What is mitoXANTRONE?
Mitoxantrone is a cancer medication that interferes with cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body. Mitoxantrone also affects the immune system.
Mitoxantrone is used to treat prostate cancer and certain types of leukemia.
Mitoxantrone is also used to treat the symptoms of relapsing multiple sclerosis. This medication will not cure multiple sclerosis.
Mitoxantrone may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Precautions
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to mitoxantrone.
If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication:
- prior treatment with mitoxantrone;
- heart disease, congestive heart failure;
- a weak immune system (bone marrow depression);
- any type of infection;
- a bleeding or blood-clotting disorder;
- a blood cell disorder, such as anemia (decreased red blood cells) or decreased platelets;
- liver disease; or
- if you have ever been treated with daunorubicin (Cerubidine, Daunoxome) or doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Doxil).
FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use mitoxantrone without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
Your doctor may want you to have a pregnancy test to make sure you are not pregnant before you receive each injection of mitoxantrone.
Mitoxantrone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Using mitoxantrone can sometimes increase your risk of developing secondary types of leukemia. Talk to your doctor about your individual risk.
Avoid being near people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses. Contact your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.
Instructions
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received too much of this medicine.
Overdose can cause flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, sore throat, unusual weakness, or ongoing nausea and vomiting.
Contact your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your mitoxantrone injection.
Side-effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
- signs of infection such as fever, chills, sore throat, flu symptoms, easy bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums), loss of appetite, mouth sores, unusual weakness;
- feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;
- swelling, rapid weight gain;
- pain or burning when you urinate;
- urinating more or less than usual;
- chest pain or tightness, trouble breathing;
- black, bloody, or tarry stools;
- coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds; or
- skin changes where the medicine was injected.
Less serious side effects may include:
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain;
- depressed mood;
- missed menstrual periods;
- tired feeling;
- blue-green colored urine or a bluish color of the whites of the eyes for a few days after each dose;
- headache; or
- thinning hair.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Interactions
There may be other drugs that can interact with mitoxantrone. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04