DAUNORUBICIN (Systemic)
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.?
In Canada?
Category
Description
Daunorubicin (daw-noe-ROO-bi-sin) belongs to the general group of medicinesknown as antineoplastics. It is used to treat some kinds of cancer.
Daunorubicin seems to interfere with the growth of cancer cells, whichare eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal body cells may also beaffected by daunorubicin, other effects will also occur. Some of these maybe 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 monthsor years after the medicine is used.
Before you begin treatment with daunorubicin, you and your doctor shouldtalk about the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of using it.
Daunorubicin is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervisionof your doctor. It is available in the following dosage form:
Parenteral- Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine,the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it willdo. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For daunorubicin, thefollowing should be considered:
Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to daunorubicin.
Pregnancy?This medicine may cause birth defects if either themale or female is receiving it at the time of conception or if it is takenduring pregnancy. In addition, many cancer medicines may cause sterility whichcould be permanent. Although sterility has been reported only in male dogswith this medicine, the possibility of an effect in human males should bekept in mind.
Be sure that you have discussed this with your doctor before receivingthis medicine. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you arereceiving daunorubicin. Tell your doctor right away if you think you havebecome pregnant while receiving daunorubicin.
Breast-feeding?Because daunorubicin may cause serious side effects,breast-feeding is generally not recommended while you are receiving it.
Children?Although daunorubicin is used in children, thereis no specific information comparing use in children with use in other agegroups.
Older adults?Heart problems are more likely to occur in the elderly,who are usually more sensitive to the effects of daunorubicin. The elderlymay also be more likely to have blood problems.
Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When receiving daunorubicinit is especially important that your health care professional know if youare taking any of the following:
- Amphotericin B by injection (e.g., Fungizone) or
- Antithyroid agents (medicine for overactive thyroid) or
- Azathioprine (e.g., Imuran) or
- Chloramphenicol (e.g., Chloromycetin) or
- Colchicine or
- Flucytosine (e.g., Ancobon) or
- Ganciclovir (e.g., Cytovene) or
- Interferon (e.g., Intron A, Roferon-A) or
- Plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin) or
- Zidovudine (e.g., AZT, Retrovir) or
- If you have ever been treated with radiation or cancer medicines?Daunorubicinmay increase the effects of these medicines or radiation therapy on the blood
- Probenecid (e.g., Benemid) or
- Sulfinpyrazone (e.g., Anturane)?Daunorubicin may raise theconcentration of uric acid in the blood. Since these medicines are used tolower uric acid levels, they may not be as effective in patients receivingdaunorubicin
Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of daunorubicin. Make sure you tell your doctorif you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Chickenpox (including recent exposure) or
- Herpes zoster (shingles)?Risk of severe disease affecting otherparts of the body
- Gout (history of) or
- Kidney stones?Daunorubicin may increase uric acid in the body,which can cause gout or kidney stones
- Heart disease?Risk of heart problems caused by daunorubicinmay be increased
- Infection?Daunorubicin can decrease your body's ability tofight infection
- Kidney disease or
- Liver disease?Effects of daunorubicin may be increased becauseof slower removal from the body
Proper Use of This Medicine
Daunorubicinis sometimes given together with certain other medicines. If you are usinga combination of medicines, it is important that you receive each one at theproper time. If you are taking some of these medicines by mouth, ask yourhealth care professional to help you plan a way to take them at the righttimes.
While you are receiving daunorubicin, your doctor may want you to drinkextra fluids so that you will pass more urine. This will help prevent kidneyproblems and keep your kidneys working well.
This medicine often causes nausea and vomiting. However, it is very importantthat you continue to receive it, even if you begin to feel ill. Ask your healthcare professional for ways to lessen these effects.
Dosing?The dose of daunorubicin will be differentfor 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 whetheror not other medicines are also being taken. If you arereceiving daunorubicin at home, follow your doctor's orders or the directionson the label. If you have any questions about the proper dose of daunorubicin,ask your doctor.
Precautions While Using This Medicine
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 forunwanted effects.
While you are being treated with daunorubicin, and after you stop treatmentwith it, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations)without your doctor's approval. Daunorubicin may lower your body'sresistance and there is a chance you might get the infection the immunizationis meant to prevent. In addition, other persons living in your household shouldnot take oral polio vaccine since there is a chance they could pass the poliovirus on to you. Also, avoid persons who have taken oral polio vaccine. Donot get close to them, and do not stay in the same room with them for verylong. If you cannot take these precautions, you should consider wearing aprotective face mask that covers the nose and mouth.
Daunorubicin can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in yourblood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower thenumber of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If thisoccurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your bloodcount is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:
- If you can, avoid people with infections. Checkwith your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infectionor if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain,or painful or difficult urination.
- Check with your doctor immediately ifyou notice any unusual bleeding or bruising; black, tarry stools; blood inurine or stools; or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
- Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick.Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean yourteeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental workdone.
- Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you havejust washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.
- Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects suchas a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.
- Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injurycould occur.
If daunorubicin accidentally seeps out of the vein into which it is injected,it may damage some tissues and cause scarring. Tell thedoctor or nurse right away if you notice redness, pain, or swelling at theplace of injection.
Side Effects of 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 mayneed medical attention.
Also, because of the way these medicines act on the body, there is a chancethat they might cause other unwanted effects that may not occur until monthsor years after the medicine is used. These delayed effects may include certaintypes of cancer, such as leukemia. Discuss these possible effects with yourdoctor.
Check with your health careprofessional as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Other side effects may occurthat usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go awayduring treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health careprofessional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce someof these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any ofthe following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questionsabout them:
Daunorubicin causes theurine to turn reddish in color, which may stain clothes. This is not blood.It is perfectly normal and lasts for only 1 or 2 days after each dose is given.
This medicine often causes a temporary and total loss of hair. After treatmentwith daunorubicin has ended, normal hair growth should return.
After you stop receiving daunorubicin, it maystill produce some side effects that need attention. During this period oftime check with your doctor immediately if younotice any of the following side effects:
Irregular heartbeat; shortness of breath; swelling of feet and lower legs
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Ifyou notice any other effects, check with your health care professional.
Revised: 09/27/1997
