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This page was prepared by E. Stankowski RN
http://onlinestudyprograms.com/

Brand Name: Hexalen, Hexamethylmelamine
Generic Name: Altretamine
Drug Class: Antineoplastics

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Altretamine, What is the most important information I should know about altretamine? Drugs.com:"Altretamine should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Serious side effects have been reported with the use of altretamine including: allergic reactions (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); decreased bone marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; fever or chills; or signs of infection such as fever; chills, or sore throat); neurologic problems (mood disorders, altered consciousness, weakness, dizziness, vertigo); and others. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from treatment with altretamine."
Hampstead Trust
ATTN: DRUGS.COM
c/o Network Solutions
P.O. Box 447
Herndon, VA 20172-0447
Phone: (570) 708-8780
E-mail: contact @ drugs.com
http://www.drugs.com/xq/cfm/pageid_0/htm_d01372A1.htm/type_mtm/tgid_19/bn_altretamine/qx/index.htm

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Altretamine, What if I miss a dose? Drugdigest.com:"If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses. If you vomit after taking a dose, call your prescriber or health care professional for advice."
DrugDigest
Expresscripts.com
521 Alton Rd #208,
Miami Beach, FL 33140, US
E-mail: questions@express-scripts.com
http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/Uses/0,3915,21|Altretamine,00.html

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Altretamine, What is this dryg for? Healthdigest.com:"ALTRETAMINE (al-TRET-a-meen) Treats ovarian cancer that has relapsed after chemotherapy."
HealthDigest.org
210 Morgan Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
Phone: (1-800) 782-9200
Email: info@healthdigest.org
http://www.healthdigest.org/ALTRETAMINE-(Oral)-(Capsule)_1704_PRO.php

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Altretamine, How to Use This Medicine, Healthtouch.com:"This medicine, like all drugs used to treat cancer, is very strong. Make sure you understand why you are receiving it, and its risks and benefits. This medicine must be taken on a schedule. Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often to take it. It is best to take this medicine after meals and at bedtime. Do not take more of this medicine than your doctor ordered. During your treatment, you may also receive other medicines to help prevent nausea and vomiting."
Health Touch.com
Cardinal Health, Inc.
7000 Cardinal Place
Dublin, Ohio 43017 US
Phone: (614) 757-5014 or Fax: (614) 757-6014
http://www.healthtouch.com/bin/EContent_HT/dnoteShowLfts.asp?fname=00994&title=ALTRETAMINE+%28Oral%29+%28Capsule%29+&cid=HTDRUG

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Altretamine, Who should not take altretamine? Healthyahoo.com:"Before taking altretamine, tell your doctor if you have:any nervous system (brain and nerves) problems; or bone marrow problems. You may not be able to take altretamine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above. Altretamine is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that altretamine is known to cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not take altretamine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Contraceptive measures are recommended during treatment with altretamine. It is not known whether altretamine passes into breast milk. Do not take altretamine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast feeding a baby."
Health Yahoo.com
Yahoo! Inc.
(DOM-272993)
701 First Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA, 94089 US
http://health.yahoo.com/drug/d01372a1

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Altretamine, Before Using This Medicine, Mayoclinic.com:"In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For altretamine, the following should be considered: Allergies: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to altretamine.

Pregnancy: There is a chance that this medicine may cause birth defects if either the male or female is taking it at the time of conception or if it is taken during pregnancy. In addition, many cancer medicines may cause sterility that could be permanent. Although sterility has not been reported with this medicine, it does occur in animals and the possibility should be kept in mind.Be sure that you have discussed this with your doctor before taking this medicine. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you are taking altretamine. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while taking altretamine.

Breast-feeding: Because altretamine may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is generally not recommended while you are taking it.

