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|Procarbazine

Procarbazine

Procarbazine is used for:

Treating stage III and IV Hodgkin disease along with other medicines.

Procarbazine is an antineoplastic. It works by inhibiting protein, RNA, and DNA synthesis, which helps to stop the growth of cancer cells.

Do NOT use Procarbazine if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Procarbazine
• you have decreased bone marrow function, low white cell counts, low platelets, or anemia
• you have shingles, chickenpox, or severe liver problems
• you are taking a sympathomimetic (eg, ephedrine) or a tricyclic antidepressant (eg, amitriptyline)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Procarbazine :

Some medical conditions may interact with Procarbazine . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you smoke, or you have congestive heart failure, adrenal gland tumors (eg, pheochromocytoma), bone marrow depression, heart disease, frequent or severe headaches, mood or mental problems, kidney problems, or liver problems
• if you have a history of blood problems including low white cell counts, low platelets, or anemia
• if you have an infection, or you are undergoing other chemotherapy or radiation therapy

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Procarbazine . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Antihistamines (eg, diphenhydramine), barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), medicines for high blood pressure, narcotic pain medicines (eg, codeine), or phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine) because the side effects of Procarbazine may be increased
• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) because the risk of bleeding may be increased
• Sympathomimetics (eg, ephedrine) or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because the risk of severe high blood pressure may be increased
• Digoxin because effectiveness may be decreased by Procarbazine

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Procarbazine may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Procarbazine :

Use Procarbazine as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Procarbazine may be taken with or without food.
• If you miss a dose of Procarbazine and you remember it within a few hours, take the missed dose. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Procarbazine .

Important safety information:

• Procarbazine may cause drowsiness or dizziness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Procarbazine . Using Procarbazine alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Procarbazine may cause increased sensitivity to the sun. Avoid exposure to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to Procarbazine . Use a sunscreen or protective clothing if you must be outside for a prolonged period. Continue to follow all of these cautions for at least 4 weeks after taking the last dose.
• Do not drink alcohol while you are using Procarbazine .
• Do not smoke while using Procarbazine . Smoking while using Procarbazine increases the risk of developing lung cancer.
• Procarbazine may cause serious increases in blood pressure if certain foods are eaten. Avoid eating foods such as aged cheeses, sour cream, red wines, beer, bologna, pepperoni, salami, summer sausage, pickled herring, liver, meat prepared with tenderizers, canned figs, raisins, bananas, avocados, soy sauce, fava beans, or yeast extracts. Obtain a complete list of foods and beverages from your doctor or pharmacist.
• Procarbazine may lower your body"s ability to fight infection. Prevent infection by avoiding contact with people with colds or other infections. Notify your doctor of any signs of infection, including fever, sore throat, rash, or chills.
• Procarbazine may reduce the number of clot-forming cells (platelets) in your blood. To prevent bleeding, avoid situations in which bruising or injury may occur. Report any unusual bleeding, bruising, blood in stools, or dark, tarry stools to your doctor.
• Check with your doctor before having vaccinations while you are taking Procarbazine .
• If nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite occurs, ask your doctor or pharmacist for ways to lessen these effects.
• LAB TESTS, including blood counts, liver function tests, and kidney function tests, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Caution is advised when using Procarbazine in CHILDREN because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially tremors, seizures, and coma.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Procarbazine may cause harm to the fetus. Avoid becoming pregnant while taking Procarbazine . If you think you may be pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Procarbazine during pregnancy. It is unknown if Procarbazine is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Procarbazine .

Possible side effects of Procarbazine :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; headache; loss of appetite; nausea; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blood in the urine or vomit; breast enlargement or tenderness; confusion; cough; dark, tarry stools; dark urine; depression; diarrhea; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever or chills; hallucinations; hearing loss; mood, mental, or behavioral changes; muscle or bone pain; seizures; severe or persistent vomiting; shortness of breath; sore throat; sores on the mouth or lips; stomach pain; tingling or numbness of the fingers or toes; tremors; trouble swallowing; unusual bruising or bleeding; vision changes or sensitivity to light; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include coma; persistent or severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; seizures; severe dizziness or fainting; tremors.

Store Procarbazine at room temperature, away from heat and light. Keep Procarbazine out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Procarbazine , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Procarbazine is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Procarbazine . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.