Indication of Natulan:
Natulan is used in the treatment of Hodgkins lymphoma and other malignant lymphomas including: -lymphosarcoma-reticulosarcoma-Brill-Symmers diseaseBecause it works differently to other anticancer agents, Natulan may be useful in the treatment of cancers that have not responded to other treatments.
Action of Natulan:
Procarbazine is a cytostatic agent, meaning it strands cells midway through cell division, but it does not actively kill them. It interferes with cells at a number of sites to prevent DNA and protein synthesis and mitosis.
Dose Advice of Natulan:
Natulan is for oral administration.-begin with 50mg dose-increase gradually (50mg/day) to 250-300mg/day-maintain this dose until greatest possible disease remission has occurred-treatment should be suspended if platelets drop below 80,000/mm3 or white blood cells drop below 3,000/mm3, and not recommenced until these levels have normalised
Schedule of Natulan:
S4
Common side effects of Natulan:
Bone marrow suppression causing decreased numbers of white blood cells and platelets is common. This increases risk of infection and bleeding. Other effects that occur often include: -loss of appetite (almost always)-nausea (almost always)-vomiting-hair loss-infertility (reversible)
Uncommon side effects of Natulan:
-headache-changes in skin sensation-nerve damage (reversible)-decreased coordination-anaemia-lung infiltration-haematuria-urinary frequency
Diseases treated by Natulan:
Hodgkins Lymphoma Medulloblastoma / Primitive Neuroectodermal tumour (PNET) (Medulloblastoma / Primitive Neuroectodermal tumour (PNET))
