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Brand name: Lysodren®
Generic
name:Mitotane
Therapeutic
Class:
antineoplastic agent
Manufacturer / Distributor:
HRA Pharma
Availability:
Lysodren is available
by prescription only
Indications: Lysodren is used to treat adrenal
gland cancer (cancer of the adrenal glands).
Lysodren
may also be prescribed for other medical conditions besides cancer of the adrenal gland; contact your doctor or
pharmacist for more information.
Dosage form:
Lysodren comes as
a tablet
to be taken by
mouth
Dosage: Lysodren is taken by mouth, usually 3
or 4 times daily with or without food, around the same times every day. At the beginning of the therapy, the drug can be given in hospital starting
with small doses until a stable dosage is established. Once the most effective and appropriate dosage is
determined, you will take the drug at home as directed by your oncologist or pharmacist. It is important that
you follow the instructions carefully.
Your
physician will determine the dosage based on your medical condition(s), other medications you are taking, your
body surface area (BSA) and the response of your body to the treatment. Depending on the reaction of your body to the drug, your doctor may reduce or
increase the dosage. The fact you develop side effects it does not mean complications; Lysodren cause adverse
reactions in most patients.
Storage: store Lysodren
at room temperature (15-25 ° C), away from heat, light and moisture. Always keep your medications out of the reach of children
. Lysodren
and all drugs should not be used beyond the expiration date printed on the container.
Overdose: it is very important that you
take
Lysodren as indicated by your health care provider. Regardless of the circumstance, do not take Lysodren more often. Even when
taken at normal dose
, Lysodren can reduce the amount of steroid hormones (cortisol) synthesized by the adrenal cortex, which can lead
to the development of life-threatening conditions. If you think you have taken an overdose, contact your doctor or
the poison control center nearest you as soon as possible.
Missing dose:
Take
Lysodren as indicated your doctor or pharmacist.
In case you forget to
take a dose, take the missed one as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for your next
dose,
do not double the next dose to recover the missed one; it can be dangerous. Contact your doctor or wait to go back
to your regular schedule.
Contraindications:
Lysodren is contraindicated in cases of allergy to it or any of its ingredients. Before beginning a treatment with
Lysodren, tell your doctor if you are:
·
breast-feeding
·
Pregnant or may become pregnant
·
Had or having surgery (including dental surgery).
Mechanism of action (MOA): Lysodren is an antineoplastic agent
that works by reducing the amount of steroid hormones synthesized by the adrenal cortex, which slows or stops
division or reproduction of cancer cells that need these hormones to survive.
Interactions: talk you to your doctor before taking
aspirin,
vitamins, nutritional supplements or St. John wort. Certain medications may interact with
lysodren. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of these medications:
·
sedatives
·
sleeping
pills
·
tranquilizers
·
antidepressants
·
spironolactone
(Aldactone)
·
anticoagulants such as
warfarin (Coumadin)
·
Medications for
anxiety, mental illness, or seizures.
Side effects: in certain
patients, lysodren can lead to
the following
side effects:
- hair loss
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- depression
- sleep
problems
- lack of
energy
- decreased
appetite
- unusual
drowsiness
- Rash or changes in
skin color.
If the side
effects above persist for weeks, contact your oncologist. In addition, contact your doctor if you experience any
of these symptoms:
- vision
changes
- anxiety
- depression
- confusion
- fast or
irregular heartbeat
- abdominal
or side pain
- high
fever or shaking chills
- excessive
sweating, mainly at night
-
Purple, blue, or black discoloration of the skin
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