Dacarbazine, Injection

Type of medicine: antineoplastic (anticancer)

Generic and brand names: dacarbazine, injection; imidazole carboxamide, injection; DTIC; DTIC-Dome

This medicine is given by IV injection (slow drip through a needle into a large vein) to treat metastatic malignant melanoma (a skin cancer that has spread to different parts of the body). It is also used with other medicines to treat Hodgkin's disease. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

Before taking this medicine, tell your health care provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• a blood disorders or bleeding problems
• kidney disease
• liver disease

Also tell your provider if you have recently had any kind of infection or if you are taking radiation therapy or other chemotherapy.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Chemotherapy is usually not recommended during pregnancy because it can harm the baby. Do not breast-feed while receiving this medicine.

These shots are given by your health care provider. They are given daily for 5 to 10 days in a row (depending on the condition being treated). They may be repeated every 3 to 4 weeks (depending on your response to the medicine). Your health care provider may ask you not to eat or drink anything for 4 to 6 hours before receiving this medicine. Keep all your appointments for these and any other shots you may need.

You need regular lab tests to find out how this medicine is affecting you. Keep all your appointments for these tests.

You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. Also, do not have any vaccines without getting your health care provider's approval first.

Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite are common side effects of this medicine, especially after the first few doses. The vomiting may last for 1 to 12 hours. Contact your health care provider if it is severe.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to the sun and may cause you to sunburn more easily. While you are taking this medicine, avoid long exposure to the sun. While you are in the sun, wear protective clothing and sunscreen lotion until you know how you will react to the sun. Do not use a sunlamp or tanning bed. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your health care provider right away.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the health care provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your health care provider right away. If you cannot reach your health care provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Fever, cough, mouth sores or sore throat, unusual bleeding or bruising, severe vomiting, yellowing of skin or eyes, dark urine, burning sensation during the IV injection.

Other: Diarrhea, headache, muscle aches and pains, tiredness, hair loss, skin rash or itching, facial flushing, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, facial numbness.

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider before taking:

• aldesleukin (Proleukin)
• aspirin and other salicylate products
• vaccines.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.