azacitidine, an antineoplastic hormone. ▪ INDICATIONS: This drug is used to treat myelodysplastic syndrome. ▪ CONTRAINDICATIONS: Pregnancy, advanced malignant hepatic tumors, and known hypersensitivity to this drug or mannitol prohibit its use. ▪ ADVERSE EFFECTS: Adverse effects of this drug include anxiety, depression, dizziness, fatigue, headache, cardiac murmur, hypotension, tachycardia, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, constipation, abdominal pain, abdominal distension or tenderness, hemorrhoids, mouth hemorrhage, tongue ulceration, stomatitis, dyspepsia, dysuria, urinary tract infection, ecchymosis, irritation at injection site, rash, sweating, pyrexia, and hypokalemia. Life-threatening side effects include diarrhea, hepatotoxicity, hepatic coma, renal failure, renal tubular acidosis, leukopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia.
