Cytarabine : Before Using - Cytosar-U, Cytosar, ara-C, cytosine arabinoside

Cytarabine - Systemic

Brand Names

Cytosar-U, Cytosar, ara-C, cytosine arabinoside Cytarabine *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects *** Additional Information

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 cytarabine, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

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

Pregnancy care

This drug may cause birth defects - such as defects of the arms, legs, or ears, which occurred in two babies if either the male or female is taking it at the time of conception or if it is taken during pregnancy. In addition, many cancer medication may cause sterility. Although sterility has been reported with this drug, it is usually only temporary.

Be sure that you have discussed this with your family doctor before taking this drug. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you are receiving cytarabine. Tell your family doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while receiving cytarabine.

Breast-feeding problem

Because cytarabine may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is generally not recommended while you are receiving it.

Use for Children

Although there is no special info comparing use of cytarabine in child with use in other age groups, this drug is not expected to cause various side effects or problems in child than it does in adults.

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. Although there is no special info comparing use of cytarabine in the elderly with use in other age groups, this drug is not expected to cause various side effects or problems in older people than it does in adults people.

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 receiving cytarabine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Amphotericin B by injection - Fungizone
Antithyroid agents - drug for overactive thyroid
Azathioprine - Imuran
Chloramphenicol - Chloromycetin
Colchicine
Flucytosine - Ancobon
Ganciclovir - Cytovene
Interferon - Intron A, Roferon-A
Plicamycin - Mithracin
Zidovudine - AZT, Retrovir
If you have ever been treated with radiation or cancer medication Cytarabine may increase the side effects of medication or radiation therapy on the blood

Azathioprine - Imuran
Chlorambucil - Leukeran
Corticosteroids - cortisone-like drug
Cyclosporine - Sandimmune
Mercaptopurine - Purinethol
Muromonab-CD3 - monoclonal antibody - Orthoclone OKT3
Tacrolimus - Prograf There may be an increased risk of infection because cytarabine decreases your body's ability to fight it

Probenecid - Benemid
Sulfinpyrazone - Anturane Cytarabine may raise the concentration of uric acid in the blood. Since these medication are using to lower uric acid levels, they may not work as well in diseaseds receiving cytarabine

Other Information for using

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

Chickenpox - including recent exposure
Herpes zoster - shingles chance of severe disease effecting other parts of the body

Gout - history of
Kidney stones - history of Cytarabine may increase levels of uric acid in the body, which can cause gout or kidney stones

Infection Cytarabine can decrease your body's ability to fight infection

Kidney disease
Liver disease Effects of cytarabine may be increased because of slower removal from the body