DACTINomycin
Other Name: Cosmegen®
For treating certain types of cancers such as sarcomas, Wilms tumour, gestational trophablastic disease (GTD), and others
- Tell your doctor if you have/had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have / had chickenpox or herpes zoster, have had radiation, or have any allergies.
- People who have cancer are at a higher risk of developing other cancers. Also, some cancer medications, such as dactinomycin, may increase this risk. You should discuss this with your doctor.
- Dactinomycin may harm the unborn baby. Do not use this drug if you are pregnant.
- If there is ANY chance that you or your partner may become pregnant, you and your partner together must:►Use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time while taking this drug: Keep using birth control until 6 months after the last dose (general recommendation). Discuss with your healthcare team.
- Tell your doctor right away if you or your partner becomes pregnant.
- Do not breastfeed while taking this drug.
- Effects on Fertility: Probable
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This drug is given by injection into a vein.
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This medication can interact with other medications and can result in the treatment not working as well or cause severe side effects.
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Make sure your health care team knows about all your medications (prescription, over-the-counter, herbals and supplements). Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
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For mild aches and pain or fever:
- If you feel unwell, take your temperature before taking any medications for pain or fever. They may hide a fever.
- You may take acetaminophen (Tylenol®) tablets. Ask your health care team about the right dose for you.
- Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA), including low dose aspirin for heart conditions, may increase your chance of bleeding. Talk to your health care team before you start or stop these medications.
- Talk to your health care team or go to the closest emergency room right away if you have a fever. See the Fever pamphlet for more information.
- If you feel unwell, take your temperature before taking any medications for pain or fever. They may hide a fever.
Common side effects usually occur in more than 1 out of every 10 patients. Other side effects are less common, but may be severe. You may not have all of the side effects below. You may have side effects that are not listed.
The following side effects have been seen in people using DACTINomycin with other chemotherapy drugs, so some of these effects may be caused by chemotherapy.
More Common Side Effects | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Diarrhea
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
Inflammation of the surface of the mucous membrane that lines the digestive system (mouth sores, diarrhea, blood in stools, abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing)
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Talk to your health care team as soon as possible |
Tiredness
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
Reactions at the injection site (redness, itchiness, bruising, mild rash or swelling) | Talk to your health care team as soon as possible |
Unusual bleeding or bruising You may have black stools, cough up blood, blood in your urine, purple or red dots on your skin or bleeding that will not stop. Fever, chills, infection You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
If you have a fever, talk to your health care team or go to the closest emergency room. |
Get emergency medical help right away |
Nausea and vomiting
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
Less Common Side Effects, but may be Severe | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Liver problems (weight gain, tender right side of belly, yellow skin or eyes, dark urine) |
Get emergency medical help right away |
Allergic reaction (fever, severe rash, itchiness, swollen face, lip or tongue, chest or throat tightness)
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Get emergency medical help right away |
Lung problems
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Get emergency medical help right away |
Serious skin rash (may include blisters or skin peeling) |
Get emergency medical help right away |
Who do I contact if I have questions or need help?My cancer health care provider is: ______________________________________________ During the day I should contact:________________________________________________ Evenings, weekends and holidays:______________________________________________
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Other Notes:
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June 2021 Updated "What is this medication for" section
For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.