what are the side effects of cyclophosphamide

What are the negative side effects of chemotherapy?

Side effects of chemotherapy

• Skin and nail changes. Some chemotherapy drugs may cause your skin to peel, darken or become dry and itchy. ...
• Thinking and memory changes. Some people say they have difficulty concentrating, focusing and remembering things after they have had chemotherapy.
• Anaemia. ...
• Infections. ...
• Bleeding problems. ...
• Nerve and muscle effects. ...
• Changes in hearing. ...
• Sex and fertility. ...

What side effects can I expect from chemotherapy?

That said, some common side effects associated with chemotherapy include:

• Hair loss
• Blood problems, like anemia, easy bruising and bleeding, and infections
• Digestion problems, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, low appetite, bladder changes, and mouth sores
• Hormonal problems, like mood changes, libido changes, and fertility problems
• Mental problems, like “chemo brain”
• And fatigue.

How to minimize the side effects of chemotherapy?

• Instead of vigorous exercise, simply try to take one or two walks a day.
• Generally speaking, try keeping up the activities you enjoy, but try shorter, easier versions of them.
• Some forms of chemotherapy are particularly exhausting in the days after treatment. ...

Can chemotherapy have long term side effects?

Most chemotherapy side effects are temporary and disappear once your treatment is over. For some people chemotherapy can cause long term changes in the body months or years after treatment. Many people feel more tired than usual for a long time after chemotherapy treatment.

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What is the most common side effect of cyclophosphamide?

Cyclophosphamide often causes nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. However, it is very important that you continue to use the medicine even if you begin to feel ill. Do not stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor. Ask your doctor for ways to lessen these effects.

Is cyclophosphamide a strong chemo drug?

Cyclophosphamide, also called Cytoxan, is classified as a “cytotoxic agent”, because it has a toxic effect on many types of cells (“good” cells as well as “bad”). Cyclophosphamide is one of a number of medications first developed as a chemotherapy drug (a medication used in the treatment of cancer).

How long does it take for cyclophosphamide to work?

The dose for the injectable form is either calculated based on height, weight and kidney function or it's given as a fixed dose of 1g every 4 weeks, or 500 mg IV every two weeks for six weeks. It may take several weeks for symptoms to improve and the full effect may take several months or longer.

What organ is affected by cyclophosphamide?

Introduction. Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent used in the treatment of several forms of cancer including leukemias, lymphomas and breast cancer. Cyclophosphamide therapy is associated with minor transient serum enzyme elevations and has been linked to rare cases of acute liver injury.

Will I lose my hair on cyclophosphamide?

Some patients lose their hair. Hair loss is often complete scalp hair loss and can involve loss of eyebrows, eyelashes, and pubic hair. You may notice this a few days or weeks after treatment has started. Most often hair loss is temporary; your hair should grow back when treatment is done.

What should you do while taking cyclophosphamide?

While you are using cyclophosphamide, it is important that you drink extra fluids so that you will pass more urine. Also, empty your bladder frequently, including at least once during the night. This will help prevent kidney and bladder problems and keep your kidneys working well.

Does cyclophosphamide make you tired?

This effect can cause anemia, decrease your body's ability to fight an infection, or cause easy bruising/bleeding. Tell your doctor right away if you develop any of the following symptoms: unusual tiredness, pale skin, signs of infection (such as sore throat that doesn't go away, fever, chills), easy bruising/bleeding.

How do you prevent the side effects of cyclophosphamide?

You should not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice when you are taking this drug because it may increase the side effects. Your doctor may tell you not to drink alcohol while having cyclophosphamide as a tablet.

How toxic is cyclophosphamide?

Long-term use of cyclophosphamide is associated with a multitude of significant side effects, such as hair loss, leukopenia, hemorrhagic cystitis, infertility, the development of secondary malignancies, and pulmonary toxicity.

What are the long term effects of cyclophosphamide?

The long-term side effects of cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) are damage to the bladder and the bone marrow. Bladder cancer is a well-known risk and continues to arise at least 10-15 years after the drug was given.

Who should not use cyclophosphamide?

You shouldn't take cyclophosphamide if you're pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Men and women taking cyclophosphamide should use contraception. It's advised that women should continue using contraceptives for a year after treatment ends, and that men should do so for six months.

What should I monitor with cyclophosphamide?

Your doctor will order regular lab tests to check your response to cyclophosphamide and monitor for toxicity. Your blood counts – white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets – will be checked regularly. Your liver enzymes and urine will be checked regularly as well.

What is the strongest type of chemotherapy?

