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Side Effects of Cytarabine

Cytarabine is a chemotherapy drug used to treat certain kinds of cancer. According to cancerbackup.org.uk, "Cytarabine is most commonly used to treat acute myeloid leukaemia." This drug is given over a several month period and is placed into the body through injections into veins. As is common with most chemotherapy drugs, certain mild to severe side effects are associated with Cytarabine.

  1. Allergic Reaction

    • It is possible that those treated with Cytarabine will experience an allergic reaction to the drug. According to drugs.com, symptoms of a severe allergic reaction include back pain, bowel or bladder problems, confusion, extreme tiredness, difficulty breathing, chest pain and swelling of the face, mouth, tongue or lips. Other symptoms are difficulty hearing, fever, headache, nausea, neck pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness in the arms or legs, redness or swelling near the injection site, vomiting and changes in vision.

    Side Effects-Hematologic/Respiratory

    • Drugs.com states that the most common hematologic side effect associated with Cytarabine is decrease activity of bone marrow in patients. Also known as myelosuppression, this defect usually occurs between the fourth and twelfth day of therapy and subsides around one month into therapy treatments, explains drugs.com. Other common hematologic side effects include decrease in blood cells (red, white, platelets), fever and anemia. Respiratory side effects are shortness of breath, throat irritation, sore throat and respiratory distress.

    Side Effects-Nervous System/Cardiovascular

    • As explained by drugs.com, studies have shown that cerebellar and cerebral toxicity have occurred in patients taking high dosages of Cytarabine. Other studies have reported that patients have experienced cerebellar degeneration while taking high dosages. More common side effects include neuritis, lethargy, confusion and headache. Common cardiovascular side effects have included swelling of veins due to blood clots, bleeding and inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart (Pericarditis).

    Side Effects-Gastrointestinal/Dermatologic

    • Patients have also reported many gastrointestinal and dermatologic side effects while being treated with Cytarabine. Gastrointestinal side effects include oral and anal inflammation, nausea, vomiting, anorexia and diarrhea, states drugs.com. Other common side effects are damage to the bowels, stomatitis and pancreatitis. Dermatologic side effects are rash, skin ulcers, freckling of the skin, redness, itchiness, in some cases, hives. Contact your doctor if any of these worsen or persist.

    Additional Side Effects

    • Liver dysfunctions such as jaundice have been reported by those taking this drug. Other side effects have included chest pain, abdominal pain, dizziness, pneumonia and sickness of the blood stream by bacteria (sepsis). Drugs.com also states that urinary retention, kidney dysfunctions, eye infections and hypersensitivity issues such as allergic reaction are possible. Redness of the eye, fever and maculopapular rash (which is mainly found in children taking high dosages of Cytarabine) have also been experienced by patients.

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