Chemotherapy Drugs

Adriamycin (Doxorubicin)

Administered by: Given through IV.

Most common side effects:

• Hair loss
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Bone marrow depression (lowering counts)
• Mouth sores
• Discolored urine
• Skin and nail changes
• Sensitivity to the sun

Important Note:
This kind of chemo (anthracycline) may affect your heart muscle. Check with your doctor before exercising and weightlifting.

Asparaginase A-SPARE-a-gin-ase

Administered by: Given by injection.

Most common side effects:

• Changes in blood clotting
• Fever and chills
• Allergic reaction
• Lethargy, sleepiness and confusion

Bleomycin Blee-oh-MY-sin (Blenoxane)

Administered by: Given through IV or injection.

Most common side effects:

• Fever and chills
• Skin and nail changes
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Changes to the lungs

Busulfan Byoo-SUL-fan (Myleran)

Administered by: Given through IV or taken by mouth.

Most common side effects:

• Bone marrow depression (lowering counts)
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Hair loss
• Mouth sores
• Seizures
• Skin changes

Carboplatin KAR-bo-plat-in (Paraplatin)

Administered by: Given through IV.

Most common side effects:

• Bone marrow depression (lowering counts)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Poor appetite
• May affect your kidneys
• Will lower your pH ct.
• Hearing loss

Carmustine kar-MUS-teen (BCNU)

Administered by: Given through IV.

Most common side effects:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Bone marrow depression (lowering counts)
• Changes to the skin

Cis-Platinum siss-PLAT-in (Cisplatin)

Administered by: Given through IV.

Most common side effects:

• Nausea and vomiting (may get worse after a few days)
• Your kidneys may be affected
• Changes to your skin
• Hearing loss
• May cause numbness or tingling in hands or feet

Important Note:
Drink lots of fluid while on this drug. Keep anti-nausea meds nearby!

Cyclophosphamide Sye-kloe-FOSS-fa-mide (Cytoxan)

Administered by: Given through IV or taken by mouth.

Most common side effects:

• Bone marrow depression (lowering counts)
• Hair loss
• Bladder irritation
• Nausea and vomiting
• Poor of appetite

Cytarabine Sye-TARE-a-been (ARA-C; Cytosar)

Administered by: Given by injection, IV or intrathecal (injected into fluid around spinal cord).

Most common side effects:

• Bone marrow depression (lowering counts)
• Nausea / vomiting /diarrhea
• Eye irritation
• Mouth sores
• Rash
• A flu-like effect

Daunorubicin Daw-noe-ROO-bi-sun (Daunomycin)

Administered by: Given through IV.

Most common side effects:

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Hair loss
• Bone marrow depression (lowering counts)
• Mouth sores
• Discolored urine

Important Note:
This kind of chemo (anthracycline) may affect your heart muscle. Check with your doctor before exercising or weightlifting.

Etoposide E-TOE-poe-side (VP-16)

Administered by: Given through IV or taken by mouth.

Most common side effects:

• Bone marrow depression (lowering counts)
• Hair loss
• Nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea
• Temporary taste alterations
• Mouth sores
• Skin changes

5-Flourouracil floor-oh-YOOR-a-sill (5-FU)

Administered by: Given through IV or taken by mouth.

Most common side effects:

• Mouth sores
• Diarrhea
• Eye sensitivity
• Skin changes
• Bone marrow depression (lowering counts)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hair loss
• Sensitivity of the skin to sunlight.
• Rashes

Hydroxyurea Hye-DROX-ee-yoo-REE-ah (Hydrea)

Administered by: Taken by mouth.

Most common side effects:

• Bone marrow depression (lowering counts)
• Skin changes

Ifosphamide Eye-FOSS-fah-mide (Ifex)

Administered by: Given through IV.

Most common side effects:

• Bone marrow depression (lowering counts)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hair loss
• Irritation of the bladder
• Changes to nails

Lomustine Loe-MUS-teen (CCNU; CeeNu)

Administered by: Taken by mouth.

Most common side effects:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Bone marrow depression (lowering counts)
• Mouth sores

Melphalan MEL-fa-lan (Alkeran)

Administered by: Given through IV or taken by mouth.

Most common side effects:

• Bone marrow depression (lowering counts)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Mouth sores
• Diarrhea
• Hair loss
• Skin changes

Mercaptopurine Mer-kap-toe-PYOOR-een (Purinethol)

Administered by: Taken by mouth.

Most common side effects:

• Bone marrow depression (lowering counts)
• Mouth sores
• Skin changes

Methotrexate Meth-o-TREX-ate (Mexate)

Administered by: Given by mouth, injection, IV or intrathecal (injected into fluid around spinal cord).

Most common side effects:

• Bone marrow depression (lowering counts)
• Mouth sores
• Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting
• Skin changes, rash, hair loss

Paclitaxel PACK-lih-tax-el (Taxol®)

Administered by: Given through IV.

Most common side effects:

• Bone marrow depression (lowering counts)
• Mouth sores
• Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting
• Hair loss
• Aching or pain in joints and muscles (usually after 2-3 days. Gets better within 5-7 days)
• Skin changes
• Numbness or tingling in hands or feet
• Allergic reaction

Procarbazine Pro-KAR-ba-zeen (Matulane; Natulan)

Administered by: Given through IV or taken by mouth.

Most common side effects:

• Bone marrow depression (lowering counts)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Alcohol should be avoided while taking this drug

6-Thioguanine Six-thigh-oh-GWAN-neen (6-TG)

Administered by: Taken by mouth.

Most common side effects:

• Bone marrow depression (lowering counts)
• Raised levels of uric acid in the blood
• Skin changes
• Mouth sores

Vinblastine Vin-BLAS-teen (Velban)

Administered by: Given through IV.

Most common side effects:

• Bone marrow depression (lowering counts)
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Hair loss
• Mouth sores
• Constipation
• Numbness or tingling in hands or feet

Vincristine Vin-KRIS-teen (Oncovin; VCR)

Administered by: Given through IV.

Most common side effects:

• Abdominal cramps and constipation
• Numbness or tingling in hands or feet
• Jaw pain