Doxorubicin is considered one of the strongest chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer ever invented. It can kill cancer cells at every point in their life cycle, and it's used to treat a wide variety of cancers, not just breast cancer. Doxorubicin is also known as “The Red Devil” because it is a clear bright red color.

What class of chemo is cyclophosphamide?

Cyclophosphamide is in a class of medications called alkylating agents. When cyclophosphamide is used to treat cancer, it works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in your body.

What cancers are treated with cyclophosphamide?

Cyclophosphamide is used to treat cancer of the ovaries, breast, blood and lymph system, and nerves (mainly in children). Cyclophosphamide is also used for retinoblastoma (a type of eye cancer mainly in children), multiple myeloma (cancer in the bone marrow), and mycosis fungoides (tumors on the skin).

How toxic is cyclophosphamide?

Long-term use of cyclophosphamide is associated with a multitude of significant side effects, such as hair loss, leukopenia, hemorrhagic cystitis, infertility, the development of secondary malignancies, and pulmonary toxicity.

What are the side effects of a syringe injection?

Frequent urination. redness, swelling, or pain at the injection site. sores in the mouth and on the lips. sudden shortness of breath. unusual thirst. yellow eyes or skin. Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention.

Can medicine cause side effects?

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:

How does cyclophosphamide work?

In order to work, cyclophosphamide first is converted by the liver into two chemicals, acrolein and phosphoramide. Acrolein and phosphoramide are the active compounds, and they slow the growth of cancer cells by interfering with the actions of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) within the cancerous cells. Unfortunately, normal cells also are affected, and this results in serious side effects. In addition to slowing the growth of cancerous cells, Cytoxan also suppresses the immune system and is referred to as immunosuppressive.

What is Cytoxan used for?

Unapproved uses of Cytoxan include the treatment of granulomatosis with polyangiitis, severe rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, advanced mycosis fungoides, and several of forms of vasculitis .

What is the relationship between leukopenia and thrombocytopenia?

Leukopenia reduces the ability of the body to fight infection, thrombocytopenia impairs the ability of blood to clot , and anemia reduces the ability of blood to carry oxygen.

What are the side effects of Cytoxan?

Common side effects of Cytoxan include hair loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mouth sores, weight loss, stomach pain, rash, mouth sores, skin pigmentation, nail changes, sterility, and yellowing skin and eyes (jaundice). Use of Cytoxan during pregnancy may cause birth defects. Cytoxan is excreted in breast milk and could cause serious problems in breastfeeding infants.

What is GM CSF?

G-CSF, GM-CSF (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor): Reports suggest an increased risk of pulmonary toxicity in patients treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy that includes cyclophosphamide and G-CSF or GMCSF.

What are the manifestations of cyclophosphamide?

Infections: The following manifestations have been associated with myelosuppression and immunosuppression caused by cyclophosphamide: increased risk for and severity of pneumonias (including fatal outcomes), other bacterial, fungal, viral, protozoal and, parasitic infections; reactivation of latent infections, (including viral hepatitis, tuberculosis ), Pneumocystis jiroveci, herpes zoster, Strongyloides, sepsis and septic shock.

Why is neutropenia important?

The degree of neutropenia is particularly important because it correlates with a reduction in resistance to infections.

What is the Vasculitis Foundation?

The Vasculitis Foundation is the international organization for patients with vasculitis, their families, friends and the health care professionals who care for them. « Prev Post.

What are the long term side effects of Cytoxan?

What are the long-term side effects of cyclophosphamide use? The long-term side effects of cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) are damage to the bladder and the bone marrow. Bladder cancer is a well-known risk and continues to arise at least 10-15 years after the drug was given.

What happens if you damage your bone marrow?

Damage to the bone marrow can result in chronic ally low white blood cell counts (with risk of infection), red blood cell counts (anemia, with fatigue), and platelet counts (risk of bleeding), and patients are also at increased risk of lymphoma and leukemia.

Is a urinalysis screen good?

Periodic urinalysis is considered a good screen, such that a normal urinalysis is very reassuring; however, any blood seen on urinlysis that cannot be confidently attributed to the kidney should be followed by cystoscopy to visualize the bladder and rule out cancer.

What are the side effects of cyclophosphamide?

