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| Pronunciation |
|
 (sye
kloe FOS fa
mide) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Cytoxan®; Neosar® |
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| Foreign Brand
Names |
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| Genoxal (Mexico); Ledoxina (Mexico);
Procytox®
(Canada) |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Antineoplastic Agent, Alkylating Agent |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to cyclophosphamide or any other part of the
medicine.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used for the treatment of a variety of cancers.
- Other uses include prevention of rejection after organ transplants,
severe rheumatoid disorders, nephritic syndrome, Wegener's granulomatosis,
idiopathic pulmonary hemosideroses, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis,
systemic lupus erythematosus, lupus nephritis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia,
idiopathic thrombocytic purpura (ITP), macroglobulinemia, and antibody-induced
pure red cell aplasia. There may be other treatments not listed here. Talk to
healthcare provider for more
details.
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| How does it work? |
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- Cyclophosphamide prevents cancer cells from multiplying. It also
suppresses the body's own immune
system.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Take on an empty stomach. Take with food in divided doses if this
medicine causes a severe upset stomach.
- A liquid (suspension) is available if you cannot swallow pills.
- Make sure you are drinking enough liquids unless told to drink less by
healthcare provider. Avoid products containing
caffeine.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- If you are on allopurinol or azathioprine tell you healthcare
provider.
- This medicine may prevent you from having children in the future. Talk
with healthcare provider.
- If you are 65 or older, you may have more side effects.
- Avoid aspirin, aspirin-containing products, ibuprofen or like
products, other blood thinners (warfarin, ticlopidine, clopidogrel), garlic,
ginseng, ginkgo, vitamin E. You will bleed easily.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Do not use in pregnancy and do not get pregnant. Use birth control
that you can trust while taking this medicine.
- If you are a man, using this medicine, make sure that you do not get
your partner pregnant.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Risk of infection. Avoid crowds and people with infections, colds, or
flu.
- Hair loss. Hair usually grows back when medicine stopped. Usually
starts 3-6 weeks after medicine started.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may
help.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Check blood work. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Pain with passing urine or a change in the color of the urine.
- Unusual bruising or bleeding.
- Fever, chills, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, sores in the
mouth or on the lips.
- Nausea, vomiting, belly pain, feeling tired, dark urine, yellow eyes
or skin, not hungry.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store tablets in a tight container at room temperature.
- Store suspension in the refrigerator. Keep in glass container. Throw
away if medicine is not used in 14
days.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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