Uses of Azacitidine

Azacitidine is used in adults to treat all sub-types of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS; group of cancers associated with blood and bone marrow) and certain types of blood cancers known as Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

Therapeutic Category

Azacitidine: Anticancer agents

How Azacitidine works

Azacitidine works by blocking the actions of certain enzymes (DNA/RNA methyltransferase) within the malicious cells that is required for the cells to grow and multiply. It also reduces the production of new genetic material (RNA and DNA) within the cells. As a result, it prevents abnormal cell division within the body, slows down the growth of abnormal cells and helps the bone marrow to produce normal blood cells.

Common side effects of Azacitidine

• low RBC count causing anemia, tiredness and pale skin
• increased infections, lung infections (pneumonia), fever and chills
• increased bleeding tendency due to low blood platelet counts
• nausea, vomiting
• diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, stomach pain
• tiredness, weakness
• injection site reactions (such as pain, redness and swelling or lump formation)
• Joint pain, muscle pain, skin rashes with redness and itching
• sore nose and throat, cold sores, sinnusitis
• headache, dizziness
• trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• Nosebleeds, bleeding gums
• weight loss
• urinary tract infections
• ulcers of mouth or tongue
• high or low blood pressure
• anxiety, confusion
• hair loss, dehydration
• oral fungal infection
• sleepiness
• fluid around the lungs or heart

When to consult your doctor

Consult your doctor:

• In case of accidental overdosage
• If you experience signs of liver problems (such as yellowing of skin and whites of the eye, drowsiness, shakiness, bloating and easy bruising)
• If you experience signs of kidney problems (such as low urine output, swollen feet and legs, back pain, rapid heart rate, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, reduced appetite confusion and restlessness)
• If you experience signs of increased infections such as fever
• If you experience lung infections causing fever, chest pain and shortness of breath
• If you experience bleeding within the head or bleeding within the stomach causing bloody stools, bloody urine, or bleeding under the skin causing red pin points dots to appear on the skin
• If you experience signs of allergic reactions (such as skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, or throat which can lead to difficulty in breathing or swallowing, fainting)
• If you experience signs of blood infections (sepsis) such as fever, dizziness, diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting

Health Tips for Azacitidine

• Always take azacitidine exactly as directed by your doctor. Follow the recommended dosage, frequency, and duration of treatment
• Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated while taking this medicine to reduce the risk of side effects
• Azacitidine is not recommended for use in pregnant and breast feeding women