📋 Indications & Clinical Dosage
*Treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia, Treatment of cancer of the cervix in conjunction with radiotherapy, Polycythaemia:*
Adult: 20-30 mg/kg daily, alternatively 80 mg/kg every3 days.
*Sickle-cell disease:*
Adult: Initially 15 mg/kg daily, increased in steps of 2.5-5 mg/kg daily, increased every 12 weeks according to response; usual dose 15-30 mg/kg daily; max. 35 mg/kg per day.
⛔ Contraindications
Marked bone marrow depression; severe anaemia.
⚠️ Precautions & Warnings
Leg ulcers (review treatment if cutaneous vasculitic ulcerations develop), Haematological monitoring including bone marrow; monitor hepatic and renal function; recent X-ray or cytostatic therapy; pre-menopausal women.
🔄 Drug Interactions
Cytarabine, didanosine, stavudine
⚠️ Adverse Reactions / Side Effects
Headache, myelosuppression, skin reactions, alopecia, bleeding (in sickle-cell disease),bone-marrow suppression, dizziness, hyperuricaemia, hypomagnesaemia (in sickle-cell disease), nausea, oral mucositis, rash, reduced sperm count and activity, skin cancers, thromboembolism, tumourlysis syndrome, vomiting
Rare: Amenorrhoea (in sickle-cell disease)
🤰 Pregnancy & Lactation Safety
Pregnancy Risk:
Positive evidence of risk: Avoid
Lactation / Breastfeeding:
Contraindicated. Discontinue breast-feeding