Melphalan is used to treat cancer of the blood and ovary.
This medicine may also be used to treat neuroblastoma (cancer that develops from immature nerve cells) in children.
Melphalan 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 the treatment depending on your condition and response to the medication.
Ensure that you keep all appointments with your doctor so that you do not miss any dose. Your doctor also needs to regularly monitor your response to Melphalan.
If you miss an appointment or miss an injection with your doctor, alert your doctor or nurse. A replacement appointment or infusion should be given as soon as possible.
Do not use Melphalan if you ever had an allergic reaction (e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swollen eyes) to this medicine or any of its ingredients.
Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant while on Melphalan therapy, alert your doctor immediately. This medicine may cause harm to your unborn child.
It is important that you do not get pregnant or father a child while being treated with this medicine. You must use proven birth control methods during Melphalan therapy. You may wish to discuss birth control methods with your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not breastfeed while you are being treated with this medicine.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- have recently received or currently receiving radiation therapy or chemotherapy
- kidney disease
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving this medicine to the elderly. Elderly people may be more sensitive to the side effects.
Inform your doctor if you have been recently vaccinated. Do not receive any vaccinations without first asking your doctor.
For as long as you are using this medicine, you may need to have regular blood tests to check your body’s response to the medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have blood tests.
Melphalan may cause any of the following side effects: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, mouth sores, muscle pain, tiredness, fever, hair loss, and transient warm and tingling sensation at the site of injection.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- rashes, breathlessness, swelling of the face, eyes or mouth
- yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, dark coloured urine, tiredness, swelling in the legs and ankles
Melphalan will 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. Alert 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. Alert 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.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- ciclosporin (medicines used in organ transplant or certain immune disorders)
- other medicines used to treat cancer e.g. cisplatin, carmustine
- nalidixic acid (antibiotic used to treat urinary tract infection)
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Melphalan.
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.
Storage recommendations vary among countries or individual products. Refer to specific product guidelines.
Protect from light.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
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