DACILON 0.5MG INJECTION

Introduction:

Dacilon 0.5mg Injection is an anticancer drug containing the active constituent dactinomycin. It is used to treat various cancer disorders (abnormal growth of cells) such as Ewing’ sarcoma (type of bone cancer), melanoma (skin cancer), testicular and uterus cancer, Rhabdomyosarcoma (rare kind of cancer in muscle) and wilms’ tumor (type of kidney cancer which usually occurs in children). 

Dacilon 0.5mg Injection may cause kidney, liver or bone marrow disorders. Vaccination with live virus vaccines is not recommended during the treatment with this medicine. Inform your doctor if you have chickenpox, shingles (viral infection) or undergoing radiation therapy while receiving this medicine. Before taking this medicine, you need to talk to your physician about all the medications you are taking recently, including supplements and herbal medicines.

Uses of Dacilon 0.5mg Injection:

• Ewing’ sarcoma
• Rhabdomyosarcoma
• Melanoma
• Wilms’ tumor
• Testicular and uterus cancer

How Dacilon 0.5mg Injection works:

It binds to DNA and inhibits protein synthesis in cancer cells, thereby slowing the growth and multiplication of cancer cells.

Interactions with other drugs:

Inform your doctor about any medications you are taking or have taken before the treatment.

More information:

• Keep out of sight and reach of children. 
• Store at 25°C. Do not freeze.

References:

1. KD Tripathi, Essentials of Medical Pharmacology, Anticancer drugs,7th edition, 2013, 867.
2. Goodman & Gilman’s, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, Cytotoxic Agents, 12th edition, 2011,1712.
3. Recordati Rare Diseases, US Food and Drug Administration, [ Revised on August 2018] [ Accessed on 9th April 2021], https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2018/050682s033lbl.pdf
4. Recordati Rare Diseases, Electronic medicines compendium (emc), [ Revised on September 2019] [ Accessed on 9th April], https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/5360/pil

How to use Dacilon 0.5mg Injection:

It will be given to you by your health care professional.

Safety advice:

Pregnancy: 

Dacilon 0.5mg Injection can cause fetal harm in pregnant patients. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant before taking this medicine. It will be given to you only if it is clearly needed. 

Breastfeeding:

This medication is not recommended for breastfeeding patients. Inform the physician if you are breastfeeding before taking this medicine

Liver:

Inform your doctor if you have any kidney disorders before taking Dacilon 0.5mg Injection. Your doctor will assess your kidney function frequently.

Kidney:

Inform your doctor if you have any kidney disorders before taking Dacilon 0.5mg Injection. Your doctor will assess your kidney function frequently.

Driving:

This medicine may cause some people lethargy. Avoid driving if you feel sick.

Others:

• Avoid vaccination with live virus vaccines.
• Inform your doctor if you have chickenpox, shingles or if you are undergoing radiotherapy before taking Dacilon 0.5mg Injection.

Side effects are unwanted symptoms caused by medicines. Even though all medicines cause side effects, not everyone gets them.

Serious: 

• Bacterial infection in the bloodstream (shivering, diarrhea, sudden chill)
• Severe bleeding, inflammation of the vein
• Facial or tongue swelling, skin and muscle pain accompanied by fever and chills
• Blisters covering large portion of the body, peeling of the skin, red or purplish rash
• Tumor lysis syndrome (muscle spasm, decreased urine flow, irregular heartbeat)
• Liver problems (difficulty breathing with thoracic pain, confusion, seizures, sweet breath odor)

Common: 

• Nausea, vomiting
• Inflammation of the rectum
• Tiredness, feeling unwell
• Fertility problems
• Inflammation of lungs, chest pain
• Difficulty swallowing, mouth ulcers, sore throat, cracked lips
• Tingling in hands and feet
• Stomach pain, ulcers, Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Skin rashes, acne, increased darkness in the skin
• Hair loss
• Soft tissue damage
• Blurry vision