Azacitidine
Information about Azacitidine
Azacitidine uses
Azacitidine is used in the treatment of blood cancer.
How azacitidine works
Azacitidine is an anticancer medication. It works by interfering with the growth of genetic material (DNA and RNA) of the cancer cells in leukaemia. This kills the cancer cells and helps in normal maturation and growth of young blood cells in the bone marrow.
Common side effects of azacitidine
Vomiting, Nausea, Fever, Diarrhea, Constipation, Low blood platelets, Headache, Insomnia (difficulty in sleeping), Abdominal pain, Pneumonia, Nasopharyngitis (inflammation of the throat and nasal passages), Anemia (low number of red blood cells), Febrile neutropenia, High blood pressure, Nosebleeds, Gastrointestinal bleeding, Decreased white blood cell count (lymphocytes), Decreased blood cells (red cells, white cells, and platelets), Decreased appetite, Breathlessness, Petechiae (red or purple spot caused by bleeding into the skin), Itching, Joint pain, Musculoskeletal (bone, muscle or joint) pain, Sepsis, Intracranial bleeding, Conjunctival hemorrhage, Pericardial effusion, Hypotension (low blood pressure), Orthostatic hypotension (sudden lowering of blood pressure on standing), Hematoma, Pleural effusion, Hair loss, Renal failure, Hypersensitivity, Pericarditis, Liver failure, Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, Pyoderma gangrenosum, Renal tubular acidosis, Tumor lysis syndrome, Interstitial lung disease, Injection site necrosis
Available Medicine for Azacitidine
Expert advice for Azacitidine
- Use a reliable contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy while you are taking this medicine.
- Inform your doctor immediately if you notice any signs of infection such as fever, sore throat, rash or severe diarrhea.
Frequently asked questions for Azacitidine
Azacitidine
Q. Is Azacitidine a vesicant?
Azacitidine is not a vesicant and is not known to cause severe local tissue damage upon extravasation (leaking of injected Azacitidine into the surrounding tissues from the site of administration) when injected
Q. Does Azacitidine cause hair loss?
No, Azacitidine is not known to cause hair los
Q. Is Azacitidine chemotherapy?
Yes. Azacitidine is chemotherapy and a cytotoxic drug used in the treatment of various cancers. It is toxic to cancer cells and interferes with the cell's DNA synthesis, thus slowing down or stopping its growth and multiplication (cytotoxic effect)