is used to treat various types of cancer
. Aside from being a cytotoxic medication, it is an immunosuppressive (it suppresses the immune system).
Cyclophosphan is available under the brand name Cytoxan
and is available in pill form or a powder used for intravenous injection. It is prescribed to patients with certain types of cancer such as ovarian, breast
, and leukemia
and is also known to cure nephritic syndrome, an ailment of the kidneys
The initial dose of Cyclophosphan is a minimum 40 mg injected in a stretch of 3 to 5 days divided into several doses. The standard dose for oral use is 1 to 5 mg/kg per day. It is then adjusted based on the tumor's response to the medication and the side effects.
Cyclophosphan is to be taken as prescribed by your physician. While taking Cyclophosphan, patients should drink more water, which will cause them to urinate more frequently. This will help the kidneys remove the medication from their system and lower the possibility of side effects.
Patients should not stop taking Cyclophosphan until the prescribed schedule is complete, even if the patient experiences nausea
This medication usually needs to be taken for a month or two before producing positive results. The effects also depend heavily on the illness being treated.
CYCLOPHOSPHAN SIDE EFFECTS
The most common side effect is nausea. Doctors usually prescribe another medication to reduce this symptom.
Patients may also experience bleeding and inflammation of the bladder wall, or haemorrhagic cystitis
characterized by blood
in the urine. To reduce the chances of this, patients are advised to drink more water, preferably up to 10 glasses a day.
This medication can also affect the blood count of the patient, result in baldness
, irregular menstrual periods, and mouth
ulcers. In case a patient develops these symptoms after taking Cyclophosphan, he or she should immediately inform their physician.
Patients who come into close contact with a person with chicken pox
are advised to stop taking Cyclophosphan and immediately consult their physician. This usually requires a special antiviral treatment since chicken pox can be severe to patients who are undergoing treatment with Cyclophosphan.
Since Cyclophosphan may affect the bladder and the blood, physicians may arrange for a blood and urine examination before allowing the patient to start treatment with Cyclophosphan. Regular examinations are required while the patient takes Cyclophosphan. Patients should not take Cyclophosphan unless they are undergoing regular blood and urine examinations.
Certain medications interact negatively with other medications. Patients should inform their physicians if they are beginning to take new medications while taking Cyclophosphan.
Taking Cyclophosphan may lead to a decrease in fertility. Patients are advised to use this medication with caution.
CYCLOPHOSPHAN DURING PREGNANCY
Pregnant women should not take this medication. Cyclophosphan may be passed on to infants so breastfeeding mothers should not take this medication.
Cyclophosphan has the following structural formula:
Molecular formula of cyclophosphan is C7H15C12N2O2P·H2O
Chemical IUPAC Name is 2-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino] tetrahydro-2H-13,2-oxazaphosphorine 2-oxide monohydrate
Molecular weight is 279.1 g/mol
Cyclophosphan available : 25mg tablets, 50mg tablets