Description
- Monitor your blood counts with the help of regular blood tests while on treatment with cyclophosphamide.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you experience difficulty in urinating, blood in urine or any other bladder/ kidney related problems while on treatment with cyclophosphamide.
- Do not start treatment with cyclophosphamide if you are planning to receive any vaccine or if you have a surgery scheduled or you have had a surgical removal of the adrenal glands.
- Take precautions as treatment with cyclophosphamide severely affects your immune system, increasing susceptibility to infections (e.g. pneumonia).
- Caution must be exercised during use of cyclophosphamide in very ill patients, patients with kidney/liver disorders, lung problems and heart problems (related to QT prolongation and abnormal heartbeats).
Details
Uses
Cyclophosphamide is used alone or in combination with other medications for the treatment of various cancers including – cancers related to the immune system (lymphomas), cancers of the white blood cells (leukemia), cancer of the bone and bone marrow (myeloma, osteogenic sarcoma), breast cancer, lung cancer, cancer of the eye (retinoblastoma) and cancers of brain cell in children (eg. Neuroblastoma). It may also be used to treat disease caused due to kidney damage (nephrotic syndrome) in children. It is also used to treat certain autoimmune disorders (serious disorders of the immune system affecting various parts of the body).
How it works
Cyclophosphamide is an anti-cancer drug that belongs to the class of medicines called alkylating agents. It works by interfering with normal DNA synthesis thereby slowing down or stopping growth and multiplication of cancer cells. It also suppresses the activity of the body’s immune system (immunosuppressant) thereby offering treatment for disorders involving the immune system (e.g. nephrotic syndrome, autoimmune disorders).
Common side effects
inflammation of the urinary bladder, increased risk of infections, impaired formation of sperms that affects fertility, suppressed activity of immune system, feeling of discomfort, abnormal liver function, low white blood cell count, chills, Compromised functioning of bone marrow, low hemoglobin or red blood cells, blood in urine, unusual tiredness, fever, hair loss, severe kidney damage progressing to kidney failure, headache, low platelet count, inflammation of the moist tissue that lines several parts of the body ., weakness
Expert advice
Frequently asked questions
Cyclophosphamide
Q. Is cyclophophamide safe in pregnancy?
Cyclophophamide may harm the baby. The drug should only be given if there is no other alternative drug. Please follow your doctor's advice regarding its use.
Q. Is it safe to use cyclophophamide during breastfeeding?
Cyclophosphamide is not safe for the baby and should not be used by women who are breastfeeding.
Q. Is cyclophosphamide chemotherapy? Is cyclophosphamide a cytotoxic drug?
Yes. Cyclophosphamide is chemotherapy and a cytotoxic drug used in the treatment of various cancers. It is toxic to cancer cells and interferes with the cell’s DNA synthesis, thus slowing down or stopping its growth and multiplication (cytotoxic
