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Azacitidine

Details of the Drug
Generic Name:
Azacitidine
Pronunciation:
ay-za-SITE-i-deen
Drug Type:
Hypomethylating (Demethylating) agent
How the Drug is Given:

Subcutaneous (SC) injection or intravenously (IV)

Names:
Vidaza®
Azacitidine
Onureg®

Indications and Usage

Vidaza® is FDA approved to treat

  • Adult patients with the following FAB myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) subtypes: Refractory anemia (RA) or refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS) (if accompanied by neutropenia or thrombocytopenia or requiring transfusions), refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB), refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation (RAEB-T), and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMMoL). (1.1) 
  • Pediatric patients aged 1 month and older with newly diagnosed Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML). 

 

Side effects needing medical attention

Black, tarry stools; bladder pain; bleeding gums; blood in urine or stool; cloudy urine; body aches or pain; burning or stinging of skin; chest pain or tightness in the chest; chills; ear, nose or chest congestion; cough; diarrhea; difficulty breathing, shortness of breath or wheezing; difficulty swallowing; dizziness; fast heartbeat; fever; frequent urge to urinate; headache; hives; hoarseness; itching; loss of voice or voice changes; lower back or side pain; muscle aches; nausea or vomiting; pain or tenderness around eyes and cheekbones; painful cold sores or blisters on lips, nose, eyes or genitals; painful or difficult urination; pain, redness, swelling, tenderness or warmth on skin; pale skin; pinhead-sized red spots on skin; puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips or tongue; rapid heartbeat; sore throat; sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips or in mouth; swollen glands; tender, swollen glands in neck; troubled breathing with exertion; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness or weakness.   

 

For information on how to manage the costs of drug therapy, please see Financial Support, or to speak with an Information Specialist, call (800) 955-4572.