Melphalan : Before Using - Alkeran, L-PAM, phenylalanine mustard

Melphalan - Systemic

Brand Names

Alkeran, L-PAM, phenylalanine mustard Melphalan *** 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 melphalan, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

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

Pregnancy care

Tell your family doctor if you are pregnant or if you intend to have children. There is a risk that this drug may cause birth defects 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 which could be permanent. Sterility has been reported with melphalan and the possibility must be kept in mind.

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 taking melphalan. Tell your family doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while taking melphalan.

Breast-feeding problem

Tell your family doctor if you are breast-feeding or if you intend to breast-feed during treat with this drug. Because melphalan may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is not recommended while you are taking it.

Use for Children

Although there is no special info comparing use of melphalan 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 or if they cause various side effects or problems in elderly people. There is no special info comparing the use of melphalan 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 melphalan, 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 been treated with x-rays or cancer medication within 3 to 4 weeks Melphalan may increase the side effects of medication or radiation therapy on the blood

Probenecid - Benemid
Sulfinpyrazone - Anturane Melphalan may raise the concentration of uric acid in the blood, which these medication are using to lower

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of melphalan. 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 Melphalan may increase levels of a chemical called uric acid in the body, which can cause gout or kidney stones

Infection Melphalan decreases your body's ability to fight infection

Kidney disease chance of toxic effects on the blood may be increased