Altretamine is a cancer (antineoplastic) medication. Altretamine interferes with the growth of
cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.
Altretamine is used to treat cancer of the ovaries.
Altretamine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking altretamine?
Before taking altretamine, tell your doctor if you have:
any nervous system (brain and nerves) problems; or
bone marrow problems.
You may not be able to take altretamine, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Altretamine is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that altretamine is known to
cause birth defects in an unborn baby.
Do not
take altretamine without first talking to
your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Contraceptive measures
are recommended during treatment with altretamine.
It is not known whether altretamine passes into breast milk.
Do not
take
altretamine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast feeding a baby.
How should I take altretamine?
Take altretamine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these
instructions, as your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to explain them to you.
Your doctor will determine the correct amount and frequency of treatment with altretamine
depending upon the cancer being treated and other factors. Talk to your doctor if you have any
questions or concerns regarding the treatment schedule.
Altretamine is usually taken four times a day, after meals and at bedtime.
Take each oral dose with a large glass of water.
Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests and other medical
evaluations during treatment with altretamine to monitor progress and side effects.
Store altretamine capsules at room temperature away from heat and moisture. Keep this
product out of the reach of children.
What happens if I miss a dose of altretamine?
Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of altretamine.
Where can I get more information about altretamine?
Your pharmacist has information about altretamine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of altretamine?
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, seek emergency medical
attention or contact your doctor immediately:
an allergic reaction (shortness of breath; closing of your throat;
difficulty breathing; swelling of your lips, face, or tongue; or hives);
decreased bone marrow function and blood problems
(extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; or fever, chills, or
signs of infection);
pain, tremors, tingling, burning, or prickling in hands or
feet;
mood changes;
severe drowsiness or loss of consciousness;
loss of coordination, weakness, dizziness, unsteadiness or
falling; or
severe nausea or vomiting.
Other less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Talk to your
doctor if you experience:
temporary hair loss;
itching or rash; or
mild to moderate nausea or vomiting.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor
about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about altretamine?
Altretamine should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider
experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Serious side effects have been reported with the use of altretamine including: allergic reactions
(difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); decreased bone
marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry
stools; fever or chills; or signs of infection such as fever; chills, or sore throat); neurologic problems
(mood disorders, altered consciousness, weakness, dizziness, vertigo); and others. Talk to your doctor
about the possible side effects from treatment with altretamine.
What should I avoid while taking altretamine?
Altretamine can lower the activity of your immune system making you susceptible to infections.
Avoid contact with people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses and do not receive
vaccines that contain live strains of a virus (e.g., live oral polio vaccine) during treatment with
altretamine. In addition, avoid contact with individuals who have recently been vaccinated with a live
vaccine. There is a chance that the virus can be passed on to you.
What other drugs will affect altretamine?
Before taking altretamine, tell your doctor if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
(MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate). You may
require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking one of these
medicines.
Before taking altretamine, tell your doctor if you are taking cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB).
You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.
Do not receive "live" vaccines during treatment with altretamine. Administration of a live
vaccine may be dangerous during treatment with altretamine.
Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with altretamine. Talk to your doctor and
pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal
products, during treatment with altretamine.
What happens if I have an overdose of altretamine?
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.
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up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
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warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does
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given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information
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interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse
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Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009