cytarabine

Generic Name: cytarabine (sye TAR a been)

Brand names: Cytosar-U, Tarabine PFS, Cytosar

What is cytarabine?

Cytarabine is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.

Cytarabine is used to treat certain types of leukemia (blood cancers). Cytarabine is also used to treat leukemia associated with meningitis.

Cytarabine will not treat an active meningitis infection that has already developed in the body.

Cytarabine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about cytarabine?

Cytarabine can cause serious side effects on your brain or central nervous system that may not be reversible. Cytarabine is usually given together with a steroid medication to help lessen these side effects. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medication. Do not use cytarabine if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby.

Before you receive cytarabine, tell your doctor if you have a seizure disorder or a history of head injury or brain tumor.

Cytarabine can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. Your blood may need to be tested often. Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Avoid activities that may increase your risk of bleeding injury. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection. Do not receive a "live" vaccine while you are being treated with cytarabine. The live vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving cytarabine?

Cytarabine can cause serious side effects on your brain or central nervous system that may not be reversible. Cytarabine is usually given together with a steroid medication to help lessen these side effects. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medication. You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to cytarabine.

To make sure you can safely receive cytarabine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

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  epilepsy or other seizure disorder; or

  
  


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  a history of head injury or brain tumor.

  
  

FDA pregnancy category D. Do not receive cytarabine if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether cytarabine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are receiving cytarabine.

How is cytarabine given?

Cytarabine is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein, under the skin, or into the space around the spinal cord. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting.

Cytarabine is usually given once every 2 to 4 weeks. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when cytarabine is injected.

After receiving an injection in the space around your spinal cord, you will need to lie flat for at least 1 hour. You will be watched closely during this time to make sure you do not have serious side effects.

Cytarabine can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. Your blood may need to be tested often. Visit your doctor regularly.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your cytarabine injection.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include severe forms of some of the side effects listed in this medication guide.

What should I avoid while receiving cytarabine?

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while receiving cytarabine. The vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), oral polio, rotavirus, smallpox, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), H1N1 influenza, and nasal flu vaccine.

Cytarabine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Tell your caregivers at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

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  fever with nausea, vomiting, and headache;

  
  


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  problems with your vision or hearing;

  
  


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  loss of movement in any part of your body;

  
  


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  loss of bowel or bladder control;

  
  


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  fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat;

  
  


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  pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating;

  
  


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  confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior;

  
  


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  trouble standing or walking,

  
  


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  seizure (convulsions);

  
  


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  pain or burning when you urinate;

  
  


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  feeling like you might pass out; or

  
  


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  feeling very thirsty or hot, being unable to urinate, heavy sweating, or hot and dry skin.

  
  

Less serious side effects may include:

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  drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, memory problems;

  
  


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  constipation, diarrhea, mild nausea;

  
  


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  back pain, pain in your arms or legs;

  
  


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  headache; or

  
  


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  trouble sleeping (insomnia).

  
  

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Cytarabine Dosing Information

Usual Adult Dose for Acute Nonlymphocytic Leukemia:

As a part of a combination chemotherapy:
100 mg/m2/day by continuous IV infusion (days 1 to 7) or 100 mg/m2 IV every 12 hours (days 1 to 7) with an anthracycline.

Usual Adult Dose for non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma:

Acute Leukemia Induction:
100 to 200 mg/m2/day or 2 to 6 mg/kg/day as a continuous IV infusion over 24 hours or in divided doses by rapid injection for 5 to 10 days. This course may be repeated approximately every 2 weeks.


For refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and acute myeloid leukemia:
2 to 3 g/m2 IV every twelve hours for up to 12 doses. The IV infusion generally takes place over 1 to 3 hours. The dose of cytarabine should be suspended or modified if the ANC is below 1000/mm3 or the platelet count is below 50,000/mm3.


For chronic granulocytic leukemia / chronic myelogenous leukemia:
20 mg/m2 subcutaneously for 10 days per month for 6 months with interferon alfa.

Usual Adult Dose for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia:

Acute Leukemia Induction:
100 to 200 mg/m2/day or 2 to 6 mg/kg/day as a continuous IV infusion over 24 hours or in divided doses by rapid injection for 5 to 10 days. This course may be repeated approximately every 2 weeks.


For refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and acute myeloid leukemia:
2 to 3 g/m2 IV every twelve hours for up to 12 doses. The IV infusion generally takes place over 1 to 3 hours. The dose of cytarabine should be suspended or modified if the ANC is below 1000/mm3 or the platelet count is below 50,000/mm3.


For chronic granulocytic leukemia / chronic myelogenous leukemia:
20 mg/m2 subcutaneously for 10 days per month for 6 months with interferon alfa.

Usual Adult Dose for Acute Myeloid Leukemia:

Acute Leukemia Induction:
100 to 200 mg/m2/day or 2 to 6 mg/kg/day as a continuous IV infusion over 24 hours or in divided doses by rapid injection for 5 to 10 days. This course may be repeated approximately every 2 weeks.


For refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and acute myeloid leukemia:
2 to 3 g/m2 IV every twelve hours for up to 12 doses. The IV infusion generally takes place over 1 to 3 hours. The dose of cytarabine should be suspended or modified if the ANC is below 1000/mm3 or the platelet count is below 50,000/mm3.


For chronic granulocytic leukemia / chronic myelogenous leukemia:
20 mg/m2 subcutaneously for 10 days per month for 6 months with interferon alfa.

Usual Adult Dose for Leukemia:

Acute Leukemia Induction:
100 to 200 mg/m2/day or 2 to 6 mg/kg/day as a continuous IV infusion over 24 hours or in divided doses by rapid injection for 5 to 10 days. This course may be repeated approximately every 2 weeks.


For refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and acute myeloid leukemia:
2 to 3 g/m2 IV every twelve hours for up to 12 doses. The IV infusion generally takes place over 1 to 3 hours. The dose of cytarabine should be suspended or modified if the ANC is below 1000/mm3 or the platelet count is below 50,000/mm3.


For chronic granulocytic leukemia / chronic myelogenous leukemia:
20 mg/m2 subcutaneously for 10 days per month for 6 months with interferon alfa.

Usual Adult Dose for Meningeal Leukemia:

The manufacturer has stated that doses ranging from 5 mg/m2 to 75 mg/m2 has been used intrathecally and the frequency of administration has varied from once a day for 4 days to once every 4 days. The manufacturer has further stated that 30 mg/m2 every 4 days until cerebrospinal fluid findings were normal, followed by one additional treatment was the therapy most frequently used.

Some clinicians today recommend 10 to 30 mg intrathecally up to 3 times a week.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Acute Nonlymphocytic Leukemia:

As a part of a combination chemotherapy:
100 mg/m2/day by continuous IV infusion (days 1 to 7) or 100 mg/m2 IV every 12 hours (days 1 to 7) with an anthracycline.

Usual Pediatric Dose for non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma:

For refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and acute myeloid leukemia:
1 to 3 g/m2 IV every twelve hours for up to 12 doses The IV infusion generally takes place over 1 to 3 hours. The dose of cytarabine should be suspended or modified if the ANC is below 1000/mm3 or the platelet count is below 50,000/mm3.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Acute Myeloid Leukemia:

For refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and acute myeloid leukemia:
1 to 3 g/m2 IV every twelve hours for up to 12 doses The IV infusion generally takes place over 1 to 3 hours. The dose of cytarabine should be suspended or modified if the ANC is below 1000/mm3 or the platelet count is below 50,000/mm3.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Meningeal Leukemia:

The manufacturer has stated that doses ranging from 5 mg/m2 to 75 mg/m2 has been used intrathecally and the frequency of administration has varied from once a day for 4 days to once every 4 days. The manufacturer has further stated that 30 mg/m2 every 4 days until cerebrospinal fluid findings were normal, followed by one additional treatment was the therapy most frequently used.

However, some clinicians recommend the following age based dosing:
1 to 2 years: 30 mg
2 to 3 years: 50 mg
>3 years: 70 to 75 mg

What other drugs will affect cytarabine?

Tell your doctor if you take digoxin (Lanoxin).

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with cytarabine. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

More cytarabine resources

• Cytarabine Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Cytarabine Drug Interactions
• Cytarabine Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Cytarabine - Add your own review/rating

• cytarabine Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Cytarabine Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Cytarabine Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)


• Cytarabine Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Cytarabine MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Compare cytarabine with other medications

• Acute Myeloid Leukemia
• Acute Nonlymphocytic Leukemia
• Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
• Leukemia
• Meningeal Leukemia
• Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about cytarabine.