Cytarabine Injection

Cytarabine may be described as a sterile, anti – metabolite and a potent immunosuppressant injectable agent. However, you must be very sure that while undergoing treatment, only health care professionals who are well – versed and experienced in cancer chemotherapy must handle and use this particular medication. You must also be certain that the Cytarabine injection is preferably administered to you only in a hospital or clinic and you must refrain from taking this medication at home.

Furthermore, Cytarabine may be described as a white to off – white, odorless powder which is partially soluble in alcohol and Chloroform and easily soluble in water.

• Cytarabine is used to effectively treat types of acute leukemia, such as myelocytic leukemia (AML), chronic myelocytic leukemia (blast phase), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and erythroleukemia in the case of both adults and children.

• Furthermore, Cytarabine may be used alone or in combination with other antineoplastic agents, such as Daunorubicin, Thioguanine, Vincristine and Doxorubicin to obtain superior results by effective means of the above mentioned combination therapies.

• Lastly, Cytarabine is also used to effectively treat lymphomas and leukemia associated with meningitis and can effectively suppress humoral and cellular immune responses simultaneously.

Cytarabine is available in 100mg – (1ml vial), 500mg – (5ml vial) and 1gm – (10ml vial) respectively. It can be administered only in a Hospital or Clinical setting, by your health care professional.

This medication may be used in the case of children but only under the vigilant supervision of your health care professional.

While on an ongoing course of Cytarabine if you notice any of the symptoms listed below or any other symptoms which may seem severe or persistent, you must contact your health care professional.

• Sometimes, this medication may cause the patient o experience a sore throat, bruising, light headedness, mouth sores, vomiting, stomach pain, fainting spells, back pain and a cough.

• Furthermore, Cytarabine may cause the patient to experience a confused state of mind, fever, fatigue, bone marrow suppression, diarrhea, nausea, myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), an itching sensation and severe dizziness.

• Lastly, this medication may cause the patient to experience headaches, temporary hair loss, freckling of one’s skin, mild heart burn, joint pain, body swellings, urinary complications and anorexia.

If you are on an ongoing course of Cytarabine before you commence taking any new medication (either prescription or OTC), you must first consult your health care professional or pharmacist.

Furthermore, you must be sure to inform your health care professional if you are allergic to this medication or any other medication in any other form. Your health care professional must also be informed if you are taking any other medication in any other form, including nutritional supplements, preservatives, food dyes, iron supplements or herbal products whilst on an ongoing course of this medication.

• Sometimes, Cytarabine interacts with various medications, such as Ibuprofen, Ketoprofen, Naproxen, Digoxin, Dipyridamole, Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Flucytosine and Gentamicin.

• Furthermore, this medication interacts with other chemotherapy agents and vaccines as well.

If your health care professional has accidentally administered an overdose of Cytarabine, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

Your health care professional may order certain laboratory and/or medical tests to be performed, such as blood pressure levels, smooth functioning of the kidneys, blood electrolyte levels and blood cholesterol levels to check your response to Cytarabine, monitor your progress and check for side effects. You must be sure to keep all appointments with your health care professional and the laboratory. Do not let anyone else take your prescribed dosage of this medication and ask your health care professional or pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Furthermore, while on an ongoing course of Cytarabine, if you need to undergo any kind of surgery including dental surgery you must consult your health care professional and discontinue this medication. If you conceive whilst on a course of this medication inform your health care professional. You must be sure to inform your health care professional if you are pregnant or breast feeding or planning to conceive. Cytarabine may or may not pass into breast milk.

You must avoid consuming alcohol and beverages containing even a small percentage of alcohol whilst on an ongoing course of Cytarabine. It is important that you do not discontinue this medication without first consulting your health care professional.

While on an ongoing course of this medication, you must also refrain from driving a car or operating any kind of machinery until you know how this medication affects you.

Do not miss any appointments with your health care professional. If you are unable to make it for that particular scheduled appointment, inform your health care professional. It is also important that your health care professional does not administer a double dose of Cytarabine to make up for a missed one.

Cytarabine is also used to effectively treat, help slow down and in some cases eventually stop the growth rate of various other types of cancer cells. Furthermore, this medication is also used to effectively treat Hodgkin’s Disease and bone marrow transplantation. Lastly, you must speak with your health care professional about the possible risks of using Cytarabine for your condition and be sure to consult your health care professional or pharmacist for more information, since this medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses.

This medicine is to be used only in a Hospital or Clinical setting, and is not to be stored at home.

• It is very important for the patient to know that before getting the Cytarabine Injection administered they must inform their health care professional if they have ever had a history of or are currently suffering from kidney complications, asthma, liver complications, nervous system complications, recent radiation therapy, bleeding complications or dental complications.

• Furthermore, it is also very important for the patient to know that before getting this medication administered they must inform their health care professional if they have ever had a history of or are currently suffering from gout, cold sores, shingles, bacterial meningitis, stomach ulcers, viral meningitis, recent chemotherapy or fungal meningitis.

• Lastly, while using the Cytarabine injection, avoid coming in contact with anyone who has recently had an oral polio vaccine shot. You must also make it a point to inform your health care professional if you have used any other vaccinations prior to this medication. Be certain that you do not receive a ‘live’ vaccine while you are being treated with Cytarabine. The live vaccine may not work as well during this time and may have an adverse effect.