Download Idarubicin

Drug – Idarubicin
Office for Human Research Studies
DANA-FARBER / HARVARD CANCER CENTER
Idarubicin
FDA Approved
Risks Associated with Idarubicin
Frequent (Between a 10-50% chance that this will happen)
 Low number of platelets, which may cause bleeding and bruising. Bleeding may
be serious or life threatening and may required a blood transfusion.
 Condition in which the number of white blood cells circulating in the blood is
abnormally low. This increases the risk of infection, which may be serious or life
threatening.
 Low number of red blood cells that can causes tiredness and shortness of
breath. May require a blood transfusion.
 Hairloss
 Diarrhea, which is frequent, loose watery stools, which can cause dehydration
and may require hospitalization and treatment with intravenous fluids. Severe
and prolonged diarrhea can be life-threatening.
 Headache
 Feeling sick to the stomach, vomiting
 Hives
 Redness, pain or peeling of palms and soles
Occasional (Between a 1-10% chance that this will happen)
 Any change from the normal heartbeat (abnormal heartbeat)
 Redness, flaking or sloughing of skin in the radiation treatment area
 The heart is not able to pump blood properly, which can cause weakness and
tiredness, fluid retention, and fluid build-up in the lungs, which can cause
shortness of breath.
 A reaction at the site where an injection (shot) was given, which may cause some
redness and swelling
 Liver damage which can cause fatigue, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and
eyes). Although this is usually mild and reversible, this can be serious or life
threatening and may require hospitalization and surgery.
 Changes in color and thickness, darkening of the nail bed, thickening, shedding
 Sores in the mouth and esophagus, which may be painful and cause difficulty
swallowing.
 Loss of nails
 Reddish discoloration of the urine, sweat and saliva
CF Builder Generated Version: 05.27.2016
DFCI IRB Approved Version: 05.20.2016
Drug – Idarubicin
Rare (Less than a 1% chance that this will happen)
 Abnormal kidney function tests, which means the kidneys aren t working
properly. When the kidneys do not work properly, wastes can build up in your
blood, leading to swelling in the arms and legs, tiredness and weakness. This
could become severe, requiring hospitalization and dialysis to clean the wastes
out of your blood. If the wastes are not removed from your blood, this could
cause seizures and be life threatening.
 A second cancer related to the treatment of your first cancer. This usually occurs
years after treatment for the first cancer.
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