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Indication & Dosage |
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| Oral |
| MULTIPLE MYELOMA |
| Adult:
150 mcg/kg daily in divided doses for 4-7 days or 250 mcg/kg daily for 4 days or 6 mg daily for 2-3 wk. Usually combined with corticosteroids. Follow treatment course by a rest period of up to 6 wk to allow haematologic recovery. Then repeat the course or start maintenance treatment with 1-3 mg or up to 50 mcg/kg daily. For optimal effect, adjust therapy to produce moderate leucopenia (WBC counts of 3,000-3,500 cells/mm3). |
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| Oral |
| BREAST CANCER |
| Adult:
150 mcg/kg daily or 6 mg/m2 daily for 5 days, repeated every 6 wk. |
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| Oral |
| OVARIAN CARCINOMA |
| Adult:
150 mcg/kg daily in divided doses for 4-7 days or 250 mcg/kg daily for 4 days or 6 mg daily for 2-3 wk. Usually combined with corticosteroids. Follow treatment course by a rest period of up to 6 wk to allow haematologic recovery. Then repeat the course or start maintenance treatment with 1-3 mg or up to 50 mcg/kg daily. For optimal effect, adjust therapy to produce moderate leucopenia (WBC counts of 3,000-3,500 cells/mm3). |
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| Oral |
| POLYCYTHAEMIA VERA |
| Adult:
150 mcg/kg daily in divided doses for 4-7 days or 250 mcg/kg daily for 4 days or 6 mg daily for 2-3 wk. Usually combined with corticosteroids. Follow treatment course by a rest period of up to 6 wk to allow haematologic recovery. Then repeat the course or start maintenance treatment with 1-3 mg or up to 50 mcg/kg daily. For optimal effect, adjust therapy to produce moderate leucopenia (WBC counts of 3,000-3,500 cells/mm3). |
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| Intravenous |
| OVARIAN ADENOCARCINOMA |
| Adult:
150 mcg/kg daily in divided doses for 4-7 days or 250 mcg/kg daily for 4 days or 6 mg daily for 2-3 wk. Usually combined with corticosteroids. Follow treatment course by a rest period of up to 6 wk to allow haematologic recovery. Then repeat the course or start maintenance treatment with 1-3 mg or up to 50 mcg/kg daily. For optimal effect, adjust therapy to produce moderate leucopenia (WBC counts of 3,000-3,500 cells/mm3). |
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| Intravenous |
| MULTIPLE MYELOMA |
| Adult:
150 mcg/kg daily in divided doses for 4-7 days or 250 mcg/kg daily for 4 days or 6 mg daily for 2-3 wk. Usually combined with corticosteroids. Follow treatment course by a rest period of up to 6 wk to allow haematologic recovery. Then repeat the course or start maintenance treatment with 1-3 mg or up to 50 mcg/kg daily. For optimal effect, adjust therapy to produce moderate leucopenia (WBC counts of 3,000-3,500 cells/mm3). |
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| Intravenous |
| NEUROBLASTOMA |
| Adult:
150 mcg/kg daily in divided doses for 4-7 days or 250 mcg/kg daily for 4 days or 6 mg daily for 2-3 wk. Usually combined with corticosteroids. Follow treatment course by a rest period of up to 6 wk to allow haematologic recovery. Then repeat the course or start maintenance treatment with 1-3 mg or up to 50 mcg/kg daily. For optimal effect, adjust therapy to produce moderate leucopenia (WBC counts of 3,000-3,500 cells/mm3). |
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| Intra-arterial |
| MELANOMA |
| Adult:
150 mcg/kg daily in divided doses for 4-7 days or 250 mcg/kg daily for 4 days or 6 mg daily for 2-3 wk. Usually combined with corticosteroids. Follow treatment course by a rest period of up to 6 wk to allow haematologic recovery. Then repeat the course or start maintenance treatment with 1-3 mg or up to 50 mcg/kg daily. For optimal effect, adjust therapy to produce moderate leucopenia (WBC counts of 3,000-3,500 cells/mm3). |
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| Intra-arterial |
| SOFT TISSUE SARCOMA |
| Adult:
150 mcg/kg daily in divided doses for 4-7 days or 250 mcg/kg daily for 4 days or 6 mg daily for 2-3 wk. Usually combined with corticosteroids. Follow treatment course by a rest period of up to 6 wk to allow haematologic recovery. Then repeat the course or start maintenance treatment with 1-3 mg or up to 50 mcg/kg daily. For optimal effect, adjust therapy to produce moderate leucopenia (WBC counts of 3,000-3,500 cells/mm3). |
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| Administration |
Should be taken on an empty stomach (i.e. At least one hour before food or four hours after food). (Take on an empty stomach 1 hr before or 2 hr after meals.) |
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| Precautions |
Renal impairment. Lactation. Prior bone marrow suppression, prior chemotherapy or irradiation. May mask signs of infection e.g. fever and increased WBC. Elderly. |
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Potentially Life-threatening
Adverse Drug Reactions |
Diarrhoea, stomatitis, vomiting; haemolytic anaemia, vasculitis, pulmonary fibrosis, hepatic disorders, suppression of ovarian function in premenopausal women, temporary or permanent sterility in male patients. Allergic reactions. |
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| Adverse Drug Reactions |
Bone marrow suppression. Secondary malignancy, cardiac arrest. Anaphylaxis. |
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| Interactions |
Food significantly reduces oral absorption. Avoid excessive alcohol intake. |
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