Melphater 50mg injection contains the active constituent Melphalan. It is an anticancer agent that belongs to the class of medications called alkylating agents. It is used to treat multiple myeloma (a type of cancer of the bone marrow). It is also used to treat advanced ovarian cancer. It is also indicated to treat childhood neuroblastoma (cancer of the nervous system), malignant melanoma (skin cancer), and soft tissue sarcoma (cancer of the muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, or other supporting tissues of the body). It works by reducing the number of abnormal cells your body makes.
Do not take Melphater 50mg injection if you are allergic to melphalan or any of the other ingredients. Inform your physician if you recently had radiotherapy or cancer chemotherapy or have a kidney problem. Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy. Inform your doctor if you have been vaccinated recently or planning to take any vaccination. Report to your physician immediately if you have a rash, lumps or hives on the skin, swollen face, eyelids, or lips, sudden wheeziness, and chest tightness after consuming the medicine.
Uses of Melphater 50mg Injection
Therapeutic Effects of Melphater 50mg Injection
Melphater 50mg injection is an alkylating agent. It exerts its cytotoxic action primarily due to the cross-linking of strands of DNA and RNA, as well as the inhibition of protein synthesis. It works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells in your body.
Interaction of Melphater 50mg Injection with other drugs
Inform your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, nutritional and vitamin supplements, and herbal products. Certain medications interact with Melphater 50mg injection and reduce its effectiveness by causing undesirable side effects.
More Information about Melphater 50mg Injection
How to consume Melphater 50mg Injection
Melphater 50mg injection will be administered to you by a doctor or other healthcare professional in a hospital setting trained in cancer chemotherapy. This injection can be given as an infusion into your vein, or it will be given as a perfusion to a particular part of your body through an artery. Your doctor will decide the dose, route of administration, and duration of the therapy based on your disease status, severity, and other factors such as body weight, other disease conditions, and age.
Safety Advices for Melphater 50mg Injection
Pregnancy
Do not take Melphater 50mg injection if you are pregnant because this may harm the unborn baby. Inform your physician if you are pregnant, suspecting pregnancy, or planning to get pregnant during the treatment. Use effective contraception during the treatment.
Breast Feeding
Breastfeeding is not recommended in patients taking Melphater 50mg injection because the medicine passes into the breast milk in small amounts and may harm your baby. Do not breastfeed during the treatment.
Lungs
It is unknown whether Melphater 50mg injection can be used in patients with lung disorders. Consult your doctor if you have any lung diseases before starting the treatment.
Liver
There is limited information available on the use of Melphater 50mg injection in patients with liver disease. Please consult your doctor if you have any liver diseases.
Alcohol
It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Melphater 50mg injection. Please consult your doctor.
Driving
It is not known whether Melphater 50mg injection alters the ability to drive. Do not drive if you experience any symptoms that affect your ability to concentrate and react.
Side Effects of Melphater 50mg Injection
Side effects are unwanted symptoms caused by medicines. Even though all drugs cause side effects, not everyone gets them.
Common
- Decreased blood cell count
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Mouth ulcers
- Hair loss
Serious
- Cardiac arrest
- Liver inflammation
- Hypersensitivity skin reactions
- Acute renal failure
- Lung inflammation
Word of Advice
This medicine may cause changes in your blood levels. Your doctor may advise you to take certain blood tests during the treatment to monitor any unwanted side effects. Do not take an extra dose to make up for a missed dose. This medicine could cause infertility. Talk with your doctor before using this medicine if you are planning for pregnancy. This medicine may you to bleed, bruise, or get infections more easily. Take precautions to prevent illness and injury.
FAQs
Q 1. Can a patient with kidney problems take Melphater 50mg injection?
Melphater 50mg injection should be cautiously taken if you have any kidney problems. Dose adjustments are necessary for patients with kidney diseases. Inform your doctor if you are on dialysis and have any kidney disorders.
Q 2. Does Melphater 50mg injection weaken the immune system?
The medicine can suppress your immune system and increase your chances of getting infections. Take precautions to prevent illness and injury.
Q 3. What if I overdose or take two doses of Melphater 50mg injection?
If you unknowingly overdosed or took two doses of Melphater 50mg injection, immediately inform your healthcare professional and seek medical advice.
Q 4. What if I miss a dose of Melphater 50mg injection?
Do not miss your dose. Keep all your appointments with the dosing regularly. In case, if you forgot or missed an appointment inform your healthcare professional and reschedule the dosing.
Q 5. Does Melphater 50mg injection cause hair loss?
Thinning or loss of your hair will usually start within two to four weeks of your first dose of Melphater 50mg injection. You may also have thinning or loss of eyelashes, eyebrows, and other body hair. Consult your doctor if you have excessive hair loss.
Fact Box of Melphater 50mg Injection
Molecule name: Melphalan | Therapeutic class: Antineoplastics |
Pharmacological class: Alkylating agents | Indications: 1. Multiple myeloma 2. Advanced ovarian cancer 3. Childhood neuroblastoma 4. Malignant melanoma 5. Soft tissue sarcoma |