Dacarbazine Side Effects

Please note - some side effects for Dacarbazine may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

Side Effects of Dacarbazine - for the Consumer

Dacarbazine

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Dacarbazine:

Facial flushing, numbness, or tingling; loss of appetite; metallic taste in mouth; muscle pain or weakness; nausea; temporary hair loss; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); dark urine; fever, chills, or sore throat; joint pain; pain, redness, or swelling at injection site; severe nausea and vomiting; stomach pain; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness or weakness; yellowing of skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

Dacarbazine Side Effects - for the Professional

Dacarbazine

Symptoms of anorexia, nausea and vomiting are the most frequently noted of all toxic reactions. Over 90% of patients are affected with the initial few doses. The vomiting lasts 1 − 12 hours and is incompletely and unpredictably palliated with phenobarbital and/or prochlorperazine. Rarely, intractable nausea and vomiting have necessitated discontinuance of therapy with Dacarbazine for Injection. Rarely, Dacarbazine for Injection has caused diarrhea. Some helpful suggestions include restricting the patient’s oral intake of food for 4 − 6 hours prior to treatment. The rapid toleration of these symptoms suggests that a central nervous system mechanism may be involved, and usually these symptoms subside after the first 1 or 2 days.

There are a number of minor toxicities that are infrequently noted. Patients have experienced an influenza-like syndrome of fever to 39°C, myalgias and malaise. These symptoms occur usually after large single doses, may last for several days, and they may occur with successive treatments.

Alopecia has been noted as has facial flushing and facial paresthesia. There have been few reports of significant liver or renal function test abnormalities in man. However, these abnormalities have been observed more frequently in animal studies.

Erythematous and urticarial rashes have been observed infrequently after administration of Dacarbazine for Injection. Rarely, photosensitivity reactions may occur.

Side Effects by Body System - for Healthcare Professionals

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects including hematopoietic depression (involving primarily the leukocytes and platelets) are the most commonly reported toxicity. Severe cases of leukopenia and thrombocytopenia resulting in fatality have been reported. Anemia has also been reported.

Hematologic side effects may be delayed for 2 to 4 weeks after dosage administration.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects including anorexia, nausea, and vomiting have been reported frequently. Diarrhea has rarely been reported.

Anorexia, nausea, and vomiting may begin within 1 to 12 hours of dosage administration. Over 90% of patients are affected within the first few doses. Intractable nausea and vomiting have rarely necessitated discontinuation of therapy. Vomiting has been reported to last for 1 to 2 hours and be incompletely and unpredictably palliated with phenobarbital and/or prochlorperazine. Some clinicians have recommended the use of serotonin receptor antagonist to control the nausea and vomiting. The rapid toleration of nausea and vomiting may suggest a central nervous system mechanism. Usually these symptoms subside after the first day or two. In a trial of high-dose dacarbazine, of 28 dosages equal to or greater than 1,380 mg/m2, all caused nausea and vomiting. At 1,380 mg/m2, 12 of 14 patients experienced diarrhea. Of 13 dosages greater than 1,380 mg/m2, all caused diarrhea.

Hepatic

The manufacturer states that hepatic toxicity has occurred primarily when dacarbazine has been administered concomitantly with other antineoplastic agents.

In one study, fatal massive hepatic necrosis with widespread thrombotic occlusion of the small hepatic veins developed in two of 68 patients (3%). The study notes 13 similar reactions in patients receiving dacarbazine as single agent therapy to have been reported in the literature. Hepatic toxicity may be delayed.

Hepatic side effects including hepatic vein thrombosis and fatal hepatocellular necrosis have been reported (0.01%).

Cardiovascular

Because the hypotension was reversible by either stopping the infusion or administration of calcium chloride, it has been suggested that the citric acid preservative may have been the cause of the hypotension.

Cardiovascular side effects including dose-limiting hypotension have been reported during high dose therapy.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity side effects including anaphylaxis have been reported.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects including erythematous and urticarial rashes, facial flushing, phototoxic dermatitis, facial paresthesia, alopecia, facial flushing, and photosensitivity have been reported.

Ten cases of photosensitivity have been reported.

Other

The influenza-like syndrome usually occurs after large single doses, and may occur with successive treatments. Onset may occur after approximately 7 days and symptoms generally resolve after 1 to 3 weeks.

Other side effects including an influenza-like syndrome (fever to 39 degrees Celsius, myalgias, and malaise) have been reported. Metallic taste has also been reported.

Local

Local side effects including extravasation of the drug subcutaneously during intravenous administration have been reported to have resulted in local pain (occasionally severe), burning sensation, irritation and tissue damage.

Oncologic

Oncologic side effects have been reported in animal studies.

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive and should not be utilized as a reference resource beyond the date hereof. This information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients, or recommend therapy. This drug information is a reference resource designed as supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill , knowledge, and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug of drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Drugs.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.