About actinomycin d
Antitumor antibiotic chemotherapy
Used for
- Wilms tumor
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Ewing sarcoma
- Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia
Usual adult dose
Varies by cancer and regimen; commonly 1.25 mg/m² intravenously every 3 weeks.
Usual dose in children
Varies by cancer and regimen; commonly 15 mcg/kg intravenously daily for 5 days, repeated every 3 weeks.
Common side effects
- Low blood cell counts
- Nausea and vomiting
- Mouth sores
- Hair loss
Important warnings
- Given intravenously by experienced cancer-care teams; leakage can severely damage tissue.
- Can cause severe bone-marrow suppression and serious infections.
- May cause liver injury and radiation recall reactions.
- Avoid live vaccines during treatment; monitor blood counts and liver function.
Pregnancy
May harm a fetus. Avoid during pregnancy unless essential; effective contraception is generally recommended during treatment.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment because of potential serious harm to the infant.
Interactions
- Radiation therapy may increase tissue injury and trigger radiation recall.
- Other medicines that suppress bone marrow may increase blood-cell toxicity.
- Live vaccines may cause serious infection during immunosuppressive treatment.
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 It may be incomplete or out of date.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.