Pentostatin : Before Using - Nipent, 2'-deoxycoformycin, 2'DCF

Pentostatin - Systemic

Brand Names

Nipent, 2'-deoxycoformycin, 2'DCF Pentostatin *** 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 pentostatin, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

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

Pregnancy care

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. Pentostatin has been shown to cause birth defects in rats and mice. In addition, many cancer medication may cause sterility which could be permanent. Although sterility has not been reported with this drug, it does occur in pets 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 receiving pentostatin. Tell your family doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while receiving pentostatin.

Breast-feeding problem

It is not known whether pentostatin 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

There is no special info comparing use of pentostatin in child 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. Although there is no special info comparing use of pentostatin in the elderly with use in other adults, 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 pentostatin, 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 x-rays or cancer medication Pentostatin may increase the side effects of medication or radiation therapy on the blood

Probenecid - Benemid
Sulfinpyrazone - Anturane Pentostatin may raise the amount 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 pentostatin

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of pentostatin. 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 Pentostatin may increase levels of uric acid in the body, which can cause gout or kidney stones

Infection Pentostatin may decrease your body's ability to fight infection

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