Adriamycin (generic name doxorubicin) is a common chemotherapy agent in the treatment of
Hodgkin's Lymphoma / Disease and
Nonhodgkin's Lymphoma. It is more often than not used in conjunction with other chemotherapy agents in a multidrug regimen. It is is a cytotoxic anthracycline antibiotic isolated from cultures of
Streptomyces peucetius var. caesius. As such, it is an antineoplastic - adriamycin interferes with the growth of cancer cells. It is one of the older chemotherapy drugs, having been in use for decades for several types of cancer.
Adriamycin is one of many treatment options for Lymphoma. If you are looking for some assistance with treatment options, there is a FREE tool available to help you understand your treatment options and possible side effects.
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Before taking this medicine: Adriamycin interacts with a wide variety of drugs - inform your doctor of all medications and prior medical history. Should not be taken while pregnant and not while breast feeding. Children are more likely to suffer from heart problems than adults because of this drug.
While taking this medicine: do not receive any immunizations without asking your doctor (this drug reduces the body’s ability to combat disease). It is important to keep in close contact with the doctor who will monitor dosage and effects. Avoid people with infections. Inform the doctor is you notice unusual bleeding, blood in stools/urine, or pinpoint red spots on your skin; also if you get an infection, have fevers/chills, lower back/side pain, or difficult urination. Avoid contact sports or other activity where bruising or injury could occur.
Short Term Side Effects: Common: nausea and vomiting (ask your doctor about drugs to counteract nausea), sores on mouth & lips; Less Common: cough, fever/chills, fast or irregular heartbeat, swelling of extremities, diarrhea; Rare: black stools, blood in urine, pinpoint red spots on skin, unusual bleeding, wheezing, skin rash/itching. Adriamycin may turn the urine red which is not blood and should disappear within 2 days.
Long Term Side Effects: hair loss (alopecia) during use - hair growth should return late in treatment or after treatment, possible sterility (weaker than some drugs) and heart toxicity (
doses should be monitored)
Some of the Regimens using Adriamycin / Doxorubicin:
• ABVD (Hodgkin's Disease - the "A")
• CHOP (Nonhodgkin's Lymphoma - the "H" for hydroxydoxorubicin or hydroxydaunomycin)
(see MedlinePlus for alternate names)
Resources
Information from MedlinePlus (US Library of Medicine)
Information sheet on Adriamycin from Healthtouch (US)
A thorough (often technical) paper on Adriamycin from Medicine Online
"Frequently Asked Questions" - Adriamycin from infolink
Information on Antitumor Antibiotics including anthracycline antibiotics (mid-page) from UNMC
Cardiac Toxicity (Heart Damage):
Again, adriamycin can sometimes damage the heart and there is a recommended lifetime dose to limit heart effects. Please consider consultations with your medical team about this prior to treatment.
Cardiac Toxicity from Tirgan
Paper on Cadiac Toxicity from cancerconsultants.com
Manufacturers
Pharmacia and Upjohn
Customer Service: (616) 833-4000
Address: 7000 Portage Road
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001
Related Articles
For more information on Hodgkin's Lymphoma, please see the following pages:
Adult Hodgkin's Disease: Chemotherapy
Adult Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Treatment
Adult Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Introduction
Childhood Hodgkin's Disease: Chemotherapy
Childhood Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Treatment
Childhood Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Introduction
For more information on Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, please see the following pages:
Adult Nonhodgkin's Lymphoma: Chemotherapy
Adult Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Treatment
Adult Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Introduction
Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Chemotherapy
Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Treatment
Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Information Pages
