Cytoxan is an anti-cancer drug used alone or in combination with other cancer medicines to treat cancers like cancer of bone marrow and blood, cancer of white blood cells, cancer of lymphocytes, cancer of certain types of nerve tissues, breast cancer, cancer of retina in the eye, and other types of cancers. It acts by killing the cancer cells (known as chemotherapy). Take the medication exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Your doctor will determine what dose of Cytoxan is right for you and how often you should receive it. Cytoxan tablet is to be taken by mouth. Cytoxan injection is to be given into the vein. It is important to drink extra fluids to help prevent kidney and bladder problems.
Manufacturer Information
Cytoxan is manufactured by Baxter Healthcare and comes from Canada. The active ingredient in Cytoxan is Cyclophosphamide. Cytoxan is available as tablets in the dosage form of 50 mg. It is also available as 1000 mg sterile powder for injection in single vial.
Stop taking Cytoxan and call your doctor at once if you have one of these serious side effects:
• Anemia
• Blood in urine
• Central nervous system problems
• Heart problems
• Kidney and liver problems
• Loss of appetite
• Low blood pressure
• Low platelet count
• Mouth inflammation
• Numbness of hands and feet
• Skin inflammation
• Urinary problems
• Vein inflammation
Less serious side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, blood problems, loss of hair, and problems with the bladder. Also, because of the way the drug acts on the body, there is a chance that it might cause other unwanted effects that may not occur until months or years later. These may include certain types of cancer, such as leukemia. Please call your doctor if you have any further concerns or questions.
Do not use Cytoxan if you have allergy to Cyclophosphamide or any other ingredients in the medication, obstruction to urine flow manifested as difficulty with urination, severe suppression of bone marrow function, severe kidney problems, severe liver problems, active infection/suppressed immune system. Cytoxan may interact with other medicines. Cytoxan may interact with antibiotics, anticoagulants such as warfarin, antidepressants (e.g. St. John’s wort, bupropion), anti-fungal agents (fluconazole), cimetidine, corticosteroids, medications to aid in the management of selected chronic alcohol patients (disulfiram), medications to treat rheumatoid arthritis (etanercept), lovastatin (for high cholesterol), allopurinol, medications to treat seizures (e.g. phenytoin), medications to treat high blood pressure such as ACE inhibitors and thiazide diuretics (e.g. hydrochlorothiazide), medications to treat heart problems and abnormal heart rhythm (e.g. amiodarone, digoxin), medications to treat cancers (tamoxifen), medications that modulate immune system (e.g. cyclosporine), sedatives (benzodiazepines), medications to treat diabetes (sulfonylureas), medications to treat HIV (zidovudine), vaccines, especially live-vaccines. Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking Cytoxan. Patients with low white blood cell and platelet count should not take this medicine.