Do not receive this medication without telling your doctor if you
are pregnant. Decitabine could cause harm to the unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth
control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
If a man fathers a child while using this medication, the baby may have birth defects.
Use a condom to prevent pregnancy during your treatment. Continue using condoms for at least
2 months after you stop receiving decitabine.
Decitabine is given as an injection in a clinic or hospital setting. The medicine must be
given slowly through an IV infusion, and can take up to 3 hours to complete.
Decitabine is usually given every 8 hours for 3 days, repeated every 6 weeks for at least 4
treatments.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition and is not causing harmful effects,
your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your kidney or liver function may also need
to be tested. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
What is decitabine?
Decitabine is a cancer medicine. It helps prevent cancer cells from spreading in the body.
Decitabine is used to treat myelodysplastic syndromes (certain types of blood or bone
marrow cancer).
Decitabine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my health care provider before receiving decitabine?
Before receiving decitabine, tell your doctor if you have:
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to receive
decitabine, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category D. This medication can cause harm to an unborn baby. Do
not receive decitabine without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. Use an effective form of
birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
If a man fathers a child while using this medication, the baby may have birth defects.
Use a condom to prevent pregnancy during your treatment. Continue using condoms for at least
2 months after you stop receiving decitabine.
It is not known whether decitabine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a
nursing baby. Do not receive this medication without telling your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby.
How is decitabine given?
Decitabine is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. You will receive
this injection in a clinic or hospital setting. The medicine must be given slowly through an IV
infusion, and can take up to 3 hours to complete.
In most cases, a decitabine injection is given every 8 hours for 3 days. This 3-day
treatment is usually repeated every 6 weeks. You will most likely receive at least 4 of these
treatments.
You may be given other medications to help prevent nausea and vomiting while you are
being treated with decitabine.
Decitabine can lower the blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make
it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. To be
sure your blood cells do not get too low, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis.
Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. It is important that you not miss any
scheduled visits to your doctor.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of this medication.
Print
Email
Save
Drug Info Tools
Medicare's drug plans are subsidized by the US federal government and offered through insurers.
