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Mechlorethamine

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(me klor eth' a meen)

Brand name(s): Mustargen
Other name(s): Nitrogen mustard

Contents of this page:

IMPORTANT WARNING:

When mechlorethamine is administered into a vein, it may leak into and irritate surrounding tissue. Your doctor or nurse will monitor your administration site for this reaction.

About your treatment

Your doctor has ordered the drug mechlorethamine to help treat your illness. The drug is given by injection into a vein.

This medication is used to treat:

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Mechlorethamine is in a class of drugs known as alkylating agents; it slows or stops the growth of cancer cells in your body. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of cancer you have.

Other uses for this medicine

Mechlorethamine also is used in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, malignant melanoma, breast cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and carcinoma of the GI tract. Mechlorethamine has been applied to the skin to treat mycosis fungoides and psoriasis. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.

Precautions

Before taking mechlorethamine,

Side effects

Side effects from mechlorethamine are common and include:

Tell your doctor if either of these symptoms is severe or lasts for several hours:

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Special instructions

Last Revised - 01/01/2003


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The MedMaster™ Patient Drug Information database provides information copyrighted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland Copyright© 2004. All Rights Reserved.