Azacitidine is an anticancer medication which was approved for its medical use on 19th May 2004.

Azacitidine is a prescription medicine indicated to treat adults with acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome and peadiatric patients older than one month newly diagnosed with Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML).

Azacitidine is available in form of tablets in the doses 200mg and 300mg and as lyophilized powder for injection in the doses 100mg and 150mg. the injection is intended for administration through subcutaneous and intravenous route only. 

Take 1 Azacitidine Tablet with or without food everyday from day 1 to day 14 of each 28-day cycle. Azacitidine Injection will be administered by your oncologist through subcutaneous or intravenous route and the number of cycles and duration of treatment depends on the type of cancer. 

The common side effects that are likely to occur while you are on the treatment with Azacitidine Injection are nausea, anaemia, thrombocytopenia, vomiting, fever, diarrhoea, injection site reactions, constipation, weakness, rashes and low blood potassium levels (hypokalemia). The most common side effects of Azacitidine Tablet include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, tiredness, weakness, stomach pain, pneumonia, joint pain, loss of appetite, pain in the arms or legs and dizziness. If you experience any allergic reactions or any other symptoms like shortness of breath, chills, or fever report to your doctor immediately.

Azacitidine not recommended for patients who are allergic to Azacitidine, or its ingredients. It is essential to let your physician know if you are diagnosed with problems in your kidneys or liver. Your physician will regularly monitor your blood cell count, liver and kidney parameters. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any skin reactions, breathing trouble, unusual headaches, bleeding, bruising, fever, extreme tiredness or weakness.

Azacitidine might impair fertility in male and female patients. Female patients and female partners of male patients should avoid getting pregnant during this treatment. Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to have a baby. Discuss effective contraceptive methods with your healthcare practitioner and continue using birth control methods for at least 6 months after the final dose of Azacitidine. Male patients should not father a child for up to 3 months after stopping the treatment. Do not breastfeed during and one week after Azacitidine treatment.

Azacitidine make you feel tired or dizzy. Hence do not drive for used machines during this treatment.

1. Bristol Myers Squibb, [Revised on May 2021] [Accessed on 12th Oct 2022], https://packageinserts.bms.com/pi/pi_onureg.pdf
2. Bristol Myers Squibb, [Revised on Sep 2022] [Accessed on 12th Oct 2022], https://packageinserts.bms.com/pi/pi_vidaza.pdf
3. Anton Wellstein, Giuseppe Giaccone, Michael B. Atkins, and Edward A. Sausville, Goodman & Gilman’s Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, Cytotoxic Drugs, 13th Edition, 2018, 1167-1201.
4. Čemažar L, Podgornik H, Šimec NG, Zver S. Successful long-term treatment with azacitidine in patient with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Hematol Rep. 2020 Dec 2;12(3):8537, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7731662/pdf/hr-12-3-8537.pdf

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 are eligible to receive this treatment.