Mechlorethamine injection must be given under the supervision of a doctor who is experienced in giving chemotherapy medications for cancer.
Mechlorethamine is usually administered only into a vein. However, it may leak into surrounding tissue causing severe irritation or damage. Your doctor or nurse will monitor your administration site for this reaction. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: pain, itching, redness, swelling, blisters, or sores in the place where the medication was injected.
Mechlorethamine is used to treat Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease) and certain types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (types of cancer that begin in a type of white blood cells that normally fights infection); mycosis fungoides (a type of cancer of the immune system that first appear as skin rashes); certain types of leukemia (cancer of the white blood cells), including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML); and lung cancer. Mechlorethamine is also used to treat polycythemia vera (a disease in which too many red blood cells are made in the bone marrow). It is also used to treat malignant effusions (a condition when fluid collects in the lungs or around the heart) that are caused by cancerous tumors. Mechlorethamine is in a class of medications called alkylating agents. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in your body.
Mechlorethamine comes as powder to be mixed with liquid to be injected intravenously (into a vein) by a doctor or nurse in a medical facility. It may also be injected intraperitoneally (into the abdominal cavity), intrapleurally (into the chest cavity), or intrapericardially (into the lining of the heart). 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 or condition you have.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.
nausea
vomiting
loss of appetite
diarrhea
unusual tiredness or weakness
dizziness
painful, swollen joints
ringing in ears and difficulty hearing
fever, chills, sore throat, ongoing cough and congestion, or other signs of an infection
unusual bleeding or bruising
bloody or black, tarry stools
bloody vomit
vomited material that looks like coffee grounds
bleeding gums
small, round, red or purple colored spots on the skin
hives
rash
itching
difficulty breathing or swallowing
numbness or tingling in your hands or feet
irregular heartbeat
Mechlorethamine may increase the risk that you will develop other cancers. Talk to your doctor about the risks of receiving mechlorethamine.
Mechlorethamine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].
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.
fever, chills, sore throat, ongoing cough and congestion, or other signs of an infection
unusual bleeding or bruising
bloody or black, tarry stools
bloody vomit
vomited material that looks like coffee grounds
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your body's response to mechlorethamine.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Last Revised - 08/15/2012
AHFS® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2012. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.