What is this medication for?
Doxorubicin belongs to the group of cancer-fighting medicines known as antineoplastics, and specifically to the family of antineoplastics called anthracyclines.
Doxorubicin is used for the treatment of many types of cancer, including cancers of the blood (e.g., leukemia), bone, breast, ovaries, thyroid, bladder, stomach, and soft tissues (including muscles), Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Wilms' tumor, and neuroblastoma. Doxorubicin prevents the growth of cancer cells by interfering with the genetic material DNA, which is necessary for reproduction of cells.
Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor.
What form(s) does this medication come in?
Adriamycin PFS® is available as:
Some medications may have other generic brands available. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist about the safety of switching between brands of the same medication.
How should I use this medication?
The recommended dose of doxorubicin varies widely according to the specific disease being treated, the response to therapy, the other drugs being used, and the body size of the recipient. Doxorubicin is usually injected into a vein through a specially prepared site on your skin. Doses are usually given at three- to four-week intervals. Some dosing schedules call for smaller doses of the drug to be administered for three consecutive days at three- to four-week intervals. Very careful handling of this medication is required. Doxorubicin is always given under the supervision of a doctor in a hospital or similar setting with access to sterile equipment for preparation.
As well as interfering with the genetic material DNA of cancer cells, doxorubicin can interfere with some of your normal cells. This can cause a number of side effects such as hair loss and mouth sores. Keep track of any side effects and report them to your doctor as suggested in the section "What side effects are possible with this medication?"
The medication should be protected from light, stored at room temperature, and kept out of the reach of children.
Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.
Who should NOT take this medication?
Doxorubicin should not be used by anyone who:
- has low blood cell counts caused by previous treatment with other cancer drugs or radiation therapy
- has already been treated with the maximum allowable lifetime dose of any anthracycline drug (daunorubicin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin) or anthracenes
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