DTIC-Dome

Brand name:

DTIC-Dome

Dacarbazine belongs to a class of medications called alkylating agents.

It is used as an antineoplastic medication that is indicated for the treatment of

• Hodgkin's lymphoma,
• malignant melanoma,
• other cancers as determined by your physician.

Dacarbazine destroys cancer cells by adding an alkyl group. However, this medication also affects the normal cells of our body, which could lead to hair loss and other side effects.

Post-marketing experience has demonstrated the efficacy of dacarbazine in the treatment of islet cell carcinoma of the pancreas and soft tissue sarcomas.

This medication should be administered by a physician or at least under the supervision of one.

It is sold as a powder for either suspension or solution.

Dacarbazine can have serious effects on your body. That’s why you and your doctor need to discuss the risks and benefits carefully before deciding to use it in treatment.

You and your healthcare team need to determine if dacarbazine fits your situation. You do this by considering a number of factors.

Dacarbazine should not be given to patients who have had allergic reactions to it.

Tell your physician if you have had these types of reactions to dacarbazine or any of its components.

You should inform him/her if you have allergies to food, preservatives, animals, and/or other medications.

Dacarbazine’s effects have only been studied in adults and not in children. It also is not clear whether dacarbazine has the same effects in geriatric patient as it does in younger adults.

This medication has a pregnancy category of C, which means that not enough research has been done regarding its effects on pregnant women. Therefore, it should only be used if the benefits outweigh the risks. It hasn’t been determined whether dacarbazine can be passed through breast milk.

If you are a lactating woman, you and your doctor need to decide between stopping breast feeding and not using this medication.

Dacarbazine can also interact with other medicines, so you should give your physician a complete list of your current medications.

You should not receive live rotavirus vaccine while on dacarbazine treatment. Other vaccines that you should not get while taking this medication are as follows:

• live adenovirus vaccine type 4,
• adenovirus vaccine type 7,
• Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin vaccineInfluenza Virus Vaccine,
• mumps virus vaccine,
• measles virus vaccine,
• poliovirus vaccine,
• rubella virus vaccine,
• smallpox vaccine,
• typhoid vaccine,
• varicella virus vaccine,
• yellow fever vaccine.

Concomitant use of aldesleukin can make you prone to developing certain side effects.

Inform your doctor if you have the following medical conditions:

• chickenpox,
• herpes zoster,
• any kind of infection,
•  liver/kidney disease.

Dacarbazine can make these conditions worse.

This medication can also be given with other medications to increase the efficacy of treatment.

If you are receiving other anti-cancer medications, make sure you get them at the prescribed time.

Talk to your healthcare provider, so you can plot out your schedule.

Dacarbazine can cause a variety of uncomfortable effects including

• hair loss,
• loss of appetite,
• nausea,
• vomiting.

You may also experience a burning or painful sensation when the injection is given. However, you should continue with therapy despite these effects. These usually go away after a few days.

Your healthcare provider can also teach you ways to decrease or manage these. The dosage and timing will depend on the condition being treated.

For malignant melanomas, the usual dose is 2 to 4.5 mg/kg daily for 10 days. Your doctor may repeat the treatment at an interval of 4 weeks.

For Hodgkin’s Disease, the dosage depends on your body surface. It’s usually 150 mg/square meter of body surface, daily for 5 days.

This can be repeated every 4 weeks as determined by your doctor.

You may not be hospitalized when getting your treatment but you need to make sure that you regularly check in with your doctor.

You also need to get all the necessary laboratory exams. This is to make sure that your condition is stable and that the medication is working.

As mentioned earlier, you should not get any vaccinations while getting therapy unless approved by your physician. You also need to avoid individuals who have recently received vaccinations.

Dacarbazine can lower your white blood cells and platelets. A decrease in white blood cells can compromise your immune system and make you prone to infection.

Exercise proper hygiene and avoid infected individuals. You can also use a protective face mask.

Consult your physician immediately if you have signs of infection like

• fever,
• chills,
• back and side pain,
• painful urination
• coughing.

You can be prone to excessive bleeding if your platelets are low. That’s why you need to be very careful when around sharp objects. You should also avoid activities that cause traumas or bruises. Brush your teeth and floss gently.

Tell your physician if you have any

• unusual bruises,
• bleeding,
• tarry stools,
• pinpoint spots on your skin.

Dacarbazine can also leak out of your vein and into your soft tissues.

Call your nurse or doctor if you notice pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site.

Dacarbazine has numerous associated side effects but you may not experience all of them.

The most commonly reported side effects include

• pain, redness, or swelling at injection site.

Again, call your healthcare provider if you experience any of those.

Less common effects that need immediate attention include

• Black/tarry stools,
• cough accompanied by fever or chills,
• blood in urine or stools,
• back/side pain,
• painful urination,
• pinpoint red spots,
• unusual bleeding or bruising.

Check with your doctor right away if you have mouth or lip sores.

If you experience other side effects, call your healthcare provider right away.