Generic Name: altretamine (all TREH tah mean)
Brand Names: Hexalen
What is altretamine?
Altretamine is a cancer (antineoplastic) medication. Altretamine interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.
Altretamine is used to treat cancer of the ovaries.
Altretamine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about altretamine?
Altretamine should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Serious side effects have been reported with the use of altretamine including: allergic reactions (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); decreased bone marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; fever or chills; or signs of infection such as fever; chills, or sore throat); neurologic problems (mood disorders, altered consciousness, weakness, dizziness, vertigo); and others. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from treatment with altretamine.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking altretamine?
Before taking altretamine, tell your doctor if you have:
any nervous system (brain and nerves) problems; or
bone marrow problems.
You may not be able to take altretamine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Altretamine is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that altretamine is known to cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not take altretamine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Contraceptive measures are recommended during treatment with altretamine. It is not known whether altretamine passes into breast milk. Do not take altretamine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast feeding a baby.
How should I take altretamine?
Take altretamine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, as your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to explain them to you.
Your doctor will determine the correct amount and frequency of treatment with altretamine depending upon the cancer being treated and other factors. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns regarding the treatment schedule.
Altretamine is usually taken four times a day, after meals and at bedtime.
Take each oral dose with a large glass of water.
Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests and other medical evaluations during treatment with altretamine to monitor progress and side effects.
Store altretamine capsules at room temperature away from heat and moisture. Keep this product out of the reach of children.
See also: Altretamine dosage (in more detail)
What happens if I miss a dose?
Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of altretamine.
What happens if I overdose?
If for any reason an overdose of altretamine is suspected, seek emergency medical attention or contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Symptoms of an altretamine overdose tend to be similar to side effects caused by the medication, although often more severe.
What should I avoid while taking altretamine?
Altretamine can lower the activity of your immune system making you susceptible to infections. Avoid contact with people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses and do not receive vaccines that contain live strains of a virus (e.g., live oral polio vaccine) during treatment with altretamine. In addition, avoid contact with individuals who have recently been vaccinated with a live vaccine. There is a chance that the virus can be passed on to you.
Altretamine side effects
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
an allergic reaction (shortness of breath; closing of your throat; difficulty breathing; swelling of your lips, face, or tongue; or hives);
decreased bone marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; or fever, chills, or signs of infection);
pain, tremors, tingling, burning, or prickling in hands or feet;
mood changes;
severe drowsiness or loss of consciousness;
loss of coordination, weakness, dizziness, unsteadiness or falling; or
severe nausea or vomiting.
Other less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Talk to your doctor if you experience:
temporary hair loss;
itching or rash; or
mild to moderate nausea or vomiting.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Altretamine Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Ovarian Cancer:
260 mg/m2/day administered either for 14 or 21 consecutive days in a 28 day cycle. The total daily dose should be given as 4 divided oral doses after meals and at bedtime.
Altretamine should be temporarily discontinued (for 14 days or longer) and subsequently restarted at 200 mg/m2/day for any of the following situations:
Gastrointestinal intolerance unresponsive to symptomatic measures;
White blood count Platelet count Progressive neurotoxicity.
If neurologic symptoms fail to stabilize on the reduced dose schedule, altretamine should be discontinued indefinitely.
What other drugs will affect altretamine?
Before taking altretamine, tell your doctor if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate). You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking one of these medicines.
Before taking altretamine, tell your doctor if you are taking cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB). You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.
Do not receive "live" vaccines during treatment with altretamine. Administration of a live vaccine may be dangerous during treatment with altretamine.
Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with altretamine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products, during treatment with altretamine.
More altretamine resources
- Altretamine Side Effects (in more detail)
- Altretamine Dosage
- Altretamine Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Altretamine Drug Interactions
- Altretamine Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Altretamine - Add your own review/rating
- altretamine Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Altretamine Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)
- Altretamine Monograph (AHFS DI)
- Altretamine MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Hexalen Prescribing Information (FDA)
Compare altretamine with other medications
- Ovarian Cancer
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist has additional information about altretamine written for health professionals that you may read.
See also: altretamine side effects (in more detail)
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