What is Adriamycin?

Adriamycin or doxorubicin is a medication that was developed from mutated Streptomyces peucetius bacteria, after a similar medication, daunorubicin, was found to be useful in treating cancers but difficult to use because it caused severe heart problems. While Adriamycin can also create this issue, it’s been shown beneficial as a chemotherapy drug and it may be employed to treat many different forms of cancer. It is generally only administered intravenously (IV), and is noted for its bright red color, which can temporarily stain urine pink after use. Though the drug can have multiple side effects, in addition to its potential to create heart damage, it’s nevertheless useful in fighting cancer. The possibility of adverse effects tends to be weighed against ability to destroy cancer cells.

The types of cancer that might be treated by Adriamycin are numerous and varied. The drug may be used to treat a variety of leukemia types, some lymphomas, Kaposi’s sarcoma, and cancer of the breast, ovaries, uterus, bladder, testes, prostate, thyroid, or gastrointestinal system. This is not an exhaustive list, and doctors evaluate a number of criteria when determining which chemo drugs may be most appropriate.

There are some instances when Adriamycin is not appropriate. It tends to be reluctantly used in children because they appear at greater risk for developing heart damage from the drug, and this risk for damage doesn’t stop with drug cessation. It can happen a long time after the drug has been discontinued. People with heart or liver disease are also not good candidates for this medicine, and it should not be used during pregnancy or if people take certain seizure medicines like phenobarbital or phenytoin. When on this medication, people need to avoid any live virus vaccinations because their immune systems place them at risk for disease contraction.

The common side effects associated with Adriamycin, which is often given in intravenous infusions spaced about three weeks apart, include slightly pink urine especially within 24 hours of receiving a dose, and nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. People may also experience hair loss, darkening of the skin around the fingers and toes, and peeling, red or irritated skin on the hands and feet. More serious effects are blistering or sores in the mouth, development of flu-like symptoms, diarrhea that continues for at least two days, easy bruising or bleeding, and difficulty breathing. These should be discussed with a doctor immediately.

In general, people who use Adriamycin may feel run down and tired, and the body’s resistance to fighting germs is impaired. This makes it vital to avoid anyone with active illnesses and to try to keep diet nutritious. Most of the side effects of the medicine, especially nausea, are at their greatest severity in the first day or two after a dose. On the other hand, some adverse effects like brittle hair and hair loss tend to progress throughout the entire course of treatment.