- What is mitoxantrone, and how does it work (mechanism of action)?
- What are the side effects of mitoxantrone?
- What is the dosage for mitoxantrone?
- Which drugs or supplements interact with mitoxantrone?
- Is mitoxantrone safe to take if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
- What else should I know about mitoxantrone?
What is mitoxantrone, and how does it work (mechanism of action)?
Mitoxantrone is a synthetic (man-made) anticancer drug. It kills cancer cells by disrupting the action of deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) in human cells by causing abnormal cross-links and breaks in the DNA. It also interferes with ribonucleic acid (RNA) and inhibits the activity of topoisomerase II, an enzyme that is necessary for repairing damaged DNA. The FDA approved mitoxantrone in December 1987.
Is mitoxantrone-injection available as a generic drug?
Yes
Do I need a prescription for mitoxantrone?
Yes
What are the side effects of mitoxantrone?
The most common side effects of mitoxantrone are:
- nausea,
- upper respiratory tract infections,
- hair loss (alopecia),
- diarrhea,
- interruption of menstruation,
- constipation,
- inflammation of the mouth (stomatitis).
Other important side effects include
- heart failure,
- suppression of the immune system, and
- liver toxicity.
What is the dosage for mitoxantrone?
Mitoxantrone is given by intravenous infusion. The recommended dose for secondary progressive multiple sclerosis is 12 mg/m2 infusion every 3 months. The lifetime cumulative dose is 140 mg/m2. The dose for nonlymphocytic leukemia is 12 mg/m2/day on days 1-3 with cytarabine 100 mg/m2/day on days 1-7. The dose for hormone-refractory prostate cancer is 12 to 14 mg/m2 every 21 days.
Which drugs or supplements interact with mitoxantrone?
Combining mitoxantrone with other drugs that, like mitoxantrone, suppress the immune system leads to severe immune suppression and an increased risk of infections.
Is mitoxantrone safe to take if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
Mitoxantrone should not be administered to pregnant women due to risk of severe harm to the fetus.
Mitoxantrone is excreted in breast milk and should not be used while breastfeeding.
What else should I know about mitoxantrone?
What preparations of mitoxantrone are available?
Injection: 20/10, 25/12.5, and 30 mg/15 ml
How should I keep mitoxantrone stored?
Mitoxantrone should be stored at room temperature, 15 C to 25 C (59 F to 77 F). It should not be frozen.
SLIDESHOW
Cancer: Symptoms of Common Cancers in Men See SlideshowSummary
Mitoxantrone (Novantrone) is an injection medication prescribed to treat secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, and individuals with pain that is related to advanced hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Side effects, drug interactions, and pregnancy safety information should be reviewed prior to administering this medication.
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Related Disease Conditions
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Cancer
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
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Leukemia
Leukemia is a type of cancer of the blood cells in which the growth and development of the blood cells are abnormal. Strictly speaking, leukemia should refer only to cancer of the white blood cells (the leukocytes) but in practice, it can apply to malignancy of any cellular element in the blood or bone marrow, as in red cell leukemia (erythroleukemia).
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Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple sclerosis or MS is an autoimmune disorder in which brain and spinal cord nerve cells become demyelinated. This damage results in symptoms that may include numbness, weakness, vertigo, paralysis, and involuntary muscle contractions. Different forms of MS can follow variable courses from relatively benign to life-threatening. MS is treated with disease-modifying therapies. Some MS symptoms can be treated with medications.
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Optic Neuritis
Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve, the structure that connects the eye to the brain. The precise cause of optic neuritis is unknown, but it is thought to be a type of autoimmune disorder. Optic neuritis most commonly develops due to an autoimmune disorder that may be triggered by a viral infection.
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Is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Contagious?
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a degenerative disease of the covering around the nerves in the central nervous system (CNS). Researchers and doctors don't know the exact cause, but many theorize that it may be due to environmental triggers, an autoimmune disease, and viruses (infections). Symptoms and signs of MS include vision changes, paralysis, vertigo, heat intolerance, slurred speech, sexual dysfunction, and urinary incontinence (the inability to urinate). There's no vaccine or cure for MS, but the progression and symptoms of the disease can be treated.
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Alternative Treatment (CAM) for MS
The term alternative therapy, in general, is used to describe any medical treatment or intervention that has not been scientifically documented or identified as safe or effective for a specific condition. Alternative therapy encompasses a variety of disciplines that range from diet and exercise to mental conditioning to lifestyle changes.
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Medications & Supplements
Prevention & Wellness
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.