiness with alcohol. Pregnancy CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR Cantret Capsule is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However, the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor. Breastfeeding CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR Information regarding the use of Cantret Capsule during breastfeeding is not available. Please consult your doctor. Driving CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR It is not known whether Cantret Capsule alters the ability to drive. Do not drive if you experience any symptoms that affect your ability to concentrate and react. Kidney SAFE IF PRESCRIBED Cantret Capsule is probably safe to use in patients with kidney disease. Limited data available suggests that dose adjustment of Cantret Capsule may not be needed in these patients. Please consult your doctor. Liver CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR There is limited information available on the use of Cantret Capsule in patients with liver disease. Please consult your doctor. What if you forget to take Cantret Capsule? If you miss a dose of Cantret Capsule, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.