Azacitidine

Azacitidine

(ay-za-SYE-ti-deen)

Trade names: Vidaza^®< P>

Other name: 5-Azacitidine

Drug type: Azacitidine is an anti-cancer ("antineoplastic" or "cytotoxic") chemotherapy drug. This medication is classified as an "antimetabolite" and a "demethylation" agent. (For more detail, see "How this drug works" section below.)

What this drug is used for:

Treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML)

Note: If a drug has been approved for one use, physicians may elect to use this same drug for other problems if they believe it may be helpful.

How this drug is given:

As a once-a-day subcutaneous (under the skin) injection.
The amount of azacitidine that you will receive depends on many factors, including your height and weight, your general health or other health problems, and the type of cancer or condition being treated. Your doctor will determine your dose and schedule.

Side effects:
Important things to remember about the side effects of azacitidine:

Most people do not experience all of the side effects listed.
Side effects are often predictable in terms of their onset and duration.
Side effects are almost always reversible and will go away after treatment is complete.
There are many options to help minimize or prevent side effects.
There is no relationship between the presence or severity of side effects and the effectiveness of the medication

The following side effects are common (occurring in greater than 30%) for patients taking azacitidine:

Nausea
Low red blood cell count (Anemia).
Low platelet count. (This can put you at increased risk for bleeding.)
Vomiting
Fever
Low white blood cell count. (This can put you at increased risk for infection.)
Nadir: Meaning low point, nadir is the point in time between chemotherapy cycles in which you experience low blood counts.

Nadir: 10-17 days
Recovery: 28-31 days

Diarrhea
Fatigue
Injection site redness
Constipation
Ecchymosis, petechiae

These side effects are less common side effects (occurring in about 10-29%) of patients receiving azacitidine:

Cough
Shortness of breath
Weakness
Chills
Injection site pain
Joint and muscle pain (arthralgia and myalgia)
Headache
Poor appetite
Sore throat
Back pain
Confusion
Dizziness
Swelling in ankles
Chest pain
Nosebleed
Weight loss
Abdominal pain
Rash
Anxiety
Low potassium (hypokalemia) (see blood test abnormalities)
Upper respiratory infection
Itching
Depression
Insomnia (see sleep problems)

Not all side effects are listed above. Some that are rare (occurring in less than 10% of patients) are not listed here. However, you should always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.

When to contact your doctor or health care provider:

Contact your health care provider immediately, day or night, if you should experience any of the following symptoms:

Fever of 100.5º F (38º C) or higher, chills (possible signs of infection)

The following symptoms require medical attention, but are not an emergency. Contact your health care provider within 24 hours of noticing any of the following:

Nausea (interferes with ability to eat and unrelieved with prescribed medication).
Vomiting (vomiting more than 4-5 times in a 24 hour period).
Diarrhea (4-6 episodes in a 24-hour period).
Unusual bleeding or bruising
Black or tarry stools, or blood in your stools.
Blood in the urine.
Extreme fatigue (unable to carry on self-care activities).
Constipation unrelieved by laxative use.
Swelling of the feet or ankles. Sudden weight gain.
Signs of infection such as redness or swelling, pain on swallowing, coughing up mucous, or painful urination.
Unable to eat or drink for 24 hours or have signs of dehydration: tiredness, thirst, dry mouth, dark and decrease amount of urine, or dizziness.

Always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.

Precautions:

Before starting azacitidine treatment, make sure you tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking (including prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, herbal remedies, etc.). Do not take aspirin, or products containing aspirin unless your doctor specifically permits this.
Do not receive any kind of immunization or vaccination without your doctor's approval while taking azacitidine.
Inform your health care professional if you are pregnant or may be pregnant prior to starting this treatment. Pregnancy category D (azacitidine may be hazardous to the fetus. Women who are pregnant or become pregnant must be advised of the potential hazard to the fetus.)
For both men and women: Do not conceive a child (get pregnant) while taking azacitidine. Barrier methods of contraception, such as condoms, are recommended. Discuss with your doctor when you may safely become pregnant or conceive a child after therapy.
Do not breast feed while taking this medication.

Self-care tips:

Drink at least two to three quarts of fluid every 24 hours, unless you are instructed otherwise.
You may be at risk of infection so try to avoid crowds or people with colds and those not feeling well, and report fever or any other signs of infection immediately to your health care provider.
Wash your hands often.
Use an electric razor and a soft toothbrush to minimize bleeding.
Avoid contact sports or activities that could cause injury.
To reduce nausea, take anti-nausea medications as prescribed by your doctor, and eat small, frequent meals.
Keep your bowels moving. Your health care provider may prescribe a stool softener to help prevent constipation that may be caused by this medicine.
You may experience drowsiness or dizziness; avoid driving or engaging in tasks that require alertness until your response to the drug is known.
Acetaminophen or ibuprophen may help relieve discomfort from fever, headache and/or generalized aches and pains. However, be sure to talk with your doctor before taking it.
Avoid sun exposure. Wear SPF 15 (or higher) sunblock and protective clothing.
In general, drinking alcoholic beverages should be kept to a minimum or avoided completely. You should discuss this with your doctor.
Get plenty of rest.
Maintain good nutrition.
If you experience symptoms or side effects, be sure to discuss them with your health care team. They can prescribe medications and/or offer other suggestions that are effective in managing such problems.

Monitoring and testing:

You will be checked regularly by your health care professional while you are taking azacitidine, to monitor side effects and check your response to therapy. Periodic blood work to monitor your complete blood count (CBC) as well as the function of other organs (such as your kidneys and liver) will also be ordered by your doctor.

How this drug works:

Azacitidine is a member of a new class of drugs known as DNA "demethylating" agents. Methylation of DNA is a major mechanism that regulates gene expression in cells. When there is an increase in DNA methylation this can result in the blockage of the activity of "suppressor genes" that regulate cell division and growth. When suppressor genes are blocked, cell division becomes unregulated, allowing or promoting cancer.

Azacitidine's anticancer effects are believed to be twofold. One way that it works is by demethylation or interfering with the methylation of DNA. By this process of demethylation, normal function to the tumor suppressor genes is restored, thus restoring control over cell growth.

Azacitidine also belongs to the category of chemotherapy called antimetabolites. Antimetabolites are very similar to normal substances within the cell. When the cells incorporate these substances into the cellular metabolism, they interact with a number of targets within the cell to produce a direct cytotoxic effect that causes death of rapidly dividing cancer cells.

Note: We strongly encourage you to talk with your health care professional about your specific medical condition and treatments. The information contained in this website is meant to be helpful and educational, but is not a substitute for medical advice.