(sye TAR a been) Brand: Cytosar-U, Tarabine PFS
• Cytarabine is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.
• Cytarabine can reason serious side effects on your brain or central nervous system that may not be reversible. Cytarabine is generally given together with a steroid medicine to help lessen these side effects. Conversation with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medicine.
• Cytarabine can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. You may get an infection or bleed more easily. Call your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding, or signs of infection (fever, chills, body aches).
• Cytarabine is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.
• Cytarabine is used to treat determined types of leukemia (blood cancers). Cytarabine is also used to treat leukemia associated with meningitis.
• Cytarabine will not treat an active meningitis infection that has already developed in the body.
• Cytarabine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.
• Cytarabine can reason serious side effects on your brain or central nervous system that may not be reversible. Cytarabine is generally given together with a steroid medicine to help lessen these side effects. Conversation with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medicine.
• You must not receive this medicine if you are allergic to cytarabine.
• To create certain you can safely receive cytarabine, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:
· epilepsy or another seizure mess; or
· a history of head injury or brain tumor.
• FDA pregnancy category D. Do not receive cytarabine if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn child. Use effective birth control, and speak your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
• It is not known whether cytarabine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while you are receiving cytarabine.
• Cytarabine is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein, under the skin, or into the space near the spinal cord. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting.
• Cytarabine is generally given once each 2 to 4 weeks. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.
• Speak your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling near the IV needle when cytarabine is injected.
• After receiving an injection in the space near your spinal cord, you will need to lie flat for at least 1 hour. You will be watched closely during this time to create certain you do not have serious side effects.
• Cytarabine can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. This can create it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being near others who are ill. Your blood may need to be tested often.
• Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your cytarabine injection.
• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
• Avoid being around people who are sick or have infections. Speak your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.
• This medication can pass into body fluids (including urine, feces, vomit, semen, vaginal fluid). For at least 48 hours after you receive a doze, avoid allowing your body fluids to come into contact with your hands or another surfaces. Patients and caregivers must wear rubber gloves while cleaning up body fluids, handling contaminated trash or laundry or changing diapers. Wash hands till and after removing gloves. Wash soiled clothing and linens apart from another laundry.
• Body fluids must not be handled by a woman who is pregnant or who may become pregnant. Use condoms during sexual activity to avoid exposure to body fluids.
• Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using cytarabine. The vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from malady. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.
• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Speak your caregivers at once if you have:
· fever with nausea, vomiting, and headache;
· problems with your vision or hearing;
· loss of movement in any part of your body;
· loss of bowel or bladder control;
· fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat;
· pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart course, trouble concentrating;
· confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior;
· trouble standing or walking,
· seizure (convulsions);
· pain or burning when you urinate;
· a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out; OR
· feeling very thirsty or hot, being unable to urinate, hard sweating, or hot and dry skin.
• General side effects may include:
· drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, memory problems;
· constipation, diarrhea, mild nausea;
· back pain, pain in your arms or legs;
· headache; or
· trouble sleeping (insomnia).
• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
• Speak your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with cytarabine, especially:
· digoxin, digitalis.
• This list is not complete. Another drugs may interact with cytarabine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal commodity. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medicine manual.
• Your pharmacist can provide more information about cytarabine.
Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.
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