The main areas of concern regarding the adverse side effects of cyclophosphamide are associated with bladder and gonadal toxicity. Common adverse side effects reported in several studies and clinical trials involving the use of cyclophosphamide include hemorrhagic cystitis, amenorrhea, myelosuppression, alopecia, and spells of nausea and vomiting. [12][13][2]Chronic or recurrent hemorrhagic cystitis is a side effect of particular clinical significance and may arise from the use of cyclophosphamide without adequate hydration or concurrent administration of mesna. The limiting factor in cyclophosphamide dosage in the treatment of neoplasms and immune-inflammatory conditions is urinary tract toxicity.   The severity of hemorrhagic cystitis may vary from light pinkish to exsanguinating hemorrhage. Other urinary tract symptoms include increased urinary frequency and urgency due to urinary clot retention, nocturia, and dysuria. [12][7][3]As previously outlined, acrolein is the principal-agent involved in the precipitation of hemorrhagic cystitis. The metabolite causes heightened vascular fragility and dilatation, irritation of the bladder mucosa, the release of pro-inflammatory mediators like tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-1 beta, and endogenous nitric oxide leading to hemorrhage. Prolonged exposure to acrolein may increase the severity of hemorrhagic cystitis. Due to the dose and time-dependent nature of the severity of this symptom, th recommendation is that the patient intake adequate fluids to force diuresis and reduce exposure of urothelium to acrolein. Continuous bladder irrigation and mesna use are also helpful in the management of drug-induced hemorrhagic cystitis. [5][12][6]

How to minimize cyclophosphamide toxicity?

To minimize the negative effects of cyclophosphamide toxicity, recommendations include monitoring the patient’s hematologic profile and modification of treatment as needed. Patients should maintain adequate hydration, and mesna can be prescribed as prophylaxis against the development of hemorrhagic cystitis. If overdose is suspected, the patient or caregiver must seek emergency medical attention immediately. [20]

How much ml/hr is needed for mesna?

To avoid the side effect of hemorrhagic cystitis, maintain a minimum urinary output of 100 mL/hr during therapy. [9] Mesna is a prophylactic cytoprotective drug administered orally or by IV to reduce the effects of hemorrhagic cystitis in patients treated with high-dose cyclophosphamide or ifosfamide.

What enzymes convert cyclophosphamide to hydroxycyclophosphamide?

The majority of the antineoplastic effects of cyclophosphamide are due to the phosphoramide mustard formed from the metabolism of the drug by liver enzymes like cytochrome P-450. Hepatic enzymes first convert cyclophosphamide to hydroxycyclophosphamide and then subsequently metabolized to aldophosphamide.

What is cyclophosphamide used for?

Cyclophosphamide is a medication primarily used in the management and treatment of neoplasms, including multiple myeloma, sarcoma, and breast cancer. Cyclophosphamide is a nitrogen mustard that exerts its anti-neoplastic effects through alkylation.

How does interprofessional care improve patient care?

In the development of professional health care delivery, the ability of interprofessional health care providers to work as a cohesive unit has been proven to increase the quality of patient care and increase positive prognostic outcomes. This paradigm is achieved through integrated patient-centered care, sharing of values, communication, and a clear definition of interprofessional responsibilities. [21][22]

What should be monitored for cyclophosphamide?

The monitoring of complete blood counts in patients is an essential part of the management of cyclophosphamide toxicity. As cyclophosphamide can cause myelosuppression, it should not be used in patients with lab values of neutrophils of 1500/mm^3 or less and platelets less than 50000/mm^3. CBC values should be monitored in addition to the administration of G-CSF to reduce the effects of neutropenia and infection risk. [4][15][16]Before the induction of cyclophosphamide treatment, any urinary obstructions should be corrected or excluded. Urinalysis is also a recommendation to evaluate for the presence of hematuria, proteinuria, or bacterial infections. Patients also require monitoring for signs and symptoms of cardiotoxicity, pulmonary toxicity, and history of pre-existing cardiac disease. These tests may include tests for cholesterol, lipids, and triglycerides. The gold-standard test is generally considered to be an angiogram taken during cardiac catheterization or non-invasively via computed tomography. [5][12][13][17][14]

What are the side effects of a syringe?

painful or difficult urination. With high doses and/or long-term treatment. Blood in the urine. dizziness, confusion, or agitation. fast heartbeat. joint pain. shortness of breath. swelling of the feet or lower legs. unusual tiredness or weakness.

What are the side effects of cyclophosphamide?

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking cyclophosphamide: More common. Cough or hoarseness. fever or chills. lower back or side pain. missing menstrual periods. painful or difficult urination. With high doses and/or long-term treatment. Blood in the urine.

Does cyclophosphamide go away?

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.

Does Cytoxan cause side effects?

Side effects requiring immediate medical attention. Along with its needed effects, cyclophosphamide (the active ingredient contained in Cytoxan) 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 ...