cytarabine /siter″əbēn/ , an antineoplastic agent. Also called arabinosylcytosine, ARA-C, cytosine arabinoside. ▪ INDICATIONS: It is prescribed in the treatment of acute and chronic myelocytic leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, and erythroleukemia. ▪ CONTRAINDICATIONS: Known hypersensitivity to this drug prohibits its use. ▪ ADVERSE EFFECTS: The most serious adverse reactions are bone marrow depression, stomatitis, phlebitis, liver toxicity, fever, and GI disturbances.
