Adriamycin (Doxorubicin)
Adriamycin, an active medicine against many cancers, is one of the older chemotherapy drugs, having been in use for decades. Adriamycin is a clear, orange-red colored powder or liquid, which is administered intravenously only. It is most commonly used in treatment of the following cancers:
The type and extent of a cancer will determine the method and schedule of administration of this drug. This decision is made by the medical oncologist. Adriamycin may be administered as a continuous intravenous infusion over a span of four to five days,, or given on a scheduled basis, i.e., once a week or once every three to four weeks, etc.)
Side effects:
The degree and severity of the side effects depend on the amount and schedule of the administration of Adriamycin. Some of the significant side effects are:
Soreness of the mouth, difficulty swallowing
Diarrhea
Low white blood counts
Low platelet count
Anemia
Heart problems
Damage to the veins (It can cause redness and irritation at the site of injection, despite proper injection.)
Severe damage to the tissues if it leaks from the injection site (Extravasation)
Red urine, which is due to excretion of the medicine by the kidneys
It is imperative that a patient communicate any side effects or problems to his/her medical oncologist.