Mechlorethamine (Systemic)
Brand Names : Mustargen, chlormethine, nitrogen mustard
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For mechlorethamine,
the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to mechlorethamine, including a reaction if it was applied
to the skin.
Pregnancy - Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you intend
to have children. This medicine may cause birth defects if either the male
or female is receiving it at the time of conception or if it is used during
pregnancy. In addition, many cancer medicines may cause sterility which could
be permanent. Sterility has been reported with mechlorethamine and the possibility
should be kept in mind. Be sure that you have discussed this with your doctor before receiving
this medicine. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you are
receiving mechlorethamine. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have
become pregnant while receiving mechlorethamine.
Breast-feeding - Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or if
you intend to breast-feed during treatment with this medicine. Because mechlorethamine
may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is generally not recommended
while you are receiving it.
Children - Although there is no specific information comparing
use of mechlorethamine in children with use in other age groups, it is not
expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does
in adults.
Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically
in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly
the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects
or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use
of mechlorethamine in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving
mechlorethamine, it is especially important that your health care professional
know if you are taking any of the following:
-
Amphotericin B by injection (e.g., Fungizone) or
-
Antithyroid agents (medicine for overactive thyroid) or
-
Azathioprine (e.g., Imuran) or
-
Chloramphenicol (e.g., Chloromycetin) or
-
Colchicine or
-
Flucytosine (e.g., Ancobon) or
-
Ganciclovir (e.g., Cytovene) or
-
Interferon (e.g., Intron A, Roferon-A) or
-
Plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin) or
-
Zidovudine (e.g., AZT, Retrovir) or
-
If you have ever been treated with radiation or cancer medicines - Mechlorethamine
may increase the effects of these medicines or radiation therapy on the blood
-
Probenecid (e.g., Benemid) or
-
Sulfinpyrazone (e.g., Anturane) - Mechlorethamine may raise the
concentration of uric acid in the blood. Since these medicines are used to
lower uric acid levels, they may not be as effective in patients receiving
mechlorethamine
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of mechlorethamine. Make sure you tell your doctor
if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Chickenpox (including recent exposure) or
-
Herpes zoster (shingles) - Risk of severe disease affecting other
parts of the body
-
Gout or
-
Kidney stones - Mechlorethamine may increase levels of uric acid
in the body, which can cause gout and kidney stones
-
Infection - Mechlorethamine may decrease your body's ability
to fight infection
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