Cytarabine liposome (Intrathecal)
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 26, 2022.
Chemical arachnoiditis, a syndrome manifested primarily by nausea, vomiting, headache, and fever, was a common adverse event in all clinical studies. Chemical arachnoiditis may be fatal if left untreated. Patients receiving cytarabine liposome should receive dexamethasone concurrently to mitigate the symptoms of chemical arachnoiditis .
Commonly used brand name(s)
In the U.S.
- Depocyt
Pharmacologic Class: Antimetabolite
Uses for cytarabine liposome
Liposomal cytarabine belongs to the group of medicines known as antineoplastics. It is used to treat cancer of the lymph system that has spread to the brain.
Liposomal cytarabine interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal cells may also be affected by the medicine, other effects may also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Some effects may occur after treatment with liposomal cytarabine has been stopped.
Before you begin treatment with liposomal cytarabine, you and your doctor should talk about the good cytarabine liposome will do as well as the risks of using it.
Liposomal cytarabine is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor.
Before using cytarabine liposome
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For cytarabine liposome, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to cytarabine liposome or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Studies on cytarabine liposome have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of liposomal cytarabine in children with use in other age groups.
Geriatric
Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of liposomal cytarabine in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Breastfeeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Interactions with medicines
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking cytarabine liposome, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive...
