Amifostine is a chemoprotection drug that belongs to the class of adjunct chemoprotective agents. FDA approved the medicine on 24th June 1999 to protect the kidneys from the harmful effects of chemotherapy medication and to treat dryness in the mouth after head and neck cancer. 

Amifostine is an intravenously administered drug. It protects the kidneys from the harmful effects of the chemotherapy drug (cisplatin) in patients that receive this medication to treat ovarian cancer. It is also used to decrease dryness in the mouth caused by radiation treatment after head and neck cancer surgery. It works by protecting against the harmful effects of chemotherapy medications and radiation treatment.

Amifostine will be administered to you by a doctor or other healthcare professional in a hospital setting trained in cancer chemotherapy. Your doctor will decide the dose, route of administration, and duration of the therapy based on your disease status, severity, and other factors such as body weight, other disease conditions, and age. This medicine will be given intravenously (into your vein). Do not self-administer the injection. 

The common side effects of amifostine include skin rash, nausea, and vomiting. Other serious side effects include decreased blood pressure, severe skin rash, and hypersensitivity reactions. 

Patients who are hypotensive and dehydrated should not receive this medicine. This medicine is intended to cause severe skin reactions, Inform your physician if you get a red itchy rash and hives in the skin after administration of the injection. Amifostine may cause severe birth defects when administered during pregnancy. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, suspecting or planning for pregnancy. 

Inform your healthcare professional if you have a history of low blood pressure, stroke, seizure or any other complication before initiating the therapy. Do not take Amifostine if you are allergic to Amifostine or any of the other ingredients. Notify your physician if you have any history or liver disease, kidney disease, heart disorders, heart failure, or heart rhythm changes. Amifostine may impair fertility; talk with your doctor if you are planning for pregnancy. Your healthcare professional may advise you to take certain blood tests to monitor the effectiveness and side effects of the therapy. 

Store the injection at room temperature 20°C to 25°C. Protect the medicine from light and excessive moisture. Keep the medicine out of reach of children and pets. If you missed the dosing schedule, inform your healthcare professional immediately and reschedule. Use effective contraception during the treatment. Drink extra fluids during the 24 hours before you receive this medicine. You may be advised to take calcium supplements and other medications to help prevent nausea and vomiting. Do not smoke or consume alcohol while using this medicine.

1. Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc, US Food and Drug Administration, [Revised date May 2019], [Accessed date 17th April 2023],https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/020221s036lbl.pdf
2. Kouvaris JR, Kouloulias VE, Vlahos LJ. Amifostine: The First Selective-Target and Broad-Spectrum Radioprotector. The Oncologist [Internet]. 2007 Jun 1 [cited 2022 Mar 31];12(6):738–47. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17602063/
3. KD Tripathi, Essentials of Medical Pharmacology, Anticancer drugs, 7th edition, 2013, 876.

The drug information on this page is not a substitute for medical advice. It is meant for educational purposes only. For further details, consult your doctor about your medical condition to know if you can receive this treatment.