Children: There is no specific information comparing use of altretamine in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults: Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of altretamine in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines: Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking altretamine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:
Amphotericin B by injection (e.g., Fungizone) or
Antithyroid agents (medicine for overactive thyroid) or
Azathioprine (e.g., Imuran) or
Chloramphenicol (e.g., Chloromycetin) or
Colchicine or
Flucytosine (e.g., Ancobon) or
Ganciclovir (e.g., Cytovene) or
Interferon (e.g., Intron A, Roferon-A) or
Plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin) or
Zidovudine (e.g., AZT, Retrovir) or
If you have ever been treated with radiation or cancer medicines—Altretamine may increase the effects of these medicines or radiation therapy on the blood. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor activity (isocarboxazid [e.g., Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e.g., Matulane], selegiline [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate])—Taking altretamine while you are taking MAO inhibitors may cause a severe drop in blood pressure."
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
200 1st St. S.W.
Rochester, MN 55905
E-mail: comments@mayoclinic.com
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=F341C5A2-379C-4562-B4AA63E25E6C6EFB

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Altretamine, DOSING, Medicinenet.com:"The dose of altretamine is based on the patient's height and weight. Altretamine may be taken either for 14 or 21 consecutive days as part of one or more 28 day cycles. The total daily dose generally is split into four oral doses, one oral dose after each meal and at bedtime."
MedicineNet, Inc.
903 Calle Amanecer, Suite 300
San Clemente, CA 92673
Phone: (949) 940-6500 or Fax: (949) 940-1094
E-mail: smartservice@medicinenet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/altretamine/article.htm

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Altretamine, Side Effects of This Medicine, Medlineplus.com:"Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Also, because of the way these medicines act on the body, there is a chance that they might cause other unwanted effects that may not occur until months or years after the medicine is used. These delayed effects may include certain types of cancer, such as leukemia. Discuss these possible effects with your doctor. Check with your doctor or nurseimmediately if any of the following side effects occur: Less common or rare: Black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; cough or hoarseness, accompanied by fever or chills; fever or chills; lower back or side pain, accompanied by fever or chills; painful or difficult urination, accompanied by fever or chills; pinpoint red spots on skin; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
More common: Anxiety; clumsiness; confusion; convulsions (seizures); dizziness; mental depression; numbness in arms or legs; weakness.

Rare: Skin rash or itching. Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them: More common: Nausea and vomiting.

Less common: Diarrhea; loss of appetite; stomach cramps. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor."
National Library of Medicine
8600 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20894
Phone: (301) 496-6308 Fax: (301) 496-4450
E-mail: custserv@nlm.nih.gov
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202634.html

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Altretamine, What should I avoid while taking altretamine? Peacehealth.com:"Altretamine can lower the activity of your immune system making you susceptible to infections. Avoid contact with people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses and do not receive vaccines that contain live strains of a virus (e.g., live oral polio vaccine) during treatment with altretamine. In addition, avoid contact with individuals who have recently been vaccinated with a live vaccine. There is a chance that the virus can be passed on to you."
Healthwise, Incorporated
P.O. Box 1989
2601 N. Bogus Basin Road
Boise, Idaho 83701
Phone: (1-800) 706-9646
http://www.peacehealth.org/kbase/multum/d01372a1.htm

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Hexalen, CONTRAINDICATIONS, Rxlist.com:"HEXALEN is contraindicated in patients who have shown hypersensitivity to it. HEXALEN should not be employed in patients with preexisting severe bone marrow depression or severe neurologic toxicity. HEXALEN has been administered safely, however, to patients heavily pretreated with cisplatin and/or alkylating agents, including patients with preexisting cisplatin neuropathies. Careful monitoring of neurologic function in these patients is essential."
RxList - The Internet Drug Index: Searchable drug database.
RxList LLC
16092 San Dieguito Road
Rancho Sante Fe, CA 92067
Phone: (707) 747-0985 or Fax: (708) 575-8638
E-mail: info@rxlist.com
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/altretamine_od.htm#CI

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antineoplastic, Patient Monitoring, www.cancernetowork.com:"Blood: Monitor peripheral blood counts at least monthly, before each course, and as clinically indicated. Neurologic: Perform neurologic examination before each course, with dose adjustment, and regularly during therapy. Carefully monitor neurologic function in patients heavily pretreated with cisplatin and/or alkylating agents, including those with preexisting cisplatin neuropathies."
http://www.cancernetwork.com/home/docs.htm?http://www.cancernetwork.com/drugs/Hexalen.htm&4

