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Brand name: Adriamycin ®, Rubex ®,
Doxil®
Generic
name:Doxorubicin
Other names: Hydroxydaunomycin,
Hydroxydoxorubicin and Liposomal
Therapeutic Class:
anthracycline antiobiotic
Manufacturer /
Distributor: Generic
Availability:
Doxorubicin is
available by prescription only
Dosage
form:
Doxorubicin is given through a vein
(intravenous injection)
Indications
:
Doxorubicin is a used to treat a variety of cancers, including:
-
cervical cancer
-
endometrial cancer
-
head and neck cancer
-
Prostate cancer
-
liver cancer
-
ovarian cancer
-
gestational trophoblastic tumors (a rare cancer in women rises
in the uterus or womb)
-
carcinoid tumors
-
non small cell lung cancer
-
multiple myeloma (a form of blood cancer)
-
Pancreatic cancer(
Cancer of the pancreas)
-
esophageal cancer (Cancer of the esophagus)
-
retinoblastoma (a common intraocular cancer of
childhood)
-
hepatoblastoma (a certain type of liver cancer that occurs in children)
-
cancer of the thymus (a small organ in your upper chest, under
your breastbone
)
-
cancer of the adrenal cortex (the outside layer of the adrenal gland)
-
chronic lymphocytic leukemia (a type of cancer of the blood and lymph system)
-
E
wing’s sarcoma (a type of cancer occurs in the bone or close to the bone,
most often in adolescents
)
-
Autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)–associated Kaposi's sarcoma (a type of cancer of the skin
and mucous membranes that is more common in patients with AIDS).
Doxorubicin
can be prescribed in the treatment of other medical conditions not mentioned in this article;
talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Dosage:
Doxorubicin is administered only in hospital by specialists in oncology, hematology, or by
competent nurses. The drug requires special monitoring during treatment. Doxorubicin is given by
injection into a vein over
3-10 minutes; in exceptional cases, the medication can be taken by continuous infusion
over a period of
48-96 hrs.
Overdose:
Overdose enhances the toxic effects of doxorubicin. Very high doses of Doxorubicin can cause heart
problems and severe aplastic anemia (bone marrow does not
produce enough new cells)
in the space of 10 to 14 days. In fact, heart failure can occur even 6 months after an overdose. If
you experience serious adverse reactions during and after the treatment, see your health care
provider immediately. Treatment of Doxorubicin overdose usually includes supportive measures and
possibly blood transfusions. Hospital stay is sometimes necessary.
Contraindications :
Doxorubicine
is contraindicated or should be used with precaution in the following conditions:
·
Pregancy
·
breast feeding
·
kidney failure
·
measles or flu shots
vaccinations
·
heart
disease associated with myocardial failure
·
allergy
to Doxorubicin or any of its components
·
patients
who have low blood counts
·
Patients
who have already received the maximum dose allowed during the lifetime of anthracycline drugs
(Daunorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, and others) or mitoxantrone.
Mechanism of
action (MOA):
Doxorubicin prevents
the growth of cancer cells by inhibiting their synthesis of DNA and RNA, a genetic process
necessary for reproduction and growth of cells.
Interactions:
Doxorubicin should not be associated with certain drugs; they can modify its curative effects
and/or increase the risk of developing side effects. Consult your doctor before taking any of these medicines:
-
Ganciclovir
, an antiviral
drug
-
Amphotericin B
, a polyene
antifungal drug
-
Azathioprine
, an immune system inhibitor
- Digoxin, a medication used in the treatment
of several heart conditions
-
Plicamycin
, a chemotherapy used to stops the growth of cancer
cells
-
Amiodarone
, a medication used
to treat irregular heart beat
- Barbiturates
,
depressant drug that
causes relaxation and sleepiness
-
Cimetidine
, a drug used to inhibit the production of acid in the
stomach
-
Colchicines
, a medication used to treat pain of gouty arthritis
-
Cyclophosphamide(Cytoxan), a medication of the
alkylating agent family used to treat a variety of cancers
-
Cyclophosphamide(Cytoxan, Cytoxan, Neosar, Procytox,
Revimmune), a drug used to treat several types of cancers
Side
effects: Despite the beneficial
effects of Doxorubicin in the treatment of many cancers, it can damage non-cancerous cells and
cause side effects; the most common Doxorubicin side effects include:
- nausea
- vomitting
-
fatigue
-
diarrhea
-
difficulty swallowing
- hair
loss
-
darkened and dry skin
-
decreased appetite
-
weight loss
-
darkening of fingernails or toenails
-
Swelling, pain, redness, or peeling of skin on the palms and soles of the feet.
Doxorubicin
e can cause serious side effects which require
immediate medical attention; contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of these
symptoms:
-
bloody urine
-
persistent cough
-
red urine or sweat
-
shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
-
persistent diarrhea or constipation
-
unusual bruising or bleeding
-
swelling and/or pain at the injection site
-
sore throat and fever.
References:
1
- ch.oddb.org
2
-
santeontario.com (Doxorubicine) Chlorhydrate pour injection
USP
3
- nlm.nih.gov, Doxorubicin
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com