DEXRAZOXANE (Systemic)

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.?

• Zinecard

Category

• Chelating agent

Description

Dexrazoxane (dex-ray-ZOKS-ane) is used to help prevent or lessen a toxiceffect to your heart that is caused by certain medicines that are used totreat cancer.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in thefollowing dosage form(s):

Parenteral
• Injection (U.S.)

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine,the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do.This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For dexrazoxane, the followingshould be considered:

Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to dexrazoxane.

Pregnancy?Dexrazoxane has not been studied in pregnant women.However, studies in animals have shown that dexrazoxane causes birth defects.Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnantor if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding?It is not known whether dexrazoxane passes intothe breast milk. However, dexrazoxane is not recommended during breast-feeding,because it may cause unwanted effects in nursing infants.

Children?Studies on this medicine have been done only in adultpatients, and there is no specific information comparing use of dexrazoxanein children with use in other age groups.

Older adults?Many medicine have not been studies specificallyon older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactlythe same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effectsor problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing theuse of dexrazoxane in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are takingdexrazoxane, it is especially important that your health care professionalknow if you are taking any of the following:

• Amphotericin B by injection (e.g., Fungizone) or
• Antithyroid agents (medicine for overactive thyroid) or
• Azathioprine (e.g., Imuran) or
• Chloramphenicol (e.g., Chloromycetin) or
• Colchicine or
• Flucytosine (e.g., Ancobon) or
• Ganciclovir (e.g., Cytovene) or
• Interferon (e.g., Intron A, Roferon-A) or
• Plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin) or
• Zidovudine (e.g., AZT, Retrovir)?Dexrazoxane may increase theeffects of these medicines on the blood

Proper Use of This Medicine

Dosing?The dose of dexrazoxane will be different for different patients.The dose that is used may depend on a number of things, including your sizeand the dose of the cancer medicine being used with dexrazoxane. If you haveany questions about the proper dose of dexrazoxane, ask your doctor.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine maycause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur,if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctorimmediately if the following side effect occurs:

Less common

Pain at place of injection

Other side effects not listed above may also occur insome patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.