Procarbazine

Drug Class:	Commonly Known As:	Category:
Alkylating Agent		Cancer-related

Procarbazine - What is it for

Procarbazine is a medicine used for the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma.

Procarbazine - Side Effects, Precautions, and Contraindications

What side effects can Procarbazine cause?

Early side effects

Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite.

Delayed side effects

Decrease in white blood cells and platelets may occur about 1 week after treatment
Skin reactions such as hyperpigmentation, darkening or increasing sensitivity to sun exposure
Lethargy
Dizziness or light-headedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position

Inform your doctor or nurse if any of the following occurs:

Severe headache, chest pain, rapid or irregular heartbeat, stiff neck with nausea and vomiting
These may be symptoms of a serious high blood pressure reaction which requires a doctor's attention.
Fever, chills or sore throat
Black tarry stools, blood in vomit or unusual bleeding or bruising
Wheezing or shortness of breath
Tingling or numbness of fingers or toes
Severe sunburn or skin itching, rash or swelling

Before taking Procarbazine , what precautions must I follow?

Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines e.g. L-dopa, anti-histamines, tranquilizers or anti-depressants.
Use effective birth control during treatment with Procarbazine. Inform your doctor if you suspect you are or intend to get pregnant.
Do not breastfeed while on Procarbazine. Inform your doctor if you have any intentions to.

What food or medicine must I avoid when I take Procarbazine ?

While on Procarbazine, it is important that you avoid certain food. These foods (shown in the table below) may interact with Procarbazine and cause reactions such as heart palpitations, high blood pressure, severe headache, vomiting and diarrhea. These reactions are caused by the alcohol and/or tyramine content of the diet.

The diet changes recommended should be followed throughout your treatment with Procarbazine and also for a further 14 days after stopping treatment.

Food groups	Allowed	Avoid	Caution and Limit
Milk and Milk products	All fresh milk drinks, cream, coconut milk used within "Best Before" date. Unfermented cheese: Cream/Cottage cream	All other cheeses, especially aged cheese, food containing aged cheese. Cultured / acidophilus milk drink. Beancurd.	Chocolate milk, cultured milk products: buttermilk, yoghurt, sour cream
Breads and Cereals	All	Any containing cheese or food that are not allowed.	None
Meat and alternatives	Freshly prepared meat, fish, eggs and poultry	Age, smoked, dried, salted and fermented meats, fish and poultry (e.g. Bak Gua, Belachan, Corned beef). Dry fermented sausage.	Canned tuna, sardine and achovies
Fruits and vegetables	Fresh fruits and vegetables	Broad beanpods (e.g. fava beans, Chinese pea pods). Banana, avocado, pineapple. Overly ripe or pickled fruits and vegetables (e.g. Rojak etc.)	Raisins
Fats and Oils	All	None	None
Miscellaneous	Baker's yeast, decaffeinated tea/coffee. Rice, noodles, spaghetti. Popcorn, peanut butter, lemonade	Yeast vitamin supplements (e.g. Brewer's yeast). Chocolate, soy sauce, yoghurt. Meat extracts (e.g. Bovil, Brands essence of chicken). All alcoholic beverages	Dried soup and gravy bases. Chocolate, caffeine, chill sauce, soy sauce

Procarbazine - Dosage and How to Use

How should Procarbazine be used?

Take by mouth with a full glass of water. It may be taken with or without food. Follow the prescribed number of tablets and dosing schedule as instructed by your doctor.

If vomiting occurs soon after a dose, please check with your doctor if you require a repeat dose.