Drug Status in USA : Approved Drug Status in Canada : Approved
pronunciation
pronounced as (eye da rue' bi sin)
Why is this medication prescribed?
Idarubicin is used treat acute myelogenous leukemia (AML; a type of cancer of the white blood cells) in combination with other medications. Idarubicin is in a class of medications called anthracyclines. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in your body.
How should this medicine be used?
Idarubicin comes as a solution (liquid) to be injected intravenously (into a vein) over 10 to 15 minutes by a doctor or nurse in a medical facility along with other chemotherapy medications. It is usually given once a day for 3 days. Your doctor may need to delay your treatment or adjust your dose if you experience certain side effects. It is important for you to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment with idarubicin.
What are the precautions to be followed?
Before receiving idarubicin,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to idarubicin, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in idarubicin injection. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
tell your doctor if you have previously received radiation therapy or have or have ever had heart disease or if you have an infection, blood-clotting problems, or anemia (decreased amount of red blood cells in the blood).
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. You should not become pregnant or breast-feed while you are receiving idarubicin injection. If you become pregnant while receiving idarubicin, call your doctor. Idarubicin may harm the fetus.
What are possible side effects of this medication ?
Idarubicin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
sores in the mouth and throat
stomach pain
headache
joint pain
hair loss
rash
redness and blisters on the palms and soles
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:
seizures
hives
dizziness
fainting
pale skin
difficulty urinating
yellowing of the skin or eyes
Idarubicin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?
Drug Category/Class
Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
Topoisomerase II Inhibitors
Antibiotics
Cytotoxic Antibiotics and Related Substances
Anthracyclines and Related Substances
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 Inhibitors
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 Inducers
CYP2D6 Inducers
CYP2D6 Inducers (strong)
Antineoplastic Agents
Immunosuppressive Agents
Antineoplastic and Immunomodulating Agents
Anthracyclines and related
Prescribed
For the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adults. This includes French-American-British (FAB) classifications M1 through M7.