Amifostine:-                           

🙏Say no to drugs  🙏 

Amifostine is the generic name for the trade name drug Ethyol.

 I

Drug Type: Amifostine is a drug used to reduce the undesired side effects 

of certain chemotherapy agents and radiation treatment.


  • Amifostine can help relieve dry mouth problems for patients 
  • with head and neck cancer who are undergoing radiation treatment.
  • Patients who are receiving repeated doses of the chemotherapy drug cisplatin. 
  • Amifostine can help prevent inflammation of the lining of the rectum in patients 
  • undergoing radiation treatment for rectal cancer.


  • Amifostine is given into a vein (intravenous, IV) infusion starting about 15-30 minutes 
  • Before amifostine is given, patients must drink plenty of fluids. 
  • Anti-nausea medicine may be given in conjunction with amifostine.
  • The amount of amifostine that you will receive depends on many factors.
  • your general health or health problems.
  •  and the type of cancer or condition being treated.  

Side Effects:

Important things to remember about the side effects of amifostine:

  • Most people do not experience all of the side effects listed.
  • Side effects are often predictable in terms of their onset and duration.
  • Side effects are almost always reversible and will go away after treatment is complete.
  • There are many options to help minimize or prevent side effects.
  • There is no relationship between the presence or severity of the side effects of the medication.

All side effects are infusion-related (occur while the medicine is being given).

The following side effects are common (occurring in greater than 30%)

 for patients taking amifostine:

These are less common side effects for patients receiving amifostine:

Not all side effects are listed above experience any unusual symptoms.

When To Contact Your Doctor or Health Care Provider:

If you experience any of the infusion-related side effects listed above, make sure y

ou tell your health care provider right away.

Always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms

Precautions:

Before starting amifostine treatment, make sure you tell your doctor.
  • Amifostine may be inadvisable if you have had a hypersensitivity (allergic) 
  • Your blood pressure medication will likely be stopped for 24 hours before treatment with amifostine. 
  • Inform your health care professional if you are pregnant or may be pregnant
  • t prior to starting this treatment. 
  • For both men and women: Do not conceive a child (get pregnant) while taking amifostine.  
  • Pregnancy category C (use in pregnancy 
  • only if the benefit to the mother outweighs the risk to the fetus).

Self-Care Tips:

  • Drink plenty of fluids (at least 2-3 quarts every 24 hours) prior to therapy with amifostine,
  •  unless you are instructed otherwise.
  • To reduce nausea, take anti-nausea medications as prescribed
  • , and eat small, frequent meals.
  • If you experience symptoms or side effects, be sure to discuss them with your health care team right away.
  •  This may develop weeks after treatment with amifostine.

Monitoring and Testing While Taking Amifostine:

Your blood pressure will be checked frequently during treatment. 

Patients with certain kidney problems who are at risk of low calcium levels in their blood will be 

monitored for this condition during treatment.

How Amifostine Works:

  • Chemoprotective agents are drugs that are used with certain types of chemotherapy.
  •  protect the body from or minimize the side effects of chemotherapy. 
  • These medications do not eliminate side effects in general. 
  • Rather, they protect the body from some of the potentially serious side effects. 

                                                     🙏    Say no to drugs🙏

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