Cerubidine Side Effects

Generic name: daunorubicin

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 14, 2024.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Cerubidine Side Effects associated with daunorubicin. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Cerubidine.

Applies to daunorubicin: intravenous solution.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

While you are being treated with daunorubicin (the active ingredient contained in Cerubidine) and after you stop treatment with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations) without your doctor's approval. Daunorubicin may lower your body's resistance and there is a chance you might get the infection the immunization is meant to prevent. In addition, other persons living in your household should not take oral polio vaccine since there is a chance they could pass the polio virus on to you. Also, avoid persons who have taken oral polio vaccine. Do not get close to them, and do not stay in the same room with them for very long. If you cannot take these precautions, you should consider wearing a protective face mask that covers the nose and mouth.

Daunorubicin can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:

• If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.
• Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising; black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
• Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done.
• Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.
• Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.
• Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.

If daunorubicin accidentally seeps out of the vein into which it is injected, it may damage some tissues and cause scarring. Tell the doctor or nurse right away if you notice redness, pain, or swelling at the place of injection.

Serious side effects of Cerubidine

Along with its needed effects, daunorubicin 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 immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking daunorubicin:

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur while taking daunorubicin:

Other side effects of Cerubidine

Some side effects of daunorubicin 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 health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Daunorubicin causes the urine to turn reddish in color, which may stain clothes. This is not blood. It is perfectly normal and lasts for only 1 or 2 days after each dose is given.

This medicine often causes a temporary and total loss of hair. After treatment with daunorubicin has ended, normal hair growth should return.

After you stop using this medicine, it may still produce some side effects that need attention. During this period of time, Check with your doctor immediately if you notice the following side effects:

• irregular heartbeat
• shortness of breath
• swelling of feet and lower legs

For healthcare professionals

Applies to daunorubicin: intravenous powder for injection, intravenous solution.

Hematologic adverse events

• Very common (10% or more): Bone marrow failure, leukopenia, granulocytopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Very common (10% or more): Cardiomyopathy (e.g., dyspnea, cyanosis, dependent edema, hepatomegaly, ascites, pleural effusion, congestive cardiac failure), hemorrhage
• Common (1% to 10%): Electrocardiogram abnormal (electrocardiogram ST-T change, electrocardiogram QRS complex abnormal, electrocardiogram T wave abnormal)
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Myocardial infarction
• Frequency not reported: Myocardial ischemia (angina pectoris), endomyocardial fibrosis, pericarditis/myocarditis, supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (i.e., sinus tachycardia, ventricular extrasystoles, atrioventricular block), flushing, shock, thrombophlebitis, phlebosclerosis^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Very common (10% or more): Alopecia, erythema, rash
• Frequency not reported: Dermatitis contact, recall phenomenon, pruritus, skin/nail hyperpigmentation, urticaria^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, esophagitis, mucositis/stomatitis (pain or burning sensation, erythema, ulcer, hemorrhage) infection
• Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain
• Frequency not reported: Colitis^[Ref]

Local

• Common (1% to 10%): Infusion site phlebitis
• Frequency not reported: Venous sclerosi (from injection of the drug into a small vessel or from repeated injections into the same vein), infusion site extravasation (e.g., infusion site pain/burning sensation, cellulitis, skin ulcer, necrosis)^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Frequency not reported: Anaphylactic reaction/anaphylactoid reaction^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Very common (10% or more): Blood bilirubin increased, aspartate aminotransferase increased, blood alkaline phosphatase increased^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Frequency not reported: Chromaturia (red color of urine for 1 to 2 days after administration), amenorrhea, azoospermia^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Very common (10% or more): Sepsis/septicemia, infection
• Frequency not reported: Septic shock^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Very common (10% or more): Dehydration, acute hyperuricemia (with possible impairment of renal function especially in the presence of elevated pretreatment white blood cell counts)^[Ref]

Oncologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Acute myeloid leukemia
• Frequency not reported: Myelodysplastic syndrome^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Frequency not reported: Hypoxia^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Pyrexia, pain
• Frequency not reported: Death, hyperpyrexia, chills^[Ref]

See also:

Frequently asked questions

• What drugs are contained in Vyxeos?

Further information

Cerubidine side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer