BCG Live (Intravesical)

BCG live may cause infection if it is not prepared, handled, and disposed of properly. Healthcare workers must take appropriate precautions to prevent exposure.

BCG live may also cause infections in patients. Tell your doctor if you have fever, chills, tiredness and other flu-like symptoms after your treatment.

BGC live is used to treat and prevent bladder cancer. BGC live is in a class of medications called antineoplastic agents. It works by causing inflamation that causes the body to attack the cancer cells in the bladder.

BGC live comes as a powder to be mixed with saline to give intravesically (into the bladder). It is placed into the bladder and kept there for up to 2 hours. During that time, you may be asked to change positions to allow the medication to work in different areas of your bladder. You will then void (pee) to remove the solution from your bladder.

Do not drink liquids for 4 hours before treatment. You will be asked to empty your bladder before receiving treatment with BCG live.

After your treatment with BCG live, you should increase the amount of fluid that you drink to flush out the medication. Be sure to void while sitting on the toilet to avoid splashing of the urine. For the first 6 hours after treatment, disinfect your urine with an equal amount of household bleach into the toilet before flushing.

Continue to receive BCG live once a week for 6 weeks. Your doctor will then decide how often you are to receive BCG live based on your body's response to this medication.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before receiving BCG live,

• tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to this medication, any part of this medication, or any other medications, foods or substances. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and what symptoms you had.
• you should know that some medications should not be taken with BGC live. Other medications may cause dosing changes or extra monitoring when taken with BGC live. Make sure you have discussed any medications you are currently taking or plan to take before starting BGC live with your doctor and pharmacist. Before starting, stopping, or changing any medications while receiving BGC live, please get the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.
• tell your doctor if you have AIDS/HIV infection, tuberculosis (TB), a current urinary tract infection or any infection with fever, or if you are immunosuppressed or receiving treatments that cause immunosuppression such as radiation or medications. Your doctor will probably tell you not to receive BGC live.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any other medical conditions.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while receiving BGC live, call your doctor.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

BGC live may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• headache
• nausea, vomiting

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:

• burning or pain with urination, increased urgency or frequency of urination, or blood in urine.
• rash

BGC live may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while receiving this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body's response to BGC live.

Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are receiving BGC live.

Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.

• TICE^® BCG