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| Other drug names: | A-Am An-Az B C-Ch Ci-Cz D-Dh Di-Dz E F G H I-J K-L M-Mh Mi-Mz N-Nh Ni-Nz O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q-R S-Sn So-Sz T-To Tp-Tz U-V W-Z 0-9 |
| Contents of this page: | |
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.--
In Canada--
Mitoxantrone (mye-toe-ZAN-trone) belongs to the general group of medicines known as antineoplastics. It is used to treat some kinds of cancer. It is also used to treat some forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). This medicine will not cure MS, but may extend the time between relapses.
Mitoxantrone seems to interfere with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by mitoxantrone, other effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other effects, like hair loss, may not be serious but may cause concern. Some effects may not occur for months or years after the medicine is used.
Before you begin treatment with mitoxantrone, you and your doctor should talk about the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of using it.
Mitoxantrone is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor. It is available in the following dosage form:
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For mitoxantrone, the following should be considered:
Allergies--Tell your health care professional if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to mitoxantrone.
Pregnancy--Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you intend to have children. There is a chance that this medicine may cause birth defects if either the male or female is receiving it at the time of conception or if it is taken during pregnancy. Mitoxantrone has been reported to cause low birth weight and slow growth of the kidney in rats and premature birth in rabbits. In addition, many cancer medicines may cause sterility, which could be permanent. Although sterility has not been reported with this medicine, the possibility should be kept in mind.
Be sure that you have discussed this with your doctor before receiving this medicine. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you are receiving mitoxantrone. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while receiving mitoxantrone.
Breast-feeding--Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or if you intend to breast-feed during treatment with this medicine. It is not known whether mitoxantrone passes into breast milk. However, because mitoxantrone may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is generally not recommended while you are receiving it.
Children--There is no specific information comparing use of mitoxantrone in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults--Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of mitoxantrone in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines--Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving mitoxantrone, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:
Other medical problems--The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of mitoxantrone. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
Mitoxantrone is sometimes given together with certain other medicines. If you are using a combination of medicines, it is important that you receive each one at the proper time. If you are taking some of these medicines by mouth, ask your health care professional to help you plan a way to take them at the right times.
While you are receiving mitoxantrone, your doctor may want you to drink extra fluids so that you will pass more urine. This will help prevent kidney problems and keep your kidneys working well.
Mitoxantrone often causes nausea and vomiting. However, it is very important that you continue to receive the medicine, even if your stomach is upset. Ask your health care professional for ways to lessen these effects.
Dosing--The dose of mitoxantrone will be different
for different patients. The dose that is used may depend on a number of things,
including what the medicine is being used for, the patient's size, and whether
or not other medicines are also being taken. If you are
receiving mitoxantrone at home, follow your doctor's orders or the directions
on the label
. If you have any questions about the proper dose of mitoxantrone,
ask your doctor. It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits
to make sure that this medicine is working properly and to check for
unwanted effects. While you are being treated with mitoxantrone, and after you stop treatment
with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations)
without your doctor's approval
. Mitoxantrone may lower your body's
resistance and there is a chance you might get the infection the immunization
is meant to prevent. In addition, other persons living in your household should
not take oral polio vaccine since there is a chance they could pass the polio
virus on to you. Also, avoid persons who have taken oral polio vaccine. Do
not get close to them and do not stay in the same room with them for very
long. If you cannot take these precautions, you should consider wearing a
protective face mask that covers the nose and mouth. Mitoxantrone can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your
blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the
number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this
occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood
count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:
Precautions While Using This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Also, because of the way cancer medicines act on the body, there is a chance that they might cause other unwanted effects that may not occur until months or years after the medicine is used. These delayed effects may include certain types of cancer, such as leukemia. Discuss these possible effects with your doctor.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Black, tarry stools; cough or shortness of breath
Less common
Blood in urine or stools; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever or chills; lower back or side pain; painful or difficult urination; pinpoint red spots on skin; swelling of feet and lower legs; unusual bleeding or bruising
Check with your health care professional as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Sores in mouth and on lips; stomach pain
Less common
Decrease in urination; seizures; sore, red eyes; yellow eyes or skin
Rare
Blue skin at place of injection; pain or redness at place of injection; skin rash
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
More common
Body aches or pains; congestion; constipation; diarrhea; dryness or soreness of throat; headache; irregular menstrual periods; longer or heavier menstrual periods; nausea and vomiting; oral bleeding; runny nose; sneezing; stuffy nose; tender, swollen glands in neck
Mitoxantrone may cause the urine to turn a blue-green color. It may also cause the whites of the eyes to turn a blue color. These effects are normal and last for only 1 or 2 days after each dose is given.
This medicine often causes a temporary loss of hair. After treatment with mitoxantrone has ended, normal hair growth should return.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your health care professional.
Revised: 12/28/94
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