About melphalan tillomed
Alkylating chemotherapy medicine
Used for
- Treats multiple myeloma and some ovarian cancers.
- Used in high-dose chemotherapy before stem-cell transplantation.
- Treats certain childhood neuroblastomas.
Usual adult dose
Dose varies widely by cancer, treatment plan, body size, and kidney function; specialists administer it.
Usual dose in children
Specialist-calculated doses are used for some childhood cancers, including neuroblastoma.
Common side effects
- Low blood-cell counts, increasing infection, bruising, and bleeding risks.
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or mouth sores.
- Hair loss and fatigue.
- Infusion reactions or tissue damage if medicine leaks from the vein.
Important warnings
- Given under specialist supervision; regular blood tests are essential.
- Can cause severe, prolonged bone-marrow suppression and serious infections.
- May cause infertility and increase the risk of later cancers.
- Handle as a hazardous cytotoxic medicine; avoid pregnancy during treatment.
Pregnancy
Can harm an unborn baby. Avoid during pregnancy; effective contraception is required during treatment and afterward as advised by the specialist.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment because melphalan may harm the infant.
Interactions
- Other medicines that suppress bone marrow may increase blood-cell toxicity.
- Ciclosporin may increase kidney damage risk with high-dose melphalan.
- Live vaccines may cause infection during immune suppression.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.