Mitoxantrone



NovantroneŽ







Mitoxantrone

(mye toe ZAN trone)

U.S. Brand Names
NovantroneŽ
Canadian Brand Names
Mitoxantrone InjectionŽ; NovantroneŽ
Mexican Brand Names
MitroxoneŽ; NovantroneŽ
Pharmacologic Category
Antineoplastic Agent, Anthracenedione
What key warnings should I know about before taking this medicine?
  • This medicine may cause damage to your heart in certain situations. Talk with healthcare provider. Patients with liver disease need a lower dose. This medicine can have severe effects on the bone marrow. The bone marrow may not be able to produce the cells found in the blood as well as it used to.
Reasons not to take this medicine
  • If you have an allergy to mitoxantrone 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 have any of the following conditions: Bone marrow disease, liver disease, or a severely weakened heart.
  • If you have received a full treatment with daunorubicin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, or idarubicin.
  • 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.
  • This medicine is used to treat multiple sclerosis.
How does it work?
  • Mitoxantrone injures cancer cells causing their death.
  • It decreases the body's harmful response to diseases affecting the immune system.
How is it best taken?
  • This medicine is given into a vein constantly for a period of time.
What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)
  • Call healthcare provider for appointment.
What are the precautions when taking this medicine?
  • Be careful about taking vaccinations while you are receiving this medicine.
  • Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
  • If you have heart disease, talk with healthcare provider.
  • If you have had radiation therapy, talk with healthcare provider.
  • Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers that you use this medicine.
  • You may bleed more easily. Be careful. Avoid injury. Use soft toothbrush, electric razor.
  • Talk with healthcare provider before using aspirin, aspirin-containing products, other pain medicines, blood thinners, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, or vitamin E.
  • Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine.
What are some possible side effects of this medicine?
  • Risk of infection. Avoid people with infections, colds, or flu.
  • Change in color of body fluids to blue or green.
  • Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Mouth and lip irritation. Frequent mouth care with a soft toothbrush or cotton swabs and rinsing mouth may help.
  • Hair loss. Hair usually grows back when medicine is stopped.
  • For females, no menstrual cycle.
  • Heart damage can rarely occur.
  • 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.
  • Check weight weekly. Report a weight loss to 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.
  • Signs or symptoms of infection. These include a fever of 100.5 degrees or higher, chills, severe sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, increased sputum or change in color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, or anal itching or pain.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Severe dizziness or passing out.
  • Swelling of legs or belly.
  • Severe nausea or vomiting.
  • Unusual bruising or bleeding.
  • Feeling extremely tired or weak.
  • Severe skin irritation.
  • Any rash.
  • No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
How should I store this medicine?
  • This medicine will be given to you in a healthcare setting. You will not store it at home.
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.
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