Dacarzin
Form: Injection
Strength: 200mg/vial
Generic Name: Dacarbazine
Company: Beacon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
MRP:৳ 1000.0 (Injection)
Is Antibiotic: No
Indications
Dacarzin is used to treat metastatic malignant melanoma. Dacarzin is also used as a second-line treatment for Hodgkin’s disease when combined with other effective medications.
Pharmacology
Dacarzin is a non-cell cycle specific cancer treatment. Its exact mechanism of action is not fully understood, but Dacarzin is believed to work in three ways: by acting as a purine analog to block DNA synthesis, by being an alkylating agent, and by interacting with sulfhydryl groups to stop bacterial cell growth.
Dosage & Administration
Malignant Melanoma: The recommended dose is 2 to 4.5 mg/kg/day for 10 days. This treatment can be repeated every 4 weeks. Another option is 250 mg/m2/day given through an IV for 5 days, repeated every 3 weeks.
Hodgkin’s Disease: The recommended dose for Hodgkin’s disease is 150 mg/m2/day for 5 days, in combination with other drugs. Treatment may be repeated every 4 weeks. Alternatively, 375 mg/m2 can be given on day 1 with other drugs, repeated every 15 days.
Interaction
Dacarzin may be metabolized more quickly if taken with enzyme inducers like barbiturates, rifampicin, or phenytoin. Dacarzin may also increase the effects of mercaptopurine, azathioprine, and allopurinol. Dacarzin could reduce the immune response to vaccines and enhance the effects of methoxsalen due to photosensitization.
Contraindications
Dacarzin should not be used in patients who have had an allergic reaction to Dacarzin before.
Side Effects
The most common side effects are loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting, affecting over 90% of patients. These symptoms usually last 1 to 12 hours and may not always improve with medications like phenobarbital or prochlorperazine. In some cases, the nausea and vomiting are severe enough to stop treatment. Diarrhea is also rare. To help manage these symptoms, Dacarzin’s suggested to avoid eating for 4 to 6 hours before treatment. These issues usually go away after 1 or 2 days.
Pregnancy & Lactation
Dacarzin is in pregnancy category C. Studies in rats have shown that Dacarzin can cause birth defects when given at high doses. While Dacarzin has not been shown to affect male rats, female rats exposed to Dacarzin had a higher rate of miscarriages. In rabbits, Dacarzin caused skeletal abnormalities in fetuses. There is no information on its effects during pregnancy in humans, so Dacarzin should only be used if the benefit to the mother outweighs the risk to the fetus. Dacarzin is unknown if this medication is excreted in breast milk, so a decision should be made whether to stop breastfeeding or the medication based on its importance to the mother.
Precautions & Warnings
Hospitalization may not be required, but proper laboratory facilities should be available. If the drug leaks under the skin during injection, Dacarzin may cause tissue damage and pain. Local pain and irritation can be relieved with hot packs. Dacarbazine has been shown to cause cancer in animal studies, such as fibrosarcomas in rats and angiosarcomas in mice.
Overdose Effects
If an overdose occurs, provide supportive treatment and monitor blood cell counts.
Therapeutic Class
Cytotoxic Chemotherapy
Storage Conditions
Store Dacarzin in a refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C.