Chemotherapy Overview

Chemotherapy drug	Side effects (short-term and long-term)
L-asparaginase, Elspar - usually given IV	drowsiness can occur during and continue for several weeks after treatment nausea, vomiting, and cramping allergic reaction: rash or increased breathing effort increased blood sugar that is reversible but may require intervention
busulfan, Myleran - usually given orally	fatigue, tiredness dry mouth and lips decreased appetite hair loss (reversible) nausea and vomiting rash and itching decrease in blood cell counts darkened skin coloration lung damage
carboplatin (Paraplatin) - usually given IV	decrease in blood cell counts hair loss (reversible) confusion ringing in ears and hearing loss kidney damage
cisplatin (cis-platinum, Platinol, Platinol AQ) - usually given IV	decrease in blood cell counts allergic reaction: rash and increased breathing effort nausea and vomiting that usually occurs for about 24 hours ringing in ears and hearing loss fluctuations in blood electrolytes kidney damage
cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar) - can be given IV or orally	nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain decreased appetite hair loss (reversible) bladder damage fertility impairment decrease in all blood cell counts allergic reaction lung disease with high doses secondary malignancies (rare)
cytarabine (ara-C, cytosine, arabinoside, Cytosar-U) - usually given IV and/or intrathecally (into the spinal column)	nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea decreased appetite abdominal pain mouth ulcers several days after treatment decrease in all blood cell counts allergic reaction fever inflammation of the eyes reversible liver damage
daunorubicin (Cerubidine), idarubicin (Idamycin), doxorubicin (Adriamycin PFS, Adriamycin RDF, Rubex) - usually given IV	nausea and vomiting hair loss (reversible) fever and chills mouth ulcers red colored urine (not bleeding but a drug effect) decrease in all blood cell counts headache heart failure
etoposide (VePesid) - may be given orally or IV, teniposide (Vumon) - usually given IV	nausea and vomiting hair loss (reversible) decrease in blood cell counts allergic reaction mouth ulcers low blood pressure decreased appetite diarrhea and abdominal pain
hydroxyurea (Hydrea) - usually given orally	decrease in blood cell counts nausea and vomiting decreased appetite diarrhea drowsiness fever and chills hair loss (reversible) darkening of skin pigmentation
ifosfamide (Ifex) - usually given IV	confusion, rritability, and/or hallucinations seizures decrease in blood cell counts hair loss (reversible) kidney damage darkening of skin pigmentation
mercaptopurine (6-MP, Purinethol) - usually given orally	nausea and vomiting decreased appetite mouth ulcers diarrhea and digestive tract ulcers decrease in blood cell counts darkening of skin pigmentation skin rash liver damage (reversible)
methotrexate (Folex, Mexate, Rheumatrex Dose Pack) - may be given IV, intrathecally (into the spinal column), or orally	nausea and vomiting decrease in blood cell counts mouth ulcers skin rashes dizziness, headache, or drowsiness kidney damage (with a high-dose therapy) liver damage seizures
thioguanine (6-TG, Lanvis) - usually given orally	nausea and vomiting stomatitis diarrhea decreased appetite decrease in blood cell counts (after several weeks) rash liver damage
thiotepa (Thioplex) - usually given IV, intrathecally (directly into the spinal column), may be instilled in bladder, or injected into the tumor	headache, dizziness, fatigue, or blurred vision nausea and vomiting hair loss (reversible) decrease in blood cell counts allergic reaction fever
topotecan (Hycamtin) - given IV, irinotecan (Camptosar) - given IV	diarrhea decrease in blood cell counts hair loss (reversible) nausea and vomiting
vincristine (Oncovin, Vincasar PFS) - usually given IV, vinblastine (Velban, Velbe) - usually given IV	seizures weakness loss of reflexes jaw pain nausea and vomiting hair loss (reversible) diarrhea or constipation, abdominal cramping decrease in blood cell counts difficulty breathing