Product Information
AMSA PD (Amsacrine) belongs to the general group of medicines known as antineoplastics. AMSA PD (Amsacrine) is used to treat acute adult leukemia.AMSA PD (Amsacrine) interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are then eventually destroyed by the body. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by AMSA PD (Amsacrine), other effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other AMSA PD (Amsacrine) side effects, like hair loss, may not be serious but may cause concern. Some side effects of AMSA PD (Amsacrine) may not occur until months or years after the AMSA PD (Amsacrine) medicine is used.
Before you begin treatment with AMSA PD (Amsacrine), you and your doctor should talk about the good AMSA PD (Amsacrine) will do as well as the risks of using it.
AMSA PD (Amsacrine) is to be administered only by or under the supervision of your doctor.
AMSA PD (Amsacrine) is only available in the injection dosage form from Canada.
AMSA PD (Amsacrine) drug interactions:
When you are receiving AMSA PD (Amsacrine), it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:
Acyclovir (e.g., Zovirax) or
Anticonvulsants (seizure medicine) or
Antidiabetics, oral (diabetes medicine taken by mouth) or
Anti-infectives by mouth or by injection (medicine for infection) or
Antipsychotics (medicine for mental illness) or
Captopril (e.g., Capoten) or
Enalapril (e.g., Vasotec) or
Flecainide (e.g., Tambocor) or
Gold salts (medicine for arthritis) or
Imipenem or
Inflammation or pain medicine, except narcotics or
Lisinopril (e.g., Prinivil, Zestril) or
Maprotiline (e.g., Ludiomil) or
Penicillamine (e.g., Cuprimine) or
Pimozide (e.g., Orap) or
Procainamide (e.g., Pronestyl) or
Promethazine (e.g., Phenergan) or
Ramipril (e.g., Altace) or
Sulfasalazine (e.g., Azulfidine) or
Tiopronin (e.g., Thiola) or
Tocainide (e.g., Tonocard) or
Tricyclic antidepressants (medicine for depression) or
Trimeprazine (e.g., Temaril)-Concurrent use of these agents with amsacrine may cause blood disorders
Alpha interferons (e.g., Intron A, Roferon-A) or
Amphotericin B by injection (e.g., Fungizone) or
Antineoplastics, other (cancer medicine) or
Antithyroid agents (medicine for overactive thyroid) or
Azathioprine (e.g., Imuran) or
Chloramphenicol (e.g., Chloromycetin) or
Colchicine or
Cyclophosphamide (e.g. Cytoxan) or
Flucytosine (e.g. Ancoban) or
Ganciclovir (e.g., Cytovene) or
Zidovudine (e.g., AZT, Retrovir)-Concurrent use of these agents with amsacrine increases the risk of infection
If you have ever been treated with radiation or cancer medicines-Amsacrine may increase the effects of these medicines or radiation therapy on the blood
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of AMSA PD (Amsacrine). Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
Bone marrow depression or
Infection-There may be an increased risk of infections or worsening infections because of the body's reduced ability to fight them
Chickenpox (including recent exposure) or
Herpes zoster (shingles)-Risk of severe disease affecting other parts of the body
Heart rhythm problems-Patients who have problems with heart rhythms may have increased problems while taking amsacrine
Kidney disease or
Liver disease-Effects of amsacrine may be increased because of its slower removal from the body
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted side effects of AMSA PD (Amsacrine).
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following AMSA PD (Amsacrine) side effects occur:
More common
Accumulation of pus or swollen, red, tender area of infection around the rectum; Black tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; cough or hoarseness; fever or chills; lower back or side pain; painful or difficult urination; pinpoint red spots on skin; sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips, tongue, or inside mouth; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness or weakness
Less common
Abdominal pain or tenderness; blurred vision; confusion; dark urine; diarrhea; dizziness, faintness, or light-headedness ; fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse; fever; itching; nausea; palpitations; convulsions (seizures); vomiting or vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds; yellow eyes or skin
Other AMSA PD (Amsacrine) side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These AMSA PD (Amsacrine) side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects of AMSA PD (Amsacrine) continue or are bothersome.
More Common
Burning, crawling, numbness, prickling,
