melphalan flufenamide

What is the most important information I should know about melphalan flufenamide?

What is melphalan flufenamide?

Melphalan flufenamide is used together with dexamethasone (a steroid medicine) to treat adults with multiple myeloma.

Melphalan flufenamide is given after at least four other cancer treatments did not work or have stopped working.

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

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving melphalan flufenamide?

Tell your doctor if you have any type of infection.

Using melphalan flufenamide may increase your risk of developing other cancers, such as leukemia. Ask your doctor about this risk.

You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment.

• If you are a woman, do not use melphalan flufenamide if you are pregnant. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 6 months after your last dose.
• If you are a man, use effective birth control if your sex partner is able to get pregnant. Keep using birth control for at least 3 months after your last dose.
• Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using melphalan flufenamide.

Pregnancy may be less likely to occur while the mother or the father is using this medicine. Both men and women should still use birth control to prevent pregnancy because the medicine can harm an unborn baby.

How is melphalan flufenamide given?

Melphalan flufenamide is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

This medicine is given in a 28-day treatment cycle. You will receive melphalan flufenamide only on the first day of each cycle. Melphalan flufenamide must be given slowly, and the infusion can take about 30 minutes to complete.

Dexamethasone is either taken by mouth or given as an injection given by your healthcare professional. Usually, the dexamethasone is used every 7 days of each treatment cycle.

Your doctor will determine how long to treat you with melphalan flufenamide and dexamethasone. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

You may be given other medicine to help prevent nausea. Keep using this medicine for as long as your doctor has prescribed.

You may need frequent medical tests to be sure this medicine is not causing harmful effects. Your cancer treatments may be delayed or stopped based on the results.

What happens if I miss a dose?

What happens if I overdose?

Since this medicine is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid while receiving melphalan flufenamide?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

What are the possible side effects of melphalan flufenamide?

• a new or worsening cough;
• pain or burning when you urinate; or
• low blood cell counts --fever, chills, tiredness, mouth sores, skin sores, 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;
• nausea, diarrhea;
• tiredness; or
• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

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 melphalan flufenamide?

Other drugs may affect melphalan flufenamide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about melphalan flufenamide.

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: 1.01. Revision date: 4/14/2021.