Pentostatin can cause kidney, liver, lung, and neurological toxicity. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: weakness, change in vision or hearing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, tingling of the hands or feet, mental confusion, or loss of coordination. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to pentostatin.
Your doctor has ordered the drug pentostatin to help treat your illness. The drug can be given by injection into a vein.
hairy cell leukemia
chronic lymphocytic leukemia
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Pentostatin is a type of antibiotic that is only used for chemotherapy; it slows or stops the growth of cancer cells in your body. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of cancer you have.
Pentostatin also is used to treat acute lymphocytic leukemia, mycosis fungoides, prolymphocytic leukemia (B-cell and T-cell origin), T-cell leukemia, and lymphoma. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.
nausea and vomiting
loss of appetite
diarrhea
upset stomach
abdominal pain
gas
gum and teeth changes
headache
tiredness or fatigue
mouth blistering
unusual bleeding or bruising
fever
chills
sore throat
muscle aches
rash
pain (especially chest pain or discomfort)
redness, swelling, or pain at the site of injection
anxiety or depression
insomnia
dizziness
eye or ear pain
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
The most common side effect of pentostatin is a decrease in the number of blood cells. Your doctor may order tests before, during, and after your treatment to see if your blood cells are affected by the drug.
Last Reviewed - 04/01/2012
AHFS® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2012. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.