Talc Powder, Sterile

Talc powder, sterile is used as a sclerosing agent to decrease malignant pleural effusion recurrence in symptomatic patients.

Talc powder, sterile is available under the following different brand names: Sclerosol Intrapleural Aerosol and Sterile Talc Powder.

Dosages of Talc Powder, Sterile:

Dosage Forms and Strengths

Aerosol Powder

• 4g

Suspension Reconstituted

• 5g

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

Malignant Pleural Effusion

• Indicated as a sclerosing agent to decrease malignant pleural effusion recurrence in symptomatic patients
• Administered intrapleural via chest tube after adequate drainage of the effusion
• Aerosol: 4-8g (1-2 canisters); deliver by manually pressing actuator button; the distal end of the delivery tube should be pointed in several different directions, while short bursts are administered to distribute talc powder equally and extensively on all visceral and parietal pleural surfaces
• Powder: 5g as single dose dispersed in sodium chloride injection 50 to 100mL; doses range from 2 to 10.5g shown to be effective
• Safety and efficacy not established in pediatric patients

It is difficult to distinguish the adverse effects of talc from the adverse effects of procedures associated with talc administration.

Side effects of talc powder, sterile include:

• Pus in the lungs (empyema)
• Low blood oxygen levels
• Shortness of breath
• Unilateral pulmonary edema
• Pneumonia
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
• Bronchopleural fistula
• Coughing up blood
• Pulmonary emboli
• Fast heart rate
• Heart attack
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Low blood volume
• Asystolic arrest

Adverse reactions due to the delivery procedure and chest tube may include pain, infection at the site of thoracostomy or thoracoscopy, localized bleeding, and subcutaneous emphysema

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

• Talc powder, sterile has no listed severe interactions with other drugs.
• Talc powder, sterile has no listed serious interactions with other drugs.
• Talc powder, sterile has no listed moderate interactions with other drugs.
• Talc powder, sterile has no listed mild interactions with other drugs.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Warnings

• This medication contains talc powder, sterile. Do not take Sclerosol Intrapleural Aerosol or Sterile Talc Powder if you are allergic to talc powder, sterile or any ingredients contained in this drug.
• Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity

Effects of Drug Abuse

• No information is available

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Talc Powder, Sterile?”

Long-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Talc Powder, Sterile?”

Cautions

• May preclude subsequent diagnostic procedures of the pleura on the treated side, including ipsilateral lung resective surgery and pneumonectomy for transplantation purposes
• No known antineoplastic activity and should not be used alone for potentially curable malignancies where systemic therapy would before appropriate; does not exhibit antineoplastic therapy
• May cause pulmonary complications (e.g., acute pneumonitis, ARDS)
• Keep Sclerosol (aerosol) away from any heat source that could cause it to explode

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Talc powder, sterile may be acceptable for use during pregnancy. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies are not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies were done and showed no risk.
• Talc powder, sterile has not been studied in lactating women. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.