Dacogen
Generic name:decitabine [ de-SIT-a-been ]
Drug class:Antimetabolites
What is Dacogen?
Dacogen is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.
Dacogen injection is used to treat myelodysplastic syndromes (certain types of blood or bone marrow cancer).
Dacogen may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Warnings
Dacogen affects your immune system. You may get infections more easily. Call your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding, or new signs of infection (fever, chills, cough, sore throat, trouble breathing).
Before receiving a Dacogen injection, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease.
Do not use Dacogen if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. If a man fathers a child while using decitabine, the baby may have birth defects. Use a condom to prevent pregnancy during your treatment. Continue using condoms for at least 2 months after you stop receiving this medicine. You should not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.
Before taking this medicine
To make sure Dacogen is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
kidney disease; or
You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment.
Decitabine can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects if the mother or the father is using this medicine.
If you are a woman, do not use Dacogen 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 Dacogen.
Decitabine may affect fertility (ability to have children) in men. However, it is important to use birth control to prevent pregnancy because decitabine can harm an unborn baby.
You should not breastfeed while using Dacogen and for at least 2 weeks after your last dose.
How is Dacogen given?
Dacogen is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.
In most cases, a Dacogen injection is given every 8 hours for 3 days. This 3-day treatment is usually repeated every 6 weeks at least 4 times.
You may be given other medications to prevent nausea or vomiting while you are receiving Dacog...
