Dactinomycin : Before Using - Cosmegen, actinomycin-D

Dactinomycin - Systemic

Brand Names

Cosmegen, actinomycin-D Dactinomycin *** 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 dactinomycin, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

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

Pregnancy care

There is a risk that this drug may cause birth defects if either the male or female is receiving it at the time of conception or if it is taken during pregnancy. Studies have shown that dactinomycin causes birth defects in pets. In addition, many cancer medication may cause sterility which could be permanent. Although sterility has not been reported with this drug, the possibility must be kept in mind.

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

Breast-feeding problem

It is not known whether dactinomycin passes into breast milk. However, because this drug may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is generally not recommended while you are receiving it.

Use for Children

Because of increased toxicity, use of dactinomycin in infants less than 6 to 12 months of age is not recommended.

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 about the use of dactinomycin in the elderly.

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 receiving dactinomycin 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
Flucytosine - Ancobon
Ganciclovir - Cytovene
Interferon - Intron A, Roferon-A
Plicamycin - Mithramycin
Zidovudine - AZT, Retrovir
If you have ever been treated with radiation or cancer drug Dactinomycin may increase the side effects of medication or radiation therapy on the blood

Probenecid - Benemid
Sulfinpyrazone - Anturane Dactinomycin may increase concentrations of uric acid in the blood. Since these medication are using to lower uric acid levels, they may not be as effective in diseaseds receiving dactinomycin

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of dactinomycin. 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 - or history of
Kidney stones Dactinomycin may increase levels of uric acid in the body, which can cause gout or kidney stones

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

Liver disease Effects of dactinomycin may be increased