Drug reference

Decitabine

Antimetabolite · Antineoplastic

AntimetaboliteAntineoplastic

CDSCO approvedSchedule H

EXCRETION

—

not curated

INTERACTIONS

12 major

SEVERE in our sources

PREGNANCY

Avoid; teratogenic in animal studies.

FDA category + note

Top interactionssee all 12 →

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Mechanism

Decitabine is a pyrimidine analogue, specifically a cytidine analog. It is readily taken up by cells, converted to its active nucleotide form, and incorporated into DNA. This incorporation inhibits DNA synthesis and produces inhibitory effects on vital enzymatic pathways, thereby exerting its antineoplastic action.

Indications

Treatment of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia in patients over 65 years of age who are not candidates for standard induction chemotherapymyelodysplasia (induces normalization of bone marrow and reduces transfusion requirement)

Dosing

Renal adjustment: Caution if creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/minute; no specific information on adjustment available.
Hepatic adjustment: Caution; no specific information on adjustment available.
Geriatric: Consult local protocol (by intravenous infusion)

Pharmacokinetics

Onset

not specified

Peak effect

not specified

Protein binding

not specified

Metabolism

not specified

Contraindications

History of severe congestive heart failure
History of unstable cardiac disease

Side effects

Common

AnaemiaDiarrhoeaEpistaxisFeverHeadacheHypersensitivityIncreased risk of infectionLeucopeniaNauseaNeutropeniaSepsisStomatitisThrombocytopeniaVomitingmyelosuppressionmild GI symptoms

Serious