💊 Medicine Name:
Cytosine Arabinoside
(Cytarabine)
💉 Formulation:
Injection – Lyophilized powder for reconstitution, administered intravenously (IV), subcutaneously (SC), or intrathecally (for CNS use in some cases)
💪 Strength:
500 mg per vial
📜 Description:
Cytarabine is a chemotherapeutic antimetabolite that mimics cytosine, a natural nucleotide. It is widely used for the treatment of hematological malignancies, especially leukemias, by interfering with DNA replication in rapidly dividing cancer cells.
🌿 Nature:
- Antimetabolite (pyrimidine analogue)
- S-phase specific – acts during DNA synthesis phase
- Cytotoxic agent – targets rapidly dividing cells
- Used in both curative and palliative treatment regimens
- Often combined with other drugs like anthracyclines
🌟 Advantages:
- Core component in induction and consolidation chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
- Allows dose adjustment flexibility – available in multiple vial strengths (100 mg, 500 mg, 1 g)
- Can be administered systemically or intrathecally, giving it versatility in targeting both systemic and CNS disease
- Established role in protocols like “7+3” regimen and high-dose cytarabine (HiDAC) therapy
- Effective even in blast crisis of CML and CNS leukemia
🧾 Prescription:
- Prescription-only drug (Rx)
- Administered by trained professionals in hospital or oncology units
🎯 Indications / Uses:
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
- Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) – blast phase
- Meningeal leukemia/lymphoma (CNS involvement)
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (selected cases)
📦 Packaging:
- Supplied in glass vials with sterile lyophilized powder
- Labeled with “Cytotoxic – Handle with care” instructions
- Requires reconstitution with sterile water or compatible diluent
- May be used immediately or stored for short duration as per guidelines
🧊 Storage:
- Store dry powder at 15–25°C
- Protect from light and humidity
- Reconstituted solution must be used within a specific time depending on storage conditions
- Do not freeze reconstituted solution
👨⚕️ Patient Advice:
- Must be administered in a controlled medical setting
- Regular blood tests needed to monitor response and toxicity
- May require supportive eye drops during high-dose treatment
- Avoid contact with people having infections due to immunosuppression
- Patients should report fever, bleeding, or unusual fatigue promptly