Dactinomycin: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

What drug Dactinomycin?

What is dactinomycin for?

Dactinomycin is a medicinal salt used alone or in combination with other anti-cancer drugs to treat cancer. Dactinomycin is a drug that works by slowing down or stopping the growth of cancer cells.

Dactinomycin dosage

How is dactinomycin used?

Dactinomycin is a drug that is given by injection into a vein for several minutes by a doctor, usually once daily for 1 to 5 days or as directed by your doctor. Do not inject into muscles or under the skin. Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you experience pain, burning, or redness at the injection site.

Dactinomycin is a drug whose dosage is based on your medical condition, body size, and response to treatment. Your doctor will order laboratory tests to make sure you can receive your next dose. Perform all medical / lab examinations.

Follow the rules given by your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How is dactinomycin stored?

Dactinomycin is a drug that is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Dactinomycin side effects

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dactinomycin dosage for adults?

Usual Adult Dose for Wilms Tumor

Take 15 mcg / kg / day or 400 to 600 mcg / m2 / day intravenously for 5 days as part of a combination treatment. The dosage for adult patients who are obese or edematous can be calculated on the basis of body surface area for the dose for which is based on body mass. The dose can be repeated every 3 to 6 weeks.

Usual adult dose for Ewing Sarcoma

Take 15 mcg / kg / day or 400 to 600 mcg / m2 / day intravenously for 5 days as part of a combination treatment. The dosage for adult patients who are obese or edematous can be calculated on the basis of body surface area for doses to be based on body mass. The dose can be repeated every 3 to 6 weeks.

Usual adult dose for Rhabdomyosarcoma

Take 15 mcg / kg / day or 400 to 600 mcg / m2 / day intravenously for 5 days as part of a combination treatment. The dosage for adult patients who are obese or edematous can be calculated on the basis of body surface area for doses to be based on body mass. The dose can be repeated every 3 to 6 weeks.

Usual Adult Dose for Testicular Cancer

For use in the treatment of metastatic nonseminomatous testicular cancer: 1000 mcg / m2 intravenously on day 1 as part of a combination treatment with cyclophosphamide, bleomycin, vinblastine, and cisplatin.

Usual Adult Dose for Trophoblastic Disease

For use in the treatment of gestational trophoblast neoplasia: 12 mcg / kg intravenously daily for five days as a single treatment. or 500 mcg intravenously on days 1 and 2 as part of a combination treatment with etoposide, methotrexate, folinic acid, vincristine, cyclophosphamide and cisplatin.

Usual Adult Dose for Malignant Diseases

For use as a component of regional perfusion in palliatives and / or adjunct therapy in localized or locoregional malignant disease: 50 mcg / kg for the lower body or pelvis and 35 mcg / kg for the upper body. (Please note that dosing schedules and dosing techniques may vary from doctor to doctor. Please consult the published literature with a doctor for more details.)

Usual Adult Dose for Osteosarcoma

Use as much as 600 mcg / m2 / day on days 1, 2, and 3 as part of a combination chemotherapy treatment

Usual Adult Dose for Ovarian Cancer

For use in the treatment of ovarian (germ cell) tumors: 500 mcg / day for 5 days every 4 weeks or 300 mcg / m2 / day for 5 days every 4 weeks.

What is the dose of dactinomycin for children?

Usual children's dosage for Wilms tumor

Over 6 months: 15 mcg / kg / day or 400-600 mcg / m2 / day intravenously for 5 days (in various combinations and treatment schedules). The dose can be repeated every 3 to 6 weeks.

Usual children's dosage for Ewing Sarcoma

Over 6 months: 15 mcg / kg / day or 400-600 mcg / m2 / day intravenously for 5 days (in various combinations and treatment schedules). The dose can be repeated every 3 to 6 weeks.

Usual children's dose for Rhabdomyosarcoma

Over 6 months: 15 mcg / kg / day or 400-600 mcg / m2 / day intravenously for 5 days (in various combinations and treatment schedules). The dose can be repeated every 3 to 6 weeks.

Usual children's dosage for testicular cancer

For use in the treatment of metastatic nonseminomatous testicular cancer: 1000 mcg / m2 intravenously on day 1 as part of a combination treatment with cyclophosphamide, bleomycin, vinblastine, and cisplatin.

Usual children's dosage for trophoblastic disease

For use in the treatment of gestational trophoblast neoplasia: 12 mcg / kg intravenously daily for five days as a single drug dose. or 500 mcg intravenously on days 1 and 2 as part of a combination treatment with etoposide, methotrexate, folinic acid, vincristine, cyclophosphamide and cisplatin.

Usual children's dosage for malignant disease

For use as a component of regional perfusion in palliatives and / or adjunct therapy in localized disease or locoregional malignant disease: 50 mcg / kg for the lower body or pelvis and 35 mcg / kg for the upper body.

