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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--
Other commonly used names are 2´-deoxycoformycin and 2´DCF .
Pentostatin (PEN-toe-stat-in) belongs to the group of medicines called antimetabolites. It is used to treat hairy cell leukemia.
Pentostatin interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by pentostatin, other effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other effects 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 pentostatin, you and your doctor should talk about the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of using it.
Pentostatin 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 pentostatin, the following should be considered:
Allergies--Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to pentostatin.
Pregnancy--There is a chance that this medicine may cause birth defects if either the male or female is taking it at the time of conception or if it is taken during pregnancy. Pentostatin has been shown to cause birth defects in rats and mice. In addition, many cancer medicines may cause sterility which could be permanent. Although sterility has not been reported with this medicine, it does occur in animals and the possibility should be kept in mind.
Be sure that you have discussed this with your doctor before taking this medicine. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you are receiving pentostatin. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while receiving pentostatin.
Breast-feeding--It is not known whether pentostatin passes into breast milk. However, because this medicine 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 pentostatin 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. Although there is no specific information comparing use of pentostatin in the elderly with use in other adults, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.
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 pentostatin, 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 pentostatin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
This medicine often causes nausea and vomiting. However, it is very important that you continue to receive the medicine even if you begin to feel ill. Ask your health care professional for ways to lessen these effects.
Dosing--The dose of pentostatin 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 pentostatin at home, follow your doctor's orders or the directions
on the label
. If you have any questions about the proper dose of pentostatin,
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 pentostatin, and after you stop treatment
with it,
do not have any immunizations (vaccinations)
without your doctor's approval
. Pentostatin 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. Pentostatin can lower the number of white blood cells in your blood temporarily,
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. Some side effects will have signs or symptoms that you can see or feel. Your doctor may watch for others by doing certain tests.
Also, because of the way these 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. Discuss these possible effects with your doctor.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Cough or hoarseness; fever or chills; lower back or side pain; painful or difficult urination
Less common
Black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; chest pain; pinpoint red spots on skin; unusual bleeding or bruising
Check with your health care professional as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Pain; skin rash or itching (sudden); unusual tiredness
Less common
Anxiety or nervousness; changes in vision; confusion; cramps in lower legs; mental depression; nosebleed; numbness or tingling of hands or feet; shortness of breath; sleepiness; sore, red eyes; sores in mouth or on lips; stomach pain; swelling of feet or lower legs; trouble in sleeping
This medicine may also cause the following side effects that your doctor will watch for:
More common
Anemia; liver problems; low platelet counts
Less common
Kidney problems
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 or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Diarrhea; headache; loss of appetite; muscle pain; nausea and vomiting; skin rash
Less common
Back pain; bloating or gas; constipation; dry skin; general feeling of discomfort or illness; itching; joint pain; weakness; weight loss
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Revised: 05/06/93
Interim revision: 06/30/94
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