Arsenic trioxide
Generic name: arsenic trioxide [ AR-sen-ik-trye-OX-ide ]
Brand name: Trisenox
Dosage form: intravenous solution (1 mg/mL; 2 mg/mL)
Drug class:Miscellaneous antineoplastics
What is arsenic trioxide?
Arsenic trioxide is used to treat a cancer of the blood and bone marrow called acute promyelocytic (pro-MYE-loe-SIT-ik) leukemia, or APL.
Arsenic trioxide is sometimes given in combination with another medicine called tretinoin.
Arsenic trioxide may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Warnings
Arsenic trioxide can cause a condition called differentiation syndrome, which affects blood cells and can be fatal if not treated. This condition may occur within 1 days to 2 months after you start taking arsenic trioxide.
Seek medical help right away if you have symptoms of differentiation syndrome: fever, dizziness, cough, trouble breathing, swelling, rapid weight gain, or decreased urination.
Arsenic trioxide can cause a serious heart problem. Your risk may be higher if you also use certain other medicines. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using.
Get emergency medical help if you have fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness.
Before taking this medicine
You should not be treated with arsenic trioxide if you are allergic to it.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
heart problems, or a heart rhythm disorder;
long QT syndrome (in you or a family member);
an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood);
kidney disease; or
Arsenic trioxide can harm an unborn baby if the mother or the father is using this medicine.
If you are a woman, do not use arsenic trioxide if you are pregnant. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 6 months after your last dose.
If you are a man, use effective birth control if your sex partner is able to get pregnant. Keep using birth control for at least 3 months after your last dose.
Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using arsenic trioxide.
It may be harder for you to get a woman pregnant while you are using this medicine. You should still use birth control to prevent pregnancy because the me...
