Your doctor has ordered the drug procarbazine to help treat your illness. The drug is taken by mouth with capsules.
Hodgkin's disease
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Procarbazine is in a class of drugs known as hydrazine derivatives. It slows or stops the growth of cancer cells in your body. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of cancer you have.
Procarbazine is also used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, diffuse histiocytic lymphoma, mycosis fungoides, brain tumors, and small cell lung cancer. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.
nausea and vomiting
loss of appetite
diarrhea
constipation
abdominal pain
dryness of mouth
difficulty swallowing
headache
fatigue or weakness
mouth blistering
unusual bruising or bleeding (especially nosebleeds)
fever
chills
sore throat
cough
rash
dizziness
tingling or numbness
confusion
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
The most common side effect of procarbazine is a decrease of blood cells. Your doctor may order tests before, during, and after your treatment to see if your blood cells are affected by the drug.
Last Reviewed - 09/01/2010
AHFS® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2012. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.