Description
Azacitidine Uses:
Azacitidine is a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor used to treat patients with the following FAB myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) subtypes:
- refractory anemia or refractory anemia (RA) with ringed sideroblasts (RARS) (if accompanied by thrombocytopenia or neutropenia requiring transfusions)
- refractory anemia (RA) with excess blasts (RAEB)>
- refractory anemia (RA) with excess blasts in transformation (RAEB-T)
- chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMMoL)
- nausea
- anemia
- vomiting
- pyrexia
- leukopenia
- diarrhea
- constipation
- neutropenia
- ecchymosis
- thrombocytopenia
- injection site erythema
- petechiae
- rigors
- weakness>
- hypokalemia
- Azacitidine causes neutropenia, anemia and thrombocytopenia. Monitor complete blood counts frequently for response or toxicity, at a minimum, before each dosing cycle. Following the use of the recommended dosage for the first cycle, adjust dosage for subsequent cycles on behalf of nadir counts and hematologic response.
- Use of Azacitidine is restricted in patients with advanced malignant hepatic tumors. Monitor liver chemistries before initiation of therapy and with each cycle. Safety and effectiveness of this medicine in patients with MDS and hepatic impairment have not been assessed as these patients were not included in the clinical trials.
- Monitor electrolytes serum creatinine before the initiation of therapy and with each cycle. In case unexplained reductions in serum bicarbonate <20 mEq/L or elevations of BUN or serum creatinine observe, reduce or hold the azacitidine dose.
- Patients with renal impairment may be at greater risk for renal toxicity. Also, azacitidine 100 mg and its metabolites are primarily excreted by the kidney. Therefore, evaluate these patients precisely for toxicity. Patients with MDS and renal impairment were not included in the clinical studies.
- The azacitidine injection may be responsible for causing fatal or serious tumor lysis syndrome, including in patients with MDS. Tumor lysis syndrome may emerge despite concomitant use of allopurinol. Evaluate baseline risk and monitor and treat patients as appropriate.
- Azacitidine can cause fetal harm if administered to a pregnant woman. Advise females with reproductive age/potential to avoid pregnancy during treatment with this medicinal product. Men should be advised to not father a child while receiving treatment with Azacitidine.
