Decitabine is a prescription drug that belongs to the class of medication called DNA methylation inhibitors approved for its medical use on February 02, 2006.

It is used to treat myelodysplastic syndrome (a group of conditions in which the bone marrow produces blood cells that are misshapen and do not produce enough healthy blood cells). It is also used to treat a type of cancer called acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It works by stopping the cancer cells from growing. 

The drug is available as a injection in two doses 30mg and 50mg. It will be given to you by a doctor or nurse in a hospital or clinic setting trained in cancer chemotherapy. It is given as an intravenous infusion drip (into your vein). This will take one hour. Do not self-administer the injection. Your doctor will decide the dose and duration of the treatment based on your disease severity, body weight, and other factors. 

The common side effects that are likely to occur are swelling in the face, hands, and feet, swelling and pain in the skin, discoloration of the skin, increased blood sugar levels, decreased albumin levels, abdominal pain, constipation, decrease in appetite, diarrhea, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, insomina, dizziness, pain in limbs. Other serious side effects include heart problems, anemia, infection, bleeding, fluid in the lungs, and pneumonia. 

Treatment with Decitabine Injection is associated with neutropenia (decreased WBC) and thrombocytopenia (decreased platelet count). Complete blood and platelet counts will be performed as needed to monitor response and toxicity on regular basis. The medicine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, or planning for pregnancy during the treatment. Avoid breastfeeding during the treatment with this medicine.

Inform your physician if you have an infection, decreased blood cell count, liver disease, kidney disorder, and a heart disorder. This medicine is not recommended for children or young people below 18 years of age. This medicine can cause a serious immune reaction called differentiation syndrome. Report to your physician if you face any symptoms of sudden difficulty in breathing, cough, fever, or swelling in the body. Female patients should effective birth control method during the treatment and for 6 months after your last dose is necessary.  Male patient with a female partner of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during the therapy and for 3 months after the last dose. Report symptoms of infection, anemia, or bleeding immediately to your doctor.

Do not store it above 25°C. Keep the injection away from the reach of children and pets. If you have missed any dosing appointments, inform your doctor and schedule immediately. Do not breastfeed during the treatment and for 1 week after the last dose. This medicine may cause infertility in both men and women, inform your doctor if you are planning for pregnancy before initiating the treatment. This medicine may make you bleed, bruise, or get infections more easily. Take precautions to prevent illness and injury. Wash your hands often. Your doctor may advise you to take certain tests to check for the effectiveness of the therapy. 

1. Dacogen 50 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). www.medicines.org.uk. [Revised February 2022]. [Accessed April 21, 2023.] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/2838/smpc
2. Highlights of prescribing information - decitabine; [Revised on 2013]. [Accessed April 21, 2023.] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/205582s000lbl.pdf
3. Issa JP. Decitabine. Current Opinion in Oncology. [revised 2003 Nov] [cited 2020 Jan 2];15(6):446–51. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14624227/ 

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.