procarbazine

What is the most important information I should know about procarbazine?

What is procarbazine?

Procarbazine is given with other cancer medicines to treat Hodgkin's Disease (a type of blood cancer).

Procarbazine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking procarbazine?

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• kidney disease;
• liver disease;
• anemia (low red blood cells);
• low levels of platelets in the blood;
• low white blood cell counts;
• fluid retention; or
• if you have received other cancer medications or radiation within the past 30 days.

This medicine may affect fertility (ability to have children) in men.

How should I take procarbazine?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Procarbazine can increase your risk of bleeding or infection. You will need frequent medical tests. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results of these tests.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Overdose symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, or feeling lightheaded.

What should I avoid while taking procarbazine?

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using procarbazine. The vaccine may not work as well and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.

• avocados, bananas, figs, papaya, raisins, and sauerkraut;
• dried, aged or fermented meats;
• wine, beer on tap (not in a bottle or can);
• aged cheeses, including blue, boursault, brie, camembert, cheddar, gruyere, mozzarella, parmesan, Romano, Roquefort, and Swiss;
• soy sauce, miso soup, bean curd, fava beans; or
• yeast extracts, yogurt.

Eating tyramine while you are taking procarbazine can raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels, causing life-threatening side effects.

What are the possible side effects of procarbazine?

• diarrhea that is watery;
• numbness, burning pain, or tingly feeling;
• confusion, hallucinations, problems with vision or speech, trouble with walking or daily activities;
• feeling unsteady, loss of balance or coordination;
• tremors, seizure;
• cough, chest pain, trouble breathing;
• blisters or ulcers in your mouth, red or swollen gums, trouble swallowing;
• bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
• liver problems --loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), tiredness, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• low blood cell counts --fever, chills, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath.

Common side effects may include:

• low blood cell counts; or
• nausea, vomiting.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect procarbazine?

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• blood pressure medication;
• an antidepressant or sedative;
• diet pills, stimulants, or ADHD medication such as Adderall or Ritalin; or
• medicine to treat mental illness or psychosis.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect procarbazine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about procarbazine.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 6.01. Revision date: 9/9/2020.