Cytarabine 1000mg Injection
Cytarabine 1000mg Injection is given as an injection into the vein or under skin by the healthcare professional. 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.
Cytarabine 1000mg Injection
Basic Information
Important information about this medicine
About This Medicine
General information about this product
Cytarabine 1000mg Injection is used to treat some kinds of cancers of blood. It may be also used to treat other conditions, as determined by the doctor. It is sometimes used with certain other medicines as part of combination chemotherapy.
Cytarabine 1000mg Injection is given as an injection into the vein or under skin by the healthcare professional. 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 rash, skin ulcer, nausea, vomiting, and hair loss. This medicine may reduce the number of blood cells (decrease red blood and white blood cells) in your blood, thereby, increasing the susceptibility to infections or bleeding. Inform your doctor if you notice chills, unusual bleeding or bruising and black and tarry stools. Regular blood tests are required to check your blood cells along with heart, liver, and blood uric acid levels.
Before taking it, tell your doctor if you have bleeding, liver, or kidney problems or are taking any medicines to treat infections. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your doctor know all medications you are using. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The use of effective contraception by both males and females during treatment is important to avoid pregnancy.
03Uses
Blood cancer
04How To Use
Your doctor or nurse will give you this medicine. Kindly do not self administer.
05How It Works
Cytarabine 1000mg Injection interferes with the growth of DNA and RNA of the cancer cells by substituting their building blocks. It prevents the cancer cells from growing and multiplying.
06Benefits
In Blood cancer
Blood cancer, also called leukemia, is a cancer of the blood-forming tissues, that decreases the body’s ability to fight infection. Cytarabine 1000mg Injection kills or stops the growth of cancer cells and also prevents the multiplication of cancer cells. It is a potent and very toxic medicine and you should discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. You should avoid drinking alcohol while having this treatment and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
07Side Effects
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
Stomatitis (Inflammation of the mouth)
Mouth sore
Sepsis
Pneumonia
Mouth ulcer
Low blood platelets
Abnormal liver function
Infection
Fever
Decreased white blood cell count
Anemia (low number of red blood cells)
Anal ulcers
Abdominal pain
Hair loss
Vomiting
Nausea
Skin ulcer
Rash
08Safety Information
Alcohol:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Cytarabine 1000mg Injection. Please consult your doctor.
Pregnancy:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Cytarabine 1000mg Injection 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.
Breast feeding:UNSAFE
Cytarabine 1000mg Injection is unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Data suggests that the drug may cause toxicity to the baby.
Driving:UNSAFE
Cytarabine 1000mg Injection may cause side effects which could affect your ability to drive.
Kidney:SAFE IF PRESCRIBED
Cytarabine 1000mg Injection is safe to use in patients with kidney disease. No dose adjustment of Cytarabine 1000mg Injection is recommended.However, talk to your doctor if you have any underlying kidney disease.
Liver:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
There is limited information available on the use of Cytarabine 1000mg Injection in patients with liver disease. Please consult your doctor.Because of the limited information, a cautious use of Cytarabine 1000mg Injection is recommended in patients with liver disease.
09Drug Tips
Use a reliable contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy while you are taking this medicine.
Inform your doctor immediately if you notice any signs of infection such as fever, sore throat, rash or severe diarrhea.
References
Sources and references
Chabner BA, Bertino J, Cleary J, et al. Cytotoxic Agents. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. p. 1698-700.
Chu E, Sartorelli AC. Cancer Chemotherapy. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. p. 947.
Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 343-44.
Cytarabine. Sandwich, Kent: Pfizer Limited; 1999 . view
Drugs.com. Cytarabine Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Warnings. view
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation . view
