Altretamine can cause a decrease in the number of blood cells in your bone marrow. Altretamine also can cause neurotoxicity. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: tingling of the hands or feet, mental confusion, or loss of coordination. Your doctor will order tests before, during, and after your treatment to see if your blood cells are affected by this drug.
Your doctor has ordered the drug altretamine to help treat your illness. The drug comes in capsules and usually is taken by mouth after meals and at bedtime. Altretamine usually is taken in a repeated cycle for 14-21 days and then stopped for 14-21 days.
ovarian cancer
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Altretamine is an s-triazine derivative. 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.
loss of appetite
nausea and vomiting
weakness
fatigue
unusual bruising or bleeding
dizziness
fever
chills
rapid heartbeat
fainting
mood changes
sore throat
skin rash
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].
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
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.
Take altretamine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Continue to take altretamine even if you feel well. Do not stop taking altretamine without talking to your doctor.
Last Reviewed - 09/01/2010
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.