Chemotherapy Drug Information
<< BackVidaza
Your doctor has ordered the drug vidaza to help treat your illness. The drug is given by injection into a vein. Vidaza slows or stops the growth of cancer cells in your body. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of cancer you have.
Before taking vidaza,
- You should know that vidaza may interfere with the normal menstrual cycle (period) in women and may stop sperm production in men. However, you should not assume that you cannot get pregnant or that you cannot get someone else pregnant. Women who are pregnant should tell their doctors before they begin taking this drug. You should not plan to have children while receiving chemotherapy or for a while after treatments. (Talk to your doctor for further details.) Use a reliable method of birth control to prevent pregnancy. Vidaza may harm the fetus.
- Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. Because of the danger of serious side effects to your baby, you should stop nursing while taking vidaza.
Side effects from vidaza are common and include:
- decreased white cell count
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- fatigue
- decreased platelet count
- rash at the injection site
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- unusual bruising or bleeding
- fever
- chills
- shortness of breath
- rash