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Cytarabine medical facts from Drugs.com
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Generic Name: cytarabine (sye TAR a been)
Brand Name: Cytosar-U, Tarabine PFS, Cytosar
What is cytarabine?
Cytarabine is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.
Cytarabine is used to treat certain 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 medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about cytarabine?
Cytarabine is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.
Cytarabine can cause serious side effects on your brain or central nervous system that may not be reversible.
Cytarabine is usually given together with a steroid medication to help lessen these side effects. Talk with your
doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medication.
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).
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving
cytarabine?
Cytarabine can cause serious side effects on your brain or central nervous system that may not be reversible.
Cytarabine is usually given together with a steroid medication to help lessen these side effects. Talk with your
doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medication.
You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to cytarabine.
To make sure you can safely receive cytarabine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
epilepsy or other seizure disorder; or
a history of head injury or brain tumor.
Do not receive cytarabine if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell
your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
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It is not known whether cytarabine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not
breast-feed while you are receiving cytarabine.
How is cytarabine given?
Cytarabine is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein, under the skin, or into the space around the
spinal cord. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting.
Cytarabine is usually given once every 2 to 4 weeks. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.
Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when cytarabine is injected.
After receiving an injection in the space around your spinal cord, you will need to lie flat for at least 1 hour. You will
be watched closely during this time to make sure 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 make it
easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. Your blood may need to be
tested often.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your cytarabine injection.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while receiving cytarabine?
Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of
infection.
This medicine can pass into body fluids (urine, feces, vomit). For at least 48 hours after you receive a dose, avoid
allowing your body fluids to come into contact with your hands or other surfaces. Caregivers should wear rubber
gloves while cleaning up a patient's body fluids, handling contaminated trash or laundry or changing diapers. Wash
hands before and after removing gloves. Wash soiled clothing and linens separately from other laundry.
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 disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid,
yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.
Cytarabine side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your
face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Tell 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;
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fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat;
pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, 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, heavy sweating, or hot and dry skin.
Common 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 report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
Cytarabine dosing information
Usual Adult Dose for Acute Nonlymphocytic Leukemia:
As a part of a combination chemotherapy:
100 mg/m2/day by continuous IV infusion (days 1 to 7) or 100 mg/m2 IV every 12 hours (days 1 to 7) with an
anthracycline.
Usual Adult Dose for non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma:
Acute Leukemia Induction:
100 to 200 mg/m2/day or 2 to 6 mg/kg/day as a continuous IV infusion over 24 hours or in divided doses by rapid
injection for 5 to 10 days. This course may be repeated approximately every 2 weeks.
For refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and acute myeloid leukemia:
2 to 3 g/m2 IV every twelve hours for up to 12 doses. The IV infusion generally takes place over 1 to 3 hours. The
dose of cytarabine should be suspended or modified if the ANC is below 1000/mm3 or the platelet count is below
50,000/mm3.
For chronic granulocytic leukemia / chronic myelogenous leukemia:
20 mg/m2 subcutaneously for 10 days per month for 6 months with interferon alfa.
Usual Adult Dose for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia:
Acute Leukemia Induction:
100 to 200 mg/m2/day or 2 to 6 mg/kg/day as a continuous IV infusion over 24 hours or in divided doses by rapid
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injection for 5 to 10 days. This course may be repeated approximately every 2 weeks.
For refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and acute myeloid leukemia:
2 to 3 g/m2 IV every twelve hours for up to 12 doses. The IV infusion generally takes place over 1 to 3 hours. The
dose of cytarabine should be suspended or modified if the ANC is below 1000/mm3 or the platelet count is below
50,000/mm3.
For chronic granulocytic leukemia / chronic myelogenous leukemia:
20 mg/m2 subcutaneously for 10 days per month for 6 months with interferon alfa.
Usual Adult Dose for Acute Myeloid Leukemia:
Acute Leukemia Induction:
100 to 200 mg/m2/day or 2 to 6 mg/kg/day as a continuous IV infusion over 24 hours or in divided doses by rapid
injection for 5 to 10 days. This course may be repeated approximately every 2 weeks.
For refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and acute myeloid leukemia:
2 to 3 g/m2 IV every twelve hours for up to 12 doses. The IV infusion generally takes place over 1 to 3 hours. The
dose of cytarabine should be suspended or modified if the ANC is below 1000/mm3 or the platelet count is below
50,000/mm3.
For chronic granulocytic leukemia / chronic myelogenous leukemia:
20 mg/m2 subcutaneously for 10 days per month for 6 months with interferon alfa.
Usual Adult Dose for Leukemia:
Acute Leukemia Induction:
100 to 200 mg/m2/day or 2 to 6 mg/kg/day as a continuous IV infusion over 24 hours or in divided doses by rapid
injection for 5 to 10 days. This course may be repeated approximately every 2 weeks.
For refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and acute myeloid leukemia:
2 to 3 g/m2 IV every twelve hours for up to 12 doses. The IV infusion generally takes place over 1 to 3 hours. The
dose of cytarabine should be suspended or modified if the ANC is below 1000/mm3 or the platelet count is below
50,000/mm3.
For chronic granulocytic leukemia / chronic myelogenous leukemia:
20 mg/m2 subcutaneously for 10 days per month for 6 months with interferon alfa.
Usual Adult Dose for Meningeal Leukemia:
The manufacturer has stated that doses ranging from 5 mg/m2 to 75 mg/m2 has been used intrathecally and the
frequency of administration has varied from once a day for 4 days to once every 4 days. The manufacturer has
further stated that 30 mg/m2 every 4 days until cerebrospinal fluid findings were normal, followed by one additional
treatment was the therapy most frequently used.
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Some clinicians today recommend 10 to 30 mg intrathecally up to 3 times a week.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Acute Nonlymphocytic Leukemia:
As a part of a combination chemotherapy:
100 mg/m2/day by continuous IV infusion (days 1 to 7) or 100 mg/m2 IV every 12 hours (days 1 to 7) with an
anthracycline.
Usual Pediatric Dose for non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma:
For refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and acute myeloid leukemia:
1 to 3 g/m2 IV every twelve hours for up to 12 doses The IV infusion generally takes place over 1 to 3 hours. The
dose of cytarabine should be suspended or modified if the ANC is below 1000/mm3 or the platelet count is below
50,000/mm3.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Acute Myeloid Leukemia:
For refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and acute myeloid leukemia:
1 to 3 g/m2 IV every twelve hours for up to 12 doses The IV infusion generally takes place over 1 to 3 hours. The
dose of cytarabine should be suspended or modified if the ANC is below 1000/mm3 or the platelet count is below
50,000/mm3.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Meningeal Leukemia:
The manufacturer has stated that doses ranging from 5 mg/m2 to 75 mg/m2 has been used intrathecally and the
frequency of administration has varied from once a day for 4 days to once every 4 days. The manufacturer has
further stated that 30 mg/m2 every 4 days until cerebrospinal fluid findings were normal, followed by one additional
treatment was the therapy most frequently used.
However, some clinicians recommend the following age based dosing:
<1 year: 20 mg
1 to 2 years: 30 mg
2 to 3 years: 50 mg
>3 years: 70 to 75 mg
What other drugs will affect cytarabine?
Tell 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. Other drugs may interact with cytarabine, including prescription and over-the-counter
medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about cytarabine.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the
indication prescribed.
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no
guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare
practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless
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informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a
supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
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