What is Fludarabine?
Fludarabine can be used to treat B-cell chronic leukemia. Fludarabine can be given when other treatments fail. This medication guide does not list all possible uses of fludarabine.
Side effects of Fludarabine
If you experience symptoms of an allergic response (hives or difficulty breathing, swelling on your face or in your throat) or a severe reaction to the skin (fever or sore neck, burning or itching eyes, skin pain or blistering, or a red or purple rash with blistering or peeling), seek emergency medical attention. Fludarabine can cause severe side effects on your nervous system in rare cases. If you experience numbness, tingling, or burning pain or have vision problems, seek medical attention immediately.
Fludarabine may cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- Agitation;
- Feeling short of breath, chest pain, dry cough,
- Bloody or tarry stool, vomiting blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- Damage to red blood cells: confusion, weakness, pale skin, or yellowed skin;
- Low blood cell count—fever and chills; tiredness; mouth sores or skin sores. Easy bruising. Unusual bleeding. Pale skin. Cold hands and feet. Feeling light-headed.
- Signs of tumor cell breakdown: tiredness, weakness, muscle cramps, lower back pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blood in your urine, fast or slow heart rate, tingling in your hands and feet, or around your mouth.
Fludarabine side effects include:
- Low blood cell count
- Vomiting, nausea, and loss of appetite are all symptoms that can be associated with diarrhea.
- Feeling tired or weak
- Mouth sores;
- Swelling in the hands or feet
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. Contact the FDA by dialing 1-800-FDA-1088 in order to report side effects.
Similar/related drugs
Imbruvica, Venclexta, Prednisone, Methotrexate, Dexamethasone, Triamcinolone, and Decadron
Warnings
Fludarabine can cause severe side effects on your nervous system in rare cases. If you experience tingling or numbness, burning pain, or vision problems, seek medical attention immediately. Fludarabine can also have serious side effects that affect your red blood cell count. If you are feeling weak, confused, or have pale, yellowed, or dark urine, call your doctor immediately.
Before you take this drug
If you have an allergy to fludarabine, it is not recommended that you take the drug.
Tell your doctor about any of the following:
- Kidney disease
- An inadequate immune system or bone marrow problems: these may both pose challenges.
- An infection;
- Skin cancer
- A virus, such as Herpes zoster or Shingles.
Fludarabine can harm an unborn child. Use birth-control methods to avoid pregnancy, and inform your doctor immediately if you fall pregnant. Fludarabine should not be taken with breast milk.
How to take Fludarabine?
Fludarabine can be infused into a vein. This injection will be given by a healthcare provider. Fludarabine can be given as a 28-day cycle of treatment. The medicine may only be needed during the first five days of each treatment cycle. Your doctor will decide for how long you should be treated with fludarabine. The infusion should take no more than 30 minutes. If you get fludarabine in your nose, eyes, or mouth, it can cause serious harm. If you come into contact with the skin, rinse it thoroughly with water and soap. Fludarabine increases your risk of bleeding and infection.Your condition will require frequent medical tests. The results of your tests may delay the cancer treatment. Tell your caregivers that you're being treated with fludarabine if you need a transfusion.
Details on dosage
Adult dose for chronic lymphocytic leukemia:
Every 28 days, 25 mg/m2 intravenously over 30 minutes is given for 5 days. If the tumor response is maximal, three additional cycles may be recommended.
Comments:
The optimal treatment duration has not yet been established.
The dose can be reduced or delayed if there is a hematologic or nonhematologic toxic effect.
If neurotoxicity is observed, doctors should delay or stop the drug.
Use: To treat adult patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic (CLL) whose disease progressed or did not respond to at least one standard regimen containing alkylating agents. The safety and efficacy of this drug have not been proven in patients who were previously untreated or had nonrefractory CLL.
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you are unable to attend your fludarabine appointment, call your doctor.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention. Overdose symptoms include flu-like symptoms such as fever or numbness, tingling or numbness, and loss of vision or consciousness.
What should be avoided?
Avoid being around people who are ill or infected. If you notice any signs of an infection, tell your doctor immediately. Avoid contact with people who have recently received a vaccine that is "live". You could contract the virus. Live vaccines are available for measles (MMR), rubella, mumps (RRU), rotavirus (Typhoid), yellow fever (YF), varicella (Chickenpox), or zoster.
Interaction with other drug
Fludarabine may interact with other drugs, such as prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Inform your doctor of all the medicines you are currently taking and those that you will begin or stop using.
