Mitoxantrone Injection

Conditions Treated

Mitoxantrone injection is used to decrease the number of symptom episodes and slow the development of disability in patients with certain forms of MS. Mitoxantrone injection is also used together with steroid medications to relieve pain in people with advanced prostate cancer who did not respond to other medications. Mitoxantrone injection is also used together with other medications to treat certain types of leukemia. Mitoxantrone injection is in a class of medications called anthracenediones. Mitoxantrone treats MS by stopping certain cells of the immune system from reaching the brain and spinal cord and causing damage. Mitoxantrone treats cancer by stopping the growth and spread of cancer cells.

Possible Side Effects

What Side Effects Can This Cause?

Mitoxantrone injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• constipation
• heartburn
• loss of appetite
• sores on the mouth and tongue
• runny or stuffed nose
• thinning or loss of hair
• changes in the area around or under fingernails and toenails
• missed or irregular menstrual periods
• extreme tiredness
• weakness
• headache
• back pain

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

• unusual bleeding or bruising
• small red or purple dots on the skin
• hives
• itching
• rash
• difficulty swallowing
• shortness of breath
• fainting
• dizziness
• pale skin
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• seizures
• redness, pain, swelling, burning, or blue discoloration at the site where the injection was given

Mitoxantrone injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while receiving this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Usage Instructions

How Should This Medication Be Used

Mitoxantrone injection comes as a liquid to be given intravenously (into a vein) by a doctor or nurse in a hospital or clinic. When mitoxantrone injection is used to treat MS, it is usually given once every 3 months for about 2 to 3 years (for a total of 8 to 12 doses). When mitoxantrone injection is used to treat prostate cancer, it is usually given once every 21 days. When mitoxantrone injection is used to treat leukemia, you will continue to receive this medication based on your condition and how you respond to the treatment. If you are using mitoxantrone injection for MS, you should know that it controls MS but does not cure it. Continue to receive treatments even if you feel well. Talk to your doctor if you no longer want to receive treatment with mitoxantrone injection. If you are using mitoxantrone injection for MS, ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.

What Dietary Instructions Should I Follow

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Are There Any Special Instructions

Before using mitoxantrone injection, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to mitoxantrone injection or any other medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any blood-clotting problems, anemia (decreased amount of red blood cells in the blood), or liver disease. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using mitoxantrone injection. you should know that mitoxantrone injection is dark blue in color and may cause the white parts of your eyes to have a slight blue color for a few days after you receive each dose. It may also change the color of your urine to a blue-green color for about 24 hours after you receive a dose.