Usual children's dosage for Osteosarcoma

Use as much as 600 mcg / m2 / day on days 1, 2, and 3 as part of a combination chemotherapy treatment.

In what dosage is dactinomycin available?

Dactinomycin is a drug available in the form of diluted, intravenous water:

• Cosmegen: 0.5 mg
• Generic: 0.5 mg

Dactinomycin Drug Warnings and Cautions

What side effects can be experienced due to dactinomycin?

Dactinomycin is a drug that can cause common side effects, including nausea or vomiting (it can be severe), diarrhea, acne, and redness at the injection site. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction such as: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects such as:

• pain, swelling, burning, irritation, of the skin where the injection was given
• fever, chills, body aches, diarrhea, flu symptoms, sores in the mouth and throat
• swelling or pain in the upper abdomen, weight gain, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• feeling short of breath, urinating less than usual or not at all
• chest pain, dry cough, wheezing
• pale skin, feeling dizzy or short of breath, fast heart rate, difficulty concentrating
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red spots under your skin;
• wounds that won't heal
• redness of skin or skin or the inside of your mouth and throat (if you are also receiving radiation treatment).

Less serious side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite
• tired feeling, muscle aches
• anal pain or bleeding
• numbness or tingling feeling around your mouth, fast or slow heart rate, muscle aches or contractions, overactive reflexes;
• hair loss
• dry or cracked skin, chapped lips
• acne, mild skin rash.

Not everyone experiences this side effect. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Dactinomycin Drug Interactions

What should be known before using dactinomycin?

Dactinomycin is a drug that is not necessarily safe for pregnant and lactating women. Before using dactinomycin, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to dactinomycin, any other medication, or any of the ingredients in dactinomycin injections. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients that make up the drug.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about prescription and non-prescription drugs, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products that you use or plan to use.

Tell your doctor if you have chicken pox or shingles (shingles). Your doctor probably won't give you dactinomycin injections.

Tell your doctor if you have previously received or are currently receiving radiation therapy.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. You should not become pregnant or breastfeeding while you are taking dactinomycin. If you become pregnant while using dactinomycin, call your doctor. Dactinomycin can harm the fetus. Do not get vaccinated without consulting your doctor.

Is dactinomycin safe for pregnant and lactating women?

Dactinomycin is a drug that is not necessarily safe for pregnant and lactating women. There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category D according to the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) in America.

Following are references to pregnancy risk categories according to the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) in America:

• A = No risk,
• B = not at risk in several studies,
• C = May be risky,
• D = There is positive evidence of risk,
• X = Contraindicated,
• N = Unknown

There are not adequate studies in women who pose a risk to the baby when using this medicine during breastfeeding. Weigh the benefits against the risks before using this medicine while breastfeeding.

Dactinomycin overdose

What medicines may interact with dactinomycin?

Dactinomycin is a drug that can interact with other drugs. Although certain drugs should not be used together, in other cases two different drugs can be used together even if interactions are possible. In this case, your doctor may want to change the dose or take other precautions that may be needed. When you are using this medicine it is important that your doctor knows if you are currently taking any of the medicines that are listed below. The following interactions are selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all inclusive.

Using this medication with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this drug or change some of the other medicines you use.

• Rotavirus Vaccine, Live

Using this medication with any of the following medicines is not usually recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or change how often you use one or both drugs.

• Adenovirus Vaccine Type 4, Live
• Adenovirus Vaccine Type 7, Live
• Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin Vaccine, Live
• Cobicistat
• Influenza Virus Vaccine, Live
• Measles Virus Vaccine, Live
• Mumps Virus Vaccine, Live
• Rubella Virus Vaccine, Live
• Vaccine Smallpox
• Typhoid Vaccine
• Varicella Virus Vaccine
• Yellow Fever Vaccine

Can food or alcohol interact with dactinomycin?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions can interact with dactinomycin?

The presence of other health problems in your body may affect the use of this drug. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems, especially:

• bone marrow problems
• Kidney illness
• liver disease
• veno-occlusive liver disease (blocked blood vessels in the liver) - use with caution. It might make things worse.
• smallpox
• shingles (shingles) - should not be used in patients with this condition
• infection - can decrease your body's ability to fight infection
• radiation treatment - if you are taking this medicine for Wilms tumor and you have received radiation treatment in the past two months, tell your doctor right away

Overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Overdose symptoms may include the following:

• nausea
• gag
• diarrhea
• sores in the mouth and throat
• fever, sore throat, chills, or other signs of infection
• the stool is black and like soil
• the stool contains red blood
• nausea
• extreme fatigue
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• lack of energy
• loss of appetite
• pain in the right upper abdomen
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• flu-like symptoms
• decreased urination
• swelling of the face, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower part of the leg
• skin blisters or rash
• itchy rash

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.