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altretamine (hexalen), "before taking this drug...", www.cancersourcern.com:"If you are pregnant, breast feeding or planning children in the future, inform your doctor of this before treatment. This drug may cause birth defects if either the male or female is taking it at the time of conception or during pregnancy. Men and women who are taking this drug need to use some kind of birth control. However, do not use oral contraceptives (“the pill”) without checking with your doctor."
http://www.cancersourcern.com/drugdb/detail.cfm

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altretamine (hexalen), approved uses, www.fda.gov:"altretamine Hexalen US Bioscience Single agent palliative treatment of patients with persistent or recurrent ovarian cancer following first-line therapy with a cisplatin and/or alkylating agent based combination."
http://www.fda.gov/cder/cancer/useframe.htm

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altretamine (hexalen), other medicines, www.mayoclinic.com:"When you are taking altretamine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following: * Amphotericin B by injection (e.g., Fungizone) or * Antithyroid agents (medicine for overactive thyroid) or * Azathioprine (e.g., Imuran) or * Chloramphenicol (e.g., Chloromycetin) or * Colchicine or * Flucytosine (e.g., Ancobon) or * Ganciclovir (e.g., Cytovene) or * Interferon (e.g., Intron A, Roferon-A) or * Plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin) or * Zidovudine (e.g., AZT, Retrovir)"
http://www.mayoclinic.com/findinformation/druginformation/druginvoke.cfm?drugid=DR202634

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Hexalen (altretamine), CONTRAINDICATIONS, www.mgipharma.com:"HEXALEN is contraindicated in patients who have shown hypersensitivity to it. HEXALEN should not be employed in patients with preexisting severe bone marrow depression or severe neurologic toxicity."
http://www.mgipharma.com/

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altretamine (hexalen), IMPORTANT WARNING, www.nlm.nih.gov:"Altretamine can cause a decrease in the number of blood cells in your bone marrow. Altretamine also can cause neurotoxicity. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: tingling of the hands or feet, mental confusion, or loss of coordination. Your doctor will order tests before, during, and after your treatment to see if your blood cells are affected by this drug.
Office of Communications and Public Liaison National Library of Medicine
8600 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20894
Phone: (301) 496-6308 Fax: (301) 496-4450 email: publicinfo@nlm.nih.gov
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a601200.html

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hexalen (altretamine), Proper Use of This Medicine, www.oncology.com:"This medicine often causes nausea and vomiting. However, it is very important that you continue to receive the medicine even if you begin to feel ill. Taking this medicine after meals will lessen stomach upset. Ask your health care professional for other ways to lessen these effects."
http://www.oncology.com/plwc/MainConstructor/1,1744,_41-003823-00_12-001120-00_21-008-00_17-001029,00.html

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altretamine (hexalen), Possible Drug Interactions, www.realage.com:"When you take this medicine with other medicines, it may increase or decrease the effects of the medicines. Or the combination may cause harmful side effects. Some medicines that may interact with this medicine are: * cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet-HB) * MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) * pyridoxine * vaccinations against bacteria or viruses."
http://www.realage.com/Connect/healthadvisor/medication/ma/altretam.htm

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hexalen (altretamine), indications, www.rxlist.com:"HEXALEN (altretamine) is indicated for use as a single agent in the palliative treatment of patients with persistent or recurrent ovarian cancer following first-line therapy with a cisplatin and/or alkylating agent-based combination."
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/altretamine_ids.htm

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altretamine (hexalen), Symptoms And Treatment Of Overdose, www.rxmed.com:"Accidental overdosage with altretamine would be expected to intensify the severity of hematopoietic depression, gastrointestinal and neurological symptomatology. In the event of overdosage, general supportive measures should be instituted to sustain the patient through any period of toxicity that might occur."
http://www.rxmed.com/b.main/b2.pharmaceutical/b2.1.monographs/CPS-%20Monographs/CPS-%20(General%20Monographs-%20H)/HEXALEN.html

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