What is Indication?
The clofarabine injection belongs to a class of medicines known as purine nucleoside antimetabolites. This drug is used for the treatment of patients suffering from refractory or relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia who have received at least two prior therapy. This drug is generally highly effective in children or young adults. This medication works by killing the existing cancerous cell and limiting the growth of new cancer cells.
Dosage:
The medication is available in the injection form of strength 20 mg/20 NL in a single-dose vial that is injected intravenously. Clofarabine is only administered by a specialized doctor or nurse. The drug is given once daily for 5 days repeated after a 2 days gap.
Adverse Reactions:
The clofarabine side effects include loss of appetite, nausea, weight loss, vomiting, flushing, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea, depression, drowsiness, dry, itchy, or irritated skin, swelling of the inside of the mouth and nose, irritability, painful white patches in the mouth, anxiety, headache and pain in the back, joints, arms, or legs.
What are some warnings and precautions with Clofarafine?
- Patients taking this medication are prone to a high level of infection. If any symptoms of infection occur discontinue the use of medication immediately.
- This drug should not be used in case of tumor lysis syndrome occurrence.
- Regular monitoring of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) or Capillary Leak Syndrome must take place.
- A patient suffering from hepatotoxicity should not take this medication
- Closely monitor for renal toxicity and acute renal failure.
- Skin Reactions such as toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) may occur.
Storage: This drug is stored in a refrigerator whose temperature ranges from 2-8°C. It should be protected from excess moisture and light.
NOTE: The information provided in this article is only for informational purposes and is not served as a substitute for the medical treatment, consultation, diagnosis, of a qualified healthcare practitioner.
FAQs
What is the most aggressive type of leukemia?
Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is the most aggressive type of leukemia. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is common leukemia developed in adults.
Is Acute leukemia curable?
Acute leukemia is curable in some cases if detected at an early stage. This leukemia becomes fatal if not treated properly.
What type of cancer is acute lymphoblastic leukemia?
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is cancer in which the bone marrow produces a lot of lymphocytes that are a type of white blood cell. This generally can happen because of previous exposure to radiation and chemotherapy.
How to diagnose acute lymphocytic leukemia?
- Some of the diagnostic methods can be used in order to diagnose ACL, which may include:
- Blood Test: A blood test is done to detect the presence of an immature cell that is commonly found in the bone marrow.
- Bone Marrow Test: During this process, a sample of bone marrow is removed from the breast bone or hip bone to check the presence of leukemia cells.
- Imaging Test: X-rays are done to check the spread of Cancer to the spinal cord or brain.
- Spinal fluid Test: A puncture test is done in Mumbai to collect the spinal fluid and test the presence of leukemia cells.
How long can you live with acute lymphocytic leukemia?
According to a survey, approximately 70% of people suffering from acute lymphocytic leukemia live up to 5 years after diagnosis.
Can you fully recover from leukemia?
We are not completely assured of the possibility of recovery from leukemia as it can return because of chemotherapy or other methods.
Is acute lymphoblastic leukemia inherited?
Leukemia does not usually run in families, so in most cases, it is of course not hereditary. Although, individuals can inherit genetic abnormalities that may be responsible for increasing their risk of developing this form of cancer.
Can acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) spread?
The acute lymphoblastic leukemia disease invades your blood and has the potential to spread to other organs of the body, such as liver, spleen, and lymph nodes.
How fast does acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) progress?
There are different types of leukemia, which are organized into two major groups: chronic and acute. Chronic leukemia usually gets worse gradually, over months to years, while acute leukemia forms rapidly and progresses over days to weeks.
Does acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have stages?
Acute lymphocytic leukemia has no standard staging system. The phases of this disease are described as untreated, in remission, relapsed or refractory.
Why is Clofarabine prescribed?
Clofarabine is prescribed for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL; a type of cancer of the white blood cells) in children and young adults aged 1-21 years old who have previously received two other treatments.
How does clofarabine work?
Clofarabine specifically is an antimetabolite chemotherapy medication. It is involved in order to prevent cells from developing DNA and RNA, which inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
How should this medicine be used?
Clofarabine is available as a solution to be injected into a vein. It is administered by an experienced healthcare professional. This drug is usually administered once daily for 5 days in a row. This dosing cycle of clofarabine may be repeated once every 2-6 weeks, depending on your response to the treatment. It will usually take at least a couple of hours to receive each dose of clofarabine. Report your healthcare team promptly in case you feel anxious or restless while taking this medication.
What should I do in case of overdose?
In case of clofarabine overdose, go to the nearest emergency hospital. If the victim has collapsed, has trouble breathing, had a seizure, or can't be awakened, immediately call your doctor. Symptoms of overdose may include:
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- vomiting
- rash
What special dietary instructions should I follow?
You should drink plenty of fluids every day while on the clofarabine therapy, especially in case you puke or have diarrhea.
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