Altretamine, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antineoplastic (anticancer)

Generic and brand names: altretamine, oral; Hexalen

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is used to treat ovarian cancer.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

Females of childbearing age: Do not take this medicine during pregnancy. Do not become pregnant while you are taking this medicine. If you do become pregnant, contact your health care provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are taking this medicine.

How should I take it?

This medicine comes in capsules. It is taken for either 14 or 21 days in a row, stopped for 14 days, and then started again, possibly at a lower dose.

This medicine is usually taken after meals and at bedtime.

Take this medicine exactly as your health care provider prescribes. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed. Do not stop taking this medicine without your health care provider's approval. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist about anything you do not understand.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your health care provider.

What should I watch out for?

You may need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Nausea and vomiting; numbness, tingling, pain, or burning in your hands or feet that continues or gets worse; easy bruising or bleeding; dizziness; confusion.

Other: Loss of appetite, tiredness, weakness, rash, itching.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet-HB)
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) (Do not take this medicine and an MAO inhibitor within 14 days of each other.)
• pyridoxine (vitamin B6)
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil) and imipramine (Tofranil)
• vaccinations against bacteria or viruses.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.