Arsenic Trioxide : Before Using

Arsenic Trioxide - Systemic

Brand Names

Trisenox Arsenic Trioxide *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For arsenic trioxide, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to arsenic.

Pregnancy care

There is a risk that this drug may cause birth defects if it is taken at time of conception or if it is taken by the mother during pregnancy. Studies in rats and mice have shown that arsenic trioxide causes birth defects in the fetus and other problems - including miscarriage. Studies on the effects in pregnancy have not been done.

Be sure that you have discussed these possible effects with your family doctor before receiving this drug. Before receiving arsenic trioxide make sure your family doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you are receiving arsenic trioxide. Tell your family doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while receiving arsenic trioxide.

Breast-feeding problem

Arsenic is distributed into human breast milk. Arsenic trioxide is not recommended during breast-feeding, because it may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies.

Use for Children

Studies on this drug have been done only in a limited number of diseaseds over the age of 5 years and there is no specific information comparing use of arsenic trioxide in child under the age of 5 with use in other age groups.

Elderly care

Many medication have not been studied specifically in elderly people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in adults people or if they cause various side effects or problems in elderly people. There is no special info comparing use of arsenic trioxide in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking arsenic trioxide, it is especially important that your health care provider know if you are taking any of the following:

Amphotericin B by injection - Fungizone
Antiarrhythmics - acebutolol " Sectral ", adenosine " Adenocard ", amiodarone " Cordarone ", atenolol " Tenormin ", digoxin " Lanoxin ", digitoxin " Crystodigin ", diltiazem " Cardizem ", disopyramide " Norpace ", encainide " Enkaid ", esmolol " Brevibloc ", flecainide " Tambocor ", metoprolol " Lopressor ", mexiletine " Mexitil ", moricizine " Ethmozine ", nadolol " Corgard ", oxprenolol " Trasicor ", phenytoin " Dilantin ", procainamide " Procan ", propafenone " Rythmol ", propranolol " Inderal ", quinidine " Quinaglute ", sotalol " Betapace ", timolol " Blocadren ", tocainide " Tonocard ", verapamil " Isoptin "
Antifungals, azole - fluconazole " Diflucan ", itraconazole " Sporanox ", ketoconazole " Nizoral "
Antihistamines
Fluoroquinolones - ciprofloxacin " Cipro ", enoxacin " Penetrex ", grepafloxacin " Raxar ", levofloxacin " Levaquin ", lomefloxacin " Maxaquin ", norfloxacin " Noroxin ", ofloxacin " Floxin ", sparfloxacin " Zagam "
Diuretics, potassium-depleting - bumetanide " Bumex ", ethacrynic acid " Edecrin ", furosemide " Lasix ", indapamide " Lozol ", thiazide diuretics "water pills "
Tricyclic antidepressants - amitriptyline " Elavil ", amoxapine " Asendin ", clomipramine " Anafranil ", desipramine " Norpramin ", doxepin " Sinequan ", imipramine " Tofranil ", nortriptyline " Pamelor ", protriptyline " Vivactil ", trimipramine " Surmontil " These medication may increase the risk of experiencing a life threatening heart rhythm problem while taking arsenic trioxide and concurrent use of these agents with arsenic trioxide may cause blood disorders
Thioridazine - Mellaril These medication may increase the risk of experiencing a life threatening heart rhythm problem while taking arsenic trioxide.

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of arsenic trioxide. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Abnormal heart rhythms
Congestive heart failure
Low magnesium levels in the blood
Low potassium levels in the blood These medical problems may increase the risk of experiencing a life threatening heart rhythm problem while taking arsenic trioxide.

Kidney problems Arsenic trioxide is removed from the body by the kidneys; kidney problems may cause the drug to build up.