Mechlorethamine, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Generic and brand names: mechlorethamine, injection; nitrogen mustard; HN-2; Mustargen

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein) to treat Hodgkin's disease, leukemia, and other forms of cancer.

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

Be sure to tell your health care provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to this medicine
• gout
• kidney stones.

This medicine may make you sterile (unable to have children) whether you are a man or a woman. If you plan to have children someday, talk with your health care provider before you start treatment.

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is usually not given during pregnancy because it can harm the baby. Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant. Do not become pregnant during this treatment. Contact your health care provider right away if you become pregnant during this treatment. Do not breast-feed while receiving these injections.

How do I use it?

These infusions are given by your health care provider. You will have several courses of treatment, depending on your condition and response. Keep all your appointments.

Drink 8 to 12 full glasses of liquid per day while being treated with this medicine.

What should I watch out for?

If this medicine accidentally leaks out of the vein where it is injected, it can damage tissue. Tell your health care provider right away if you have redness, pain, or swelling at the site of injection.

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

This medicine may make your mouth sore. Use a soft bristle brush or mouth swab to brush your teeth.

Do not drink alcohol or take aspirin while receiving this medicine. It may increase the risk of bleeding. Report any unusual bleeding or bruising to your health care provider.

Nausea and vomiting can occur 1 to 3 hours after an injection. Vomiting may stop within the first 8 hours, but nausea may last for 24 hours. Contact your health care provider right away if nausea and vomiting continue or get worse.

You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. Also, do not have any vaccines without getting your health care provider's approval first.

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.

Life-threatening (Report these to your health care provider right away. If you cannot reach your health care provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Severe nausea or vomiting, fever, chills, sore throat, dizziness, trouble hearing or ringing in the ears, yellow skin or eyes, painful blisters on the skin, unusual bruising or bleeding.

Other: Loss of appetite, weakness, diarrhea, hair loss, joint pain, irregular menstrual periods.

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:

• live vaccines such as polio or rotavirus.

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.

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.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.