Idarubicin Side Effects

Brand Names: Idamycin PFS

Please note - some side effects for Idarubicin may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Idarubicin - for the Consumer

Idarubicin

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 Idarubicin:

Cramps; diarrhea; fever; hair loss; headache; hives; nausea; rash; stomach pain; swelling of mucous membranes; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); changes in vision; chest pain; dizziness; fainting; infection (fever, chills, cough, sore throat); irregular heartbeat; numbness of an arm or leg; pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site; seizure; serious heart problems (eg, heart failure, serious irregular heartbeat, heart attack); severe stomach pain; sharp or crushing chest pain; sores on the mouth or lips; sudden leg pain; sudden severe headache; sudden shortness of breath; swelling of the feet, legs, or ankles; unusual bruising or bleeding; weakness.

Idarubicin Side Effects - for the Professional

Idarubicin

Approximately 550 patients with AML have received Idarubicin in combination with cytarabine in controlled clinical trials worldwide. In addition, over 550 patients with acute leukemia have been treated in uncontrolled trials utilizing Idarubicin as a single agent or in combination. The table below lists the adverse experiences reported in U.S. Study 2 and is representative of the experiences in other studies. These adverse experiences constitute all reported or observed experiences, including those not considered to be drug related. Patients undergoing induction therapy for AML are seriously ill due to their disease, are receiving multiple transfusions, and concomitant medications including potentially toxic antibiotics and antifungal agents. The contribution of the study drug to the adverse experience profile is difficult to establish.

The duration of aplasia and incidence of mucositis were greater on the IDR arm than the DNR arm, especially during consolidation in some U.S. controlled trials.

The following information reflects experience based on U.S. controlled clinical trials.

Myelosuppression

Severe myelosuppression is the major toxicity associated with Idarubicin therapy, but this effect of the drug is required in order to eradicate the leukemic clone.

During the period of myelosuppression, patients are at risk of developing infection and bleeding which may be life-threatening or fatal.

Gastrointestinal

Nausea and/or vomiting, mucositis, abdominal pain and diarrhea were reported frequently, but were severe (equivalent to WHO Grade 4) in less than 5% of patients. Severe enterocolitis with perforation has been reported rarely. The risk of perforation may be increased by instrumental intervention. The possibility of perforation should be considered in patients who develop severe abdominal pain and appropriate steps for diagnosis and management should be taken.

Dermatologic

Alopecia was reported frequently and dermatologic reactions including generalized rash, urticaria and a bullous erythrodermatous rash of the palms and soles have occurred. The dermatologic reactions were usually attributed to concomitant antibiotic therapy. Local reactions including hives at the injection site have been reported. Recall of skin reaction due to prior radiotherapy has occurred with Idarubicin administration.

Hepatic and Renal

Changes in hepatic and renal function tests have been observed. These changes were usually transient and occurred in the setting of sepsis and while patients were receiving potentially hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic antibiotics and antifungal agents. Severe changes in renal function (equivalent to WHO Grade 4) occurred in no more than 1% of patients, while severe changes in hepatic function (equivalent to WHO Grade 4) occurred in less than 5% of patients.

Cardiac

Congestive heart failure (frequently attributed to fluid overload), serious arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation, chest pain, myocardial infarction and asymptomatic declines in LVEF have been reported in patients undergoing induction therapy for AML. Myocardial insufficiency and arrhythmias were usually reversible and occurred in the setting of sepsis, anemia and aggressive intravenous fluid administration. The events were reported more frequently in patients over age 60 years and in those with pre-existing cardiac disease.

Side Effects by Body System

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects can be expected after therapeutic doses. Idarubicin is a potent bone marrow suppressant, and can cause significant reductions in all bone marrow cell lines (leukopenia is most common). Persistent, severe myelosuppression may result in superinfection, hemorrhage, and/or death. Hemorrhage and infection have been observed in up to 63% and 95%, respectively, of patients after induction therapy.

For induction therapy for AML, a median WBC nadir of < 500/mm3 (ANC) usually occurs at 10 to 12 days, with recovery at around 15 to 20 days. Idarubicin monotherapy typically induces an absolute neutrophil count of 3000/mm3. Thrombocytopenia is less commonly encountered, with platelet nadirs occurring on days 10 to 15 over a median duration of approximately 25 days. Anemia is rare. Although prolonged myelosuppression is rarely observed, full hematologic recovery is typically observed in all cases.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects including gastrointestinal upset, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and/or diarrhea (all usually mild to moderate) may occur in approximately 80% to 90%, but are severe in less than 5% of patients. Stomatitis or mucositis may occur in 50% to 60% of patients 3 to 7 days after administration. Severe enterocolitis with perforation has been reported rarely.

Idarubicin-induced nausea and vomiting can be seen as early as 15 to 30 minutes after IV dosing, and can be easily controlled with appropriate antiemetic therapy.

Mucositis can be severe, especially in patients receiving multiple leukemia induction courses.

Gastrointestinal perforation should be suspected in patients with severe abdominal pain.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have included reversible alopecia or rash in up to 77% and 46% of patients, respectively. Urticaria, hives and a bullous erythrodermatous rash of the palms and soles have been reported, but were attributed to concomitant antimicrobial therapy in some cases. Radiation recall has also been reported.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects include mental status changes in up to 41% of patients after induction therapy. Headache, peripheral nerve problems, and seizures have been reported in 41%, 7%, and 4% of patients, respectively. However, the underlying status of most patients (seriously ill, receiving multiple transfusions and concomitant medications) makes implication of idarubicin difficult.

Cardiovascular

Patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, exposure to anthracyclines, or radiation therapy that included the heart or the area around it are at higher risk.

Anthracycline-induced heart failure can present months to years after termination of therapy.

Several studies have revealed that the incidence of decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (as measured by radionuclide cineangiography) associated with the use of idarubicin is significantly less compared to other anthracycline analogues.

Cardiovascular side effects including toxicity from anthracyclines is associated with cumulative doses and usually presents as congestive heart failure. Early effects of anthracyclines include pericarditis-myocarditis (which can affect patients with no prior history of cardiac disease and which carries a high mortality rate of about 20%), left ventricular dysfunction (which may lead to clinically significant heart failure in patients with limited cardiac reserve), and arrhythmias, the most common of which is sinus tachycardia. Isolated cases of symptomatic supraventricular tachycardia, heart block, and ventricular arrhythmias have also been associated with the use of anthracyclines. Pericarditis has also been reported. Patients over 60 years of age who were undergoing induction therapy experienced congestive heart failure, serious arrhythmias, chest pain, myocardial infarction, and asymptomatic declines in LVEF more frequently than younger patients.

Local

Intramuscular or subcutaneous administration is NEVER recommended.

In cases of extravasation most experts recommend topical ice packs to the affected area. Topical DMSO has been shown to be useful in cases of extravasation involving other anthracyclines; its usefulness in cases of idarubicin extravasation is unknown.

Local side effects including tissue inflammation, thrombophlebitis, and necrosis following IV site extravasation have been reported.

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects including serum transaminase and bilirubin concentration elevations have been transiently observed in 20% to 40% of patients. Severe changes in hepatic function have been reported in less than 5% of patients.

Renal

Renal side effects including new or worsened renal insufficiency (perhaps associated with hyperuricemia), concomitant potentially nephrotoxic antimicrobial therapy, and/or dehydration has been reported in less than 5% of patients in large clinical trials. The nephrotic syndrome has been associated with the use of other anthracyclines in patients with acute myelogenous leukemias.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity side effects have rarely been associated with the use of anthracyclines. These reactions can present as fever, chills, rash, or general anaphylaxis.

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.