Dacarbazine

Dacarbazine is used to treat skin cancer (malignant melanoma) and Hodgkin's disease.

Dacarbazine may also be used for reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Dacarbazine is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

To help prevent severe nausea or vomiting, do not eat anything for 4 to 6 hours before your injection.

Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when dacarbazine is injected.

Dacarbazine is sometimes given daily for 5 to 10 days in a row every 3 or 4 weeks. For Hodgkin's disease, you may only receive dacarbazine for 1 day every 15 days. Your doctor will determine how long to treat you with dacarbazine.

Dacarbazine can increase your risk of bleeding or infection. You will need frequent medical tests. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results.

Dacarbazine can raise your chances of bleeding or getting an infection. Contact your doctor if you notice unusual bruising or bleeding, or if you have new symptoms of infection (fever, weakness, cough, diarrhea, burning when you urinate).

You should not use dacarbazine if you are allergic to it.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver disease;
• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder; or
• bone marrow suppression.

It is not known if dacarbazine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

You should not breastfeed while using dacarbazine.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Dacarbazine may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor right away if you experience:

• low blood cell counts--fever, chills, tiredness, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath; or
• liver problems--loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), tiredness, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects of dacarbazine may include:

• loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may happen. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Usual Adult Dose for Malignant Melanoma:

2 to 4.5 mg/kg IV once a day for 10 days; repeat every 4 weeks OR250 mg/m2 IV once a day for 5 days; repeat every 3 weeksUse: For metastatic malignant melanoma

Usual Adult Dose for Hodgkin's Disease:

150 mg/m2 IV once a day for 5 days in combination therapy; repeat every 4 weeks OR375 mg/m2 IV on Day 1 in combination therapy; repeat every 15 days Use: For Hodgkin's disease as a second-line therapy when used in combination with other agents

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your Dacarbazine injection.

Since dacarbazine is administered by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to happen.

Stay away from people who are sick or have infections. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any signs of infection.

Do not get a "live" vaccine while using dacarbazine. The vaccine may not be as effective during this time and may not fully protect you from illness. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.

Other drugs may affect dacarbazine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.