cytarabine

Do not receive this medication without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

Before receiving cytarabine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have a breathing disorder such as asthma, or a history of stomach ulcer or bleeding.

Cytarabine can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. Avoid being near people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses. Contact your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while you are being treated with cytarabine. The live vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease.

Cytarabine is a cancer medication. Cytarabine interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.

Cytarabine is used to treat certain types of leukemia (blood cancers). Cytarabine is also used to treat leukemia associated with meningitis.

Cytarabine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to cytarabine.

Before receiving cytarabine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• asthma or other breathing disorder; or
• a history of stomach ulcer or bleeding.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use cytarabine.

FDA pregnancy category D. This medication can cause harm to an unborn baby. Do not receive cytarabine without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether cytarabine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Cytarabine is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein, under the skin, or into the space around the spinal cord. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting.

Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when the medicine is injected.

Cytarabine can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. To be sure your blood cells do not get too low, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Contact your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your cytarabine injection.

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, or changes in personality or behavior.

Avoid being near people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses. Contact your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while you are being treated with cytarabine. The live vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
• eye pain or redness, problems with your vision;
• sudden shortness of breath, dry cough;
• unusual thoughts or behavior;
• problems with urination;
• black, bloody, or tarry stools;
• coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
• nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• fever, chest pain, muscle or bone pain, skin rash, tired feeling, and redness of the eyes (may occur 6 to 12 hours after your injection).

Less serious side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain;
• mouth sores;
• drowsiness, dizziness;
• loss of appetite;
• sores or swelling around your mouth or rectum;
• sore throat;
• hair loss; or
• headache.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

Tell your doctor if you take digoxin (Lanoxin).

There may be other drugs that can interact with cytarabine. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Your pharmacist can provide more information about cytarabine.