Cytarabine or Cytosine Arabinoside or ARA-C
(sye-TARE-a-been) (sye-toe-SENE ar-ah-BIN-oh-side) (era-see)
Definition | Special instructions | Missed dose | Side effects | Warning signs | Contact us
What is cytarabine (cytosine arabinoside or ARA-C)?
Cytarabine (cytosine arabinoside or ARA-C) is a drug used to treat certain types of cancer. It is available as an injectable medication that may be given intravenously (IV), intramuscularly (into the muscle), subcutaneously (under the skin), or intrathecally (into the spinal fluid).
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Special Instructions
- Your child's doctor may prescribe eye drops that are taken to help prevent eye irritation during therapy with cytarabine.
- Fevers are common with this medication, especially within 24 hours of receiving cytarabine.
- If too much medicine is taken by accident, call the Drug and Poison Information Center (DPIC), 513-636-5111 or 1-800-222-1222, or call your child's doctor immediately.
- Keep this medication out of the reach of children.
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If a dose is missed
For any medication information related to your child's dosing schedule and / or missed doses, contact the healthcare provider who prescribed the medication.
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Side effects
Contact your child's doctor if symptoms persist or become bothersome:
- Hair loss
- Tiredness
- Loss of appetite
- Sore throat / mouth or difficulty swallowing
- Abdominal pain
- Tingling or numbness
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Warning signs
Call your child's doctor immediately if your child develops:
- Severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Sever throat or mouth pain, or difficulty swallowing
- Yellowing of the skin and / or eyes
- Rash
- Fever
- Dizziness and / or confusion
- Difficulty breathing
- Itching or scaling skin especially on the palms and soles of feet
- Difficulty urinating
- Changes in vision and / or including tearing, eye pain, sensitivity to light, blurry vision
- Feeling like something is in the eye
- Bleeding or easy bruising
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Contact us
For additional information on this or any Health Topic, please call the Family Resource Center, 513-636-7606, or your pediatrician.
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PEP 5008 9/2000
rev. 9/05, 8/07
