ADAP drugs: procarbazine

procarbazine (Matulane)

Drug description

Procarbazine is used in combination with other chemotherapies to treat Hodgkin’s disease. Hodgkin’s disease is a cancer of the lymph nodes. The immune system is made up of organs located throughout the body, generally called lymphoid organs because they are involved in making lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell that play an important role in immune function. Lymphoid organs include bone marrow, spleen, thymus gland, lymph nodes, tonsils, appendix, and clumps of cells in the small intestines called Peyer’s patches. A lymphoma is any abnormal, uncontrolled growth of lymphocytes. Lymphomas are cancerous.

Side effects
Neuropathy, confusion, cough, swelling, nausea, and vomiting are the most common side effects. Procarbazine should not be used for treatment if pregnant or breast feeding, if alcoholism, severe kidney or liver impairment are problems, or at the same time as meperidine (Demerol). CNS depression is possible if procarbazine is used with alcohol, antidepressants, antihistamines, narcotic pain killers and sedatives. Eating foods high in tyramine may result in abnormally high blood pressure. Foods high in tyramine include aged cheeses, avocados, bananas, beer, caffeinated beverages, chocolate, sausages, liver, over-ripe fruit, red wine, smoked or pickled fish, yeast, and yogurt.

Dosage
Adults take 100-150 mg/m2/day for 10 days by mouth, followed by a maintenance dose of 50-100 mg/day or 2-4 mg/kg/day for 1 week, then 4-6 mg/kg/day until response is obtained. Children take 50 mg/m2/day for 7 days, then 100 mg/m2/day, and a maintenance dose of 50 mg/day.

How long it may take to work
Effectiveness of treatment can be determined by decrease in size and spread of malignant tissue.

Managing side effects
Antiemetics may help with nausea. Compazine and Dramamine are antiemetics. There are others. Your doctor will prescribe the best one for you. Notify your doctor promptly if fever, sore throat, signs of infection, bleeding gums, bruising, vomiting, small hemorrhage spots in the skin, or blood in stools or urine. Do not drink alcohol or take aspirin as they may cause gastric bleeding. Alcohol can also cause flushing, nausea, vomiting, headache, and abdominal cramps. Notify your doctor if confusion, cough, burning or prickling on the skin, unsteady gait, severe headache, rash, jaundice, or diarrhea occur.

This information is specific to the use of this medication for HIV-related conditions. For additional information about this drug for other conditions, refer to: www.nursespdr.com/ and www.healthanswers.com/Library/library_fset.asp

The drug descriptions on these pages are intended for informational purposes only. The Network does not promote or endorse the use of any specific treatment for any health-related condition. The medications described here can only be dispensed by a licensed health care professional. The information may have changed since these pages were updated, though every effort is made to keep these pages current. Please contact The Network at (800) 734-7104 to make sure you have the most up-to-date information

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