Altretamine Advanced Patient Information - Drugs.com

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# Altretamine (Oral)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 17, 2022.

Oral route(Capsule)

Altretamine should only be given under the supervision of a physician experienced in the use of antineoplastic agents. Peripheral blood counts should be monitored at least monthly, prior to the initiation of each course of altretamine, and as clinically indicated. Because of the possibility of altretamine-related neurotoxicity, neurologic examination should be performed regularly during altretamine administration .

## Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

- Hexalen

## Uses for altretamine

Altretamine belongs to the group of medicines called antineoplastics. It is used to treat cancer of the ovaries. It may also be used to treat other kinds of cancer, as determined by your doctor.

Altretamine interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by altretamine, other effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other effects may not be serious but may cause concern. Some effects may not occur for months or years after the medicine is used.

Before you begin treatment with altretamine, you and your doctor should talk about the good altretamine will do as well as the risks of using it.

Altretamine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

## Before using altretamine

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

### Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to altretamine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

### Pediatric

There is no specific information comparing use of altretamine in children with use in other age groups.

### Geriatric

Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of altretamine in the elderly with use in other age groups, altretamine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

### Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

### Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking altretamine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using altretamine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

- Pyridoxine

### Interactions with food/tobacco/alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

### Other medical problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of altretamine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

- Chickenpox (including recent exposure) or
- Herpes zoster (shingles)—Risk of severe disease affecting other parts of the body

- Nervous system problems—May be worsened by altretamine

- Infection—Altretamine may decrease your body's ability to fight infection

- Kidney disease—Effects of altretamine may be increased because of slower removal from the body

- Liver disease—Effects may be changed because altretamine is activated and cleared from the body by the liver

## Related/similar drugs

paclitaxel, cisplatin, Taxol, cyclophosphamide, Avastin, Lynparza

## Proper use of altretamine

Altretamine often causes nausea and vomiting. However, it is very important that you continue to receive the medicine even if you begin to feel ill. Taking altretamine after meals will lessen stomach upset. Ask your health care professional for other ways to lessen these effects.

### Dosing

The dose of altretamine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of altretamine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

### Missed dose

Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

### Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Detailed Altretamine dosage information

## Precautions while using altretamine

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that altretamine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

While you are being treated with altretamine, and after you stop treatment with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations) without your doctor's approval. Altretamine may lower your body's resistance and there is a chance you might get the infection the immunization is meant to prevent. In addition, other persons living in your household should not take oral polio vaccine since there is a chance they could pass the polio virus on to you. Also, avoid persons who have taken oral polio vaccine within the last several months. Do not get close to them and do not stay in the same room with them for very long. If you cannot take these precautions, you should consider wearing a protective face mask that covers the nose and mouth.

Altretamine can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:

- If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.
- Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising; black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
- Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done.
- Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.
- Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.
- Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.

## Altretamine side effects

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

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common or rare

- Black, tarry stools
- blood in urine or stools
- cough or hoarseness, accompanied by fever or chills
- fever or chills
- lower back or side pain, accompanied by fever or chills
- painful or difficult urination, accompanied by fever or chills
- pinpoint red spots on skin
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- unusual tiredness

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

- Anxiety
- clumsiness
- confusion
- convulsions (seizures)
- dizziness
- mental depression
- numbness in arms or legs
- weakness

Rare

- Skin rash or itching

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

- Nausea and vomiting

Less common

- Diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- stomach cramps

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Altretamine side effects (more detail)

## More about altretamine

- Check interactions
- Reviews (1)
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy
- Drug class: miscellaneous antineoplastics

### Patient resources

- Patient Information

#### Other brands

Hexalen

### Professional resources

- Prescribing Information

### Related treatment guides

- Ovarian Cancer

## Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer