Cyclophosphamide

Why has my veterinarian prescribed this medicine?

Cyclophosphamide is a chemotherapeutic drug used to treat cancer in animals. These drugs can cause cancer in humans and should be handled with caution. Cyclophosphamide may be prescribed with other chemotherapeutic drugs. It is important that the treatment course prescribed is correctly given.

Cyclophosphamide is not available as a veterinary preparation. This is also the case in Australia, however Australian veterinarians can prescribe this agents to dogs and cats with no further paper work. Therefore I suggest you delete the following sentence: Your veterinary surgeon may ask you to sign a consent form so a preparation licensed for humans can be used to treat your pet.

How does this medicine work?

Cyclophosphamide is converted in the body to active alkylating metabolites that interfere with DNA replication.    

How do I give this medication?

- Give this medication to your pet as directed by your veterinarian. READ THE LABEL CAREFULLY.

- Try to give this medication at about the same time each day and try not to miss giving any doses.

- DO NOT give the pet more medicine than directed and DO NOT give more often than directed.

- DO NOT discontinue the medication without first checking with your veterinarian. Contact your veterinarian  in advance if your pet needs a repeat prescription.

- Tablets should not be broken or crushed.

- The person administering the drug should wear disposable latex gloves when giving the medicine and wash their hands after handling the medication.

- Pregnant women should not handle this medication.

What if I miss giving a dose?

Give the dose as soon as possible. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose, and continue with the regular schedule. Do not give the pet two doses at once.

How do I store this medicine?

Keep this medicine out of reach of children. Store this medicine in a cool, dry place at room temperature. Store away from heat and direct sunlight. Do not store this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink or in damp places. The medicine may break down if exposed to heat or moisture.

Potential side effects

- Your veterinarian will need to monitor your pet's blood to check the parameters and kidney and liver function. Tell your veterinarian if you think your pet may be pregnant.

- Your pet may experience the following side effects: reduced appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, or thinning of the hair coat. If your pet experiences blood in the urine, contact your veterinarian immediately. It is important that your pet drinks plenty of water whilst taking this medication.

- Chemotherapeutics can increase your pet’s chance of getting an infection, so try to keep your pet away from stray animals or animals which may have an infection.

Possible drug interactions

- Make sure to tell your veterinarianwhat other medication you are giving to your pet.

- Quite often your veterinarian may prescribe two different medications, and a drug interaction may be anticipated. In this case, your veterinarian may vary the dose and/or monitor your pet more closely.