Procarbazine



Matulane®







Procarbazine

(proe KAR ba zeen)

U.S. Brand Names
Matulane®
Canadian Brand Names
Matulane®; Natulan®
Mexican Brand Names
Natulan®
Pharmacologic Category
Antineoplastic Agent, Alkylating Agent
Reasons not to take this medicine
  • If you have an allergy to procarbazine or any other part of this medicine.
  • Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
  • If you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
  • If you are breast-feeding.
What is this medicine used for?
  • This medicine is used to treat a variety of cancers.
How does it work?
  • Procarbazine injures cancer cells causing their death.
How is it best taken?
  • Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
  • Swallow capsule whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
  • Directions may change depending on blood work results, side effects, and response.
What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)
  • Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
  • If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
  • Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
What are the precautions when taking this medicine?
  • If you have diabetes, talk with healthcare provider.
  • Talk with healthcare provider before using aspirin, aspirin-containing products, other pain medicines, blood thinners, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, or vitamin E.
  • Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
  • Avoid eating aged cheeses and meats, soy sauce, soy bean including paste, Miso soup, Italian green beans (fava beans), snowpea or broad bean pods, sauerkraut, kimchee, concentrated yeast extracts (Marmite), red or white wine, and beer including alcohol-free beer. Follow diet for at least 2 weeks after medicine is stopped to prevent problems.
  • Avoid cigarette smoking.
  • Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine.
  • If you are a male and sexually active, protect your partner from pregnancy. Use two forms of birth control that you can trust.
What are some possible side effects of this medicine?
  • Risk of infection. Avoid people with infections, colds, or flu.
  • Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you.
  • Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help. You may need a medicine to decrease this side effect. Talk with healthcare provider.
  • Hair loss. Hair usually grows back when medicine is stopped.
  • Infertility.
  • Other forms of cancer can rarely occur later in life.
What should I monitor?
  • Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
  • Check blood work regularly. Talk with healthcare provider.
  • Take good care of your teeth. See a dentist regularly.
  • Follow up with healthcare provider.
Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately
  • If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center immediately or dial 911.
  • Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Significant change in thinking clearly and logically.
  • Severe nausea or vomiting.
  • Severe diarrhea.
  • Unusual bruising or bleeding.
  • Mouth sores.
  • Any rash.
  • No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
How should I store this medicine?
  • Store at room temperature.
  • Protect from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
General statements
  • If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
  • Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
  • Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
  • Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
  • Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
Brand Names: