MELPHALAN (ALKERAN)

Mefalan

Chemocare.com uses generic names in all drug instructions. Megace Alkeran is the trade name of Melphalan. L-PAM and L-Sarcolysin and phenylalanine mustard are other names for Melphalan. In some cases, when referring to the generic drug name melphalan, healthcare professionals may use the trade name megace alkeran or other names L-PAM or L-Sarcolysin or phenylalanine mustard.

Type of drug: Melphalan is an anti-cancer ("antineoplastic" or "cytotoxic") chemotherapy drug. The drug is classified as an "alkylating agent." (For more details, see the "Effects of this drug" section below).

what mefalan is used for:

• Multiple myeloma
• Ovarian cancer
• Neuroblastoma
• Rhabdomyosarcoma 
• Breast cancer
• Used in some conditioning regimens prior to bone marrow transplant

How to give Melphalan:

Such as oral medicine. The size of the tablet is 2 mg.

Take the medicine on an empty stomach (1 hour before meals to 2 hours after meals).

As an intravenous injection or infusion (intravenous, intravenous injection).

The amount of melphalan you will receive depends on many factors, including height and weight, general health or other health problems, and the type of cancer or condition being treated. Your doctor will determine your dosage and schedule.

side effect:

Important things to remember about the side effects of melphalan:

Most people do not experience all the side effects listed.

The onset and duration of side effects are usually predictable.

The side effects are almost always reversible and will disappear after the treatment is completed.

There are many options to help minimize or prevent side effects.

There is no relationship between the existence or severity of side effects and the effectiveness of the drug.

The side effects of melphalan and their severity depend on the amount of drug used. In other words, high doses may have more serious side effects.

The following side effects are common in patients taking melphalan (incidence rate is more than 30%):

Low blood count. Your white and red blood cells and platelets may decrease temporarily. This can increase your risk of infection, anemia and/or bleeding. This impact may prolong and accumulate.

Nausea and vomiting. (Slight regular medication, high-dose treatment may aggravate the condition)

These side effects are less common in patients receiving melphalan (approximately 10-29%):

Allergic reactions (the pill form is rare, and it occurs in about 10% of patients in the intravenous form).

Oral ulcers (mild by regular medication, but high-dose treatment may be severe).

Diarrhea (light regular medication, high-dose treatment may aggravate diarrhea).

Loss of fertility. This means that your fertility or fertility may be affected by Melphalan. Discuss this issue with your healthcare provider.

Alopecia (regular administration is rare, usually in high-dose administration for bone marrow transplantation).

Nephrotoxicity (see kidney problems): Conventional doses are not common and are seen when melphalan is taken in high doses for bone marrow transplantation.

Arrhythmia (see Heart Problems): Conventional doses are not common, and are seen when melphalan is taken in high doses for bone marrow transplantation.

Precaution:

Before starting melphalan treatment, make sure you tell your doctor about other medicines you are taking (including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbal medicines, etc.). Unless specifically permitted by your doctor, do not take aspirin or products containing aspirin.

When taking melphalan, do not receive any form of immunization without the permission of your doctor.

If you are pregnant or may be pregnant, please inform your healthcare professional before starting this treatment. Pregnancy category D (Melphalan may be harmful to the fetus. Women who are pregnant or about to become pregnant must be informed of the potential harm to the fetus).

For men and women: Do not become pregnant (pregnant) while taking melphalan. It is recommended to use contraceptive methods such as condoms. Discuss with your doctor when it is safe to get pregnant or get pregnant after treatment.

Do not breastfeed while taking this medication.

Self-care tips:

If taking Melphalan Pills, please take them on an empty stomach 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.

Unless otherwise stated, drink at least 2 to 3 quarts of liquid every 24 hours.

You may be at risk of infection, so please try to avoid crowds or people with colds and people who feel unwell, and immediately report fever or any other signs of infection to the medical staff.

Wash your hands often.

To help treat/prevent mouth ulcers, please use a soft toothbrush and rinse with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of baking soda and/or 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of salt mixed with 8 ounces of water 3 times a day.

Use an electric razor and a soft toothbrush to minimize bleeding.

Avoid contact sports or activities that may cause injury.

This medicine hardly causes nausea when taken in pill form. However, if you feel nauseous, take anti-nausea medications as prescribed by your doctor and eat small and frequent meals. Inhalation of lozenges and chewing gum may also help.

Avoid direct sunlight. Wear SPF 15 (or higher) sunscreen and protective clothing.

In general, the intake of alcoholic beverages should be kept to a minimum or avoided altogether. You should discuss this with your doctor.

Get plenty of rest.

Maintain good nutrition.

If you experience symptoms or side effects, be sure to discuss with your medical team. They can prescribe medication and/or provide other effective solutions to such problems.

How Melphalan works:

Cancerous tumors are characterized by cell division, which is no longer controlled as in normal tissues. When "normal" cells come into contact with similar cells, they stop dividing. This mechanism is called contact inhibition. Cancer cells lose this ability. Cancer cells no longer have the normal inspection and balance to control and limit cell division. Whether it is a normal cell or a cancer cell, the process of cell division is carried out through the cell cycle. The cell cycle goes from the quiescent phase to the active growth phase, and then to mitosis (division).

The ability of chemotherapy to kill cancer cells depends on its ability to prevent cell division. Usually, these drugs work by destroying RNA or DNA that tells cells how to replicate themselves during division. If cells cannot divide, they will die. The faster a cell divides, the more likely it is that chemotherapy will kill the cell, causing the tumor to shrink. They also induce cell suicide (self-death or apoptosis).

Chemotherapy drugs that affect cells only when they divide are called cell cycle specificity. Chemotherapy drugs that affect cells in a resting state are called non-cell cycle-specific cell cycles. Set the schedule of chemotherapy based on the cell type, the rate of cell division, and how long a given drug may be effective. This is why chemotherapy is usually performed in cycles.

Chemotherapy is most effective in killing rapidly dividing cells. Unfortunately, chemotherapy does not know the difference between cancer cells and normal cells. "Normal" cells will re-grow and stay healthy, but at the same time, side effects will occur. The "normal" cells most commonly affected by chemotherapy are blood cells, cells in the mouth, stomach and intestines, and hair follicles. Causes low blood counts, mouth sores, nausea, diarrhea and/or hair loss. Different drugs may affect different parts of the body.

Melphalan is classified as an alkylating agent. Alkylating agents are most active during the quiescent phase of the cell. These drugs are cell cycle non-specific. There are several types of alkylating agents:

Mustard gas derivatives: Mechlorethamine, Cyclophosphamide, Chlorambucil, Melphalan, and Ifosfamide.

Ethylenimines: Thiotepa and Hexamethylmelamine.

Alkylsulfonates: Busulfan.

Hydrazines and Triazines: Altretamine, Procarbazine, Dacarbazine and Temozolomide.

Nitrosureas: Carmustine, Lomustine and Streptozocin. Nitrosureas are unique because, unlike most chemotherapy, they can cross the blood-brain barrier. They can be useful in treating brain tumors.

Metal salts: Carboplatin, Cisplatin, and Oxaliplatin.