SIDE EFFECTS: Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are common side effects. Taking the medication on an empty stomach may help relieve vomiting. Changes in diet such as eating several small meals or limiting activity may help lessen some of these effects. In some cases, drug therapy may be necessary to prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting. This medication may turn your urine a reddish color. This is a normal effect of the drug as it leaves your body and is not blood in the urine. The effect should clear up within 2 days after each dose is given. Temporary hair loss is another common side effect; normal hair growth should return after treatment has ended. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: sores in mouth or on lips, fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, painful or difficult urination, fast or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling of feet or lower legs, stomach pain, joint pain, unusual bleeding or bruising, black or tarry stools, blood in urine or stools, small red spots on the skin, skin rash, itchy skin. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor if you have: blood disorders, heart disease, liver disease. Caution is advised when using this drug in children because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially on the heart. This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Consult your doctor before using this drug. It is not known if this drug is excreted into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding. Because this medication can affect the production of sperm in men, a reliable form of birth control is recommended while using this drug.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: This drug should not be used with the following medication because a very serious interaction may occur: zidovudine. If you are currently using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting doxorubicin. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: other anti-cancer drugs, cyclosporine, digoxin, phenobarbital, phenytoin, progesterones, streptozocin, verapamil, live virus vaccines. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.

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