• Cancer of breast, ovary, prostate, stomach, thyroid, small cell cancer of lung, liver, squamous cell cancer of head and neck, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin’s disease, lymphomas, ALL, AML:
    • IV 60-75mg/m² every 3 weeks OR
    • IV 60mg/m² every 2 weeks OR
    • IV 40-60mg/m² every 3-4weeks OR
    • IV 20mg/m²/dose every week

Injection (per vial):

  • 10mg
  • 50mg
  • Consider lower dose or longer interval between cycles in heavily pretreated, elderly or obese patients
  • Administer over 3-5 min
  • Monitor for local erythematous streaking along vein and/or facial flushing which may indicate too rapid administration

Anthracycline anticancer

It binds and intercalates into DNA, inhibiting nucleic acid and protein synthesis. It triggers DNA cleavage by topoisomerase II

  • Alopecia
  • Nausea & vomiting
  • Anorexia
  • Diarrhea
  • Mucositis
  • Stomatitis
  • Esophagitis
  • Abdominal pain
  • Increased ALT/AST
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Keratitis
  • Lacrimation
  • Hot flashes
  • Thrombophlebitis
  • Onycholysis
  • Nail-bed hyperpigmentation
  • Rash
  • Pruritus
  • Photosensitivity
  • Asthenia
  • Fever
  • Rigors
  • Leukopenia
  • Infection
  • Sepsis
  • Urine discoloration
  • CHF
  • Hyperuricemia
  • Venous streaking
  • Hypersensitivity to class/components
  • Active infection
  • Severe hepatic impairment
  • Baseline neutrophil count <1500/mm³
  • Recent MI or severe myocardial insufficiency
  • Prior treatment max dose of doxorubicin, daunorubicin, idarubicin or other anthracyclines
  • Cardiomyopathy, CHF, impaired cardiac function
  • Severe arrhythmia
  • Severe persistent drug-induced myelosuppression
  • Breastfeeding during treatment and for 10 days after discontinuing
  • IM/SC administration
  • Trastuzumab use within 7 months

WARNING:

  • Myocardial damage including acute left ventricular failure may occur during treatment or months to years after treatment is discontinued
  • Secondary acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) occur at a higher incidence in patients treated with anthracyclines, including doxorubicin hydrochloride
  • Severe myelosuppression resulting in serious infection, septic shock, requirement for transfusions, hospitalization, and death may occur
  • Extravasation leading to severe local tissue injury and necrosis requiring wide excision of affected area and skin grafting
  • Talimogene
  • Live bacterial vaccine

                          Drug Status

Availability Prescription only
Pregnancy Category D
Breastfeeding Contraindicated
Schedule Not controlled
BRAND NAME STRENGTH FORMULATION PACK SIZE MANUFACTURER DISTRIBUTOR
Adrib 10mg/5mL Injection 1’s Galaxy Pharma Galaxy Pharma
Adriblastina 50mg Injection 1’s Pfizer Labs Pfizer Labs
Adrim 10mg Injection 1’s Fresenius Kabi Nairobi Enterprises
Caelyx 20mg/10mL Injection 1’s Janssen Pharma Janssen Pharma
Cipdox 50mg Injection 1’s Cipla Ltd Imperial Managed
Doxoruba 10mg/5mL Injection 1’s Getwell Pharma Nairobi Enterprises
Doxoruba 50mg/25mL Injection 1’s Getwell Pharma Nairobi Enterprises
Doxorubicin 50mg Injection 1’s PSM Pharma PSM Pharma
Doxutec 50mg Injection 1’s United Biotech Salama Pharma
Naprodox 10mg Injection 1’s Miracalus Ripple Pharma
Naprodox 50mg Injection 1’s Miracalus Ripple Pharma
Rubidox 50mg Injection 1’s Atlanta Biologicals Synermed Pharma