Mitoxantrone is used on its own or together with other medicines to treat cancer of the breast, lymph nodes, blood and prostate.
This medicine may also be used to treat multiple sclerosis (a disease affecting the brain and/or spinal cord).
Mitoxantrone may be used to treat other conditions as decided by your doctor.
Mitoxantrone injection is to be given intravenously (into the vein). It is delivered directly into the bloodstream via the blood vessel.
Your doctor or nurse will administer the injection for you.
The dose of this medicine will be decided by your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on the course of your treatment depending on the type and severity of your condition, effectiveness of the therapy, and your response to the medication.
Ensure that you keep all appointments with your doctor so that you do not miss any doses. Your doctor also needs to regularly monitor your response to Mitoxantrone.
If you miss an appointment or miss an injection with your doctor, alert your doctor or nurse. A replacement appointment or injection should be given as soon as possible.
Alert your doctor if you are being treated for multiple sclerosis and have liver disease as Mitoxantrone may not be suitable for you.
It is important that you do not get pregnant while being treated with Mitoxantrone. You may wish to discuss birth control methods with your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not breastfeed while you are being treated with this medicine.
Avoid live vaccinations during treatment with Mitoxantrone. Alert your doctor if you have been recently vaccinated or if you are planning to get vaccinated.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- history or existing heart disease
- history of or currently undergoing chest radiotherapy (type of cancer treatment that uses radiation)
- diabetes
- previous treatment with daunorubicin or doxorubicin (medicines for cancer)
- infections
- liver disease
Why is it important to keep my appointments with the doctor?
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.
- Pregnancy tests must be done before treatment to know if this medicine is suited for you to use.
- If you are being treated for multiple sclerosis, screening for the presence of infection may also be needed before treatment.
- Routine tests (e.g. liver function, uric acid, urea or electrolyte levels, complete blood count) may be done while you are being treated with this medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have these tests.
- Regular monitoring of heart function, signs and symptoms of toxicities or side effects may also be needed while you are being treated with Mitoxantrone.
Mitoxantrone may cause confusion and tiredness. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert.
Other side effects include any of the following: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, mouth sore, loss of appetite, weakness, hair loss, headache and fever.
Your urine may look slightly blue-green in colour. This is normal while you are being treated with Mitoxantrone. It may also cause your saliva, sweat, whites of your eyes, and skin to change to blue-green in colour. This is harmless, do not be alarmed.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any sudden changes in heartbeat, chest pain, breathlessness, swelling of ankles, legs or feet accompanied by fatigue and weakness.
This medicine may cause the level of your red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets to drop.
Red blood cells carry oxygen around your body. A fall in the level of red blood cells may make you feel tired and worn out.
White blood cells help your body to fight infections. A fall in the level of your white blood cells may put you at higher risk for infections, such as coughs, colds and flu, which may lead to more serious infections. Avoid crowded places and people who are sick. Inform your doctor if you have a fever, or a cough or flu that does not go away.
Platelets help your blood to clot when there is a cut in the skin. A fall in the level of your platelets may put you at risk of bleeding more than usual. Do not take part in activities where you may fall or get injured, such as contact sports. Inform your doctor if you get any unusual bruising (large bruises or several bruises, especially if the bruises appeared on their own) or bleeding that takes a long time to stop (for example, too much bleeding when you floss or brush your teeth).
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Avoid live vaccinations during treatment with Mitoxantrone. Alert your doctor if you have been recently vaccinated or if you are planning to get vaccinated.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking or using any of these medicines:
- other medicines for cancer e.g. doxorubicin, daunorubicin, eltrombopag, gefitinib
- medicines used in organ transplant or certain immune disorders
- blood-thinning medicines
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Mitoxantrone.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
As this is a cancer medicine, always return any unused or expired medicine to the clinic, hospital, or pharmacy for disposal. Do not throw it away in the household waste.
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