 |
Patient Information Sheet
Clofarabine (marketed as Clolar)
PDF Print Version
This is a summary of the most important information
about Clolar. For details, talk to your child’s health care
professional.
What is Clolar?
Clolar is a medicine used in children, ages 1 to 21,
to treat a type of leukemia called relapsed or refractory acute
lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), only after at least 2 other types of
treatment have failed. ALL is a cancer of the white blood cells.
White blood cells fight infection in the body.
Clolar can reduce the number of leukemia cells in the blood. At this
time we do not know if Clolar will help a child with ALL live
longer.
What are The Risks?
Clolar can cause serious side effects such as:
-
Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). Clolar quickly kills
leukemia cells in your child’s blood. Your child’s body may react to
this. Symptoms include fast breathing, fast heartbeat, low blood
pressure, and fluid in the lungs. TLS is very serious and can lead
to death if it is not treated right away.
-
Bone marrow problems (suppression). Clolar can stop
your child’s bone marrow from making enough red blood cells, white
blood cells, and platelets. Serious side effects that can happen
because of bone marrow suppression include severe infection
(sepsis), bleeding, and anemia.
-
Effects on pregnancy and breastfeeding. Girls and
women should not become pregnant or breastfeed during treatment with Clolar because Clolar may harm the baby. Girls and women who can
become pregnant should avoid becoming pregnant during treatment with
Clolar.
-
Dehydration and low blood pressure. Clolar can cause
vomiting and diarrhea which may lead to low body fluid
(dehydration). Signs and symptoms of dehydration include dizziness,
lightheadedness, fainting spells, or decreased urination.
-
Other side effects. The most common side effects
with Clolar are stomach problems (including vomiting, diarrhea, and
nausea), and effects on blood cells (including low red blood cells
count, low white blood cell count, low platelet count, fever, and
infection. Clolar can also cause fast heartbeat and can affect the
liver and kidneys.
What Should I Tell My Child’s
Health Care Professional?
Before your child starts receiving Clolar, tell the
health care professional about all of his or her medical conditions,
including if your child:
Are There Any Interactions With
Drugs or Foods?
Tell your child’s health care professional about all
the medicines your child takes, including prescription and
non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Clolar
and other medicines may affect each other, causing serious side
effects.
How Does My Child Receive Clolar?
-
Clolar is given by I.V (in the vein) infusion.
-
Your child will receive Clolar over a 2 hour
infusion every day for five days. This cycle will repeat every 2 to
6 weeks.
-
Your child’s health care professional will do blood
tests to monitor his or her blood cells, kidney function, and liver
function.
Clolar FDA Approved 2004
Patient Information Sheet Revised 06/2005
 Back
to Top 
Back to Drug Index
 PDF requires the free Adobe
Acrobat Reader
Date created: June 22, 2005 |
|
