Procarbazine Capsules
What is this medication?
PROCARBAZINE (proe KAR ba zeen) treats lymphoma. It works by slowing down the growth of cancer cells.
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Matulane
What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
- Infection, especially a viral infection, such as chickenpox, cold sores, herpes
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Low blood cell levels, such as white cells, platelets, or red blood cells
- Tobacco use
- An unusual or allergic reaction to procarbazine, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
- Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- Breast-feeding
How should I use this medication?
Take this medication by mouth with a glass of water. Take it as directed on the prescription label at the same time every day. Do not take it more often than directed. Keep taking it unless your care team tells you to stop.
Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. While it may be prescribed for children for selected conditions, precautions do apply.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
What if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.
What may interact with this medication?
Do not take this medication with any of the following:
- Alcohol
- Green tea
- Furazolidone
- Isoniazid
- Linezolid
- MAOIs, such as Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
- Medications for allergies, colds, or congestion
- Medications for depression, anxiety, or mental health conditions
- Medications for migraine
- Some medications for Parkinson disease, such as entacapone, levodopa, tolcapone
- Stimulant medications for ADHD, weight loss, or staying awake
This medication may also interact with the following:
- Dextromethorphan
- Medications that cause drowsiness before a procedure
- Medications to increase blood cell levels, such as filgrastim, pegfilgrastim, sargramostim
- Medications to numb skin or other tissue during a procedure
- Meperidine
- Pentazocine
- Phenothiazines, such as chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine
- Phenytoin
- Tramadol
- Trazodone
- Tyramine in some foods and drinks
- Vaccines
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. This medication may make you feel generally unwell. This is not uncommon as chemotherapy can affect healthy cells as well as cancer cells. Report any side effects. Continue your course of treatment even though you feel ill unless your care team tells you to stop.
This medication can interact with certain foods that contain tyramine. The combination may cause severe headaches, a rise in blood pressure, irregular heart beat, or you may otherwise feel unwell. Foods that contain significant amounts of tyramine include aged cheeses, meats and fish (especially aged, smoked, pickled, or processed such as bologna, pepperoni, salami, summer sausage), beer and ale, alcohol-free beer, wine (especially red), sherry, hard liquor, liqueurs, avocados, bananas, figs, raisins, soy sauce, miso soup, yeast/protein extracts, bean curd, fava or broad bean pods, or any over-ripe fruit. Ask your care team for a complete listing of tyramine-containing foods. Also, avoid drinks containing caffeine, such as tea, coffee, chocolate, or cola.
This medication may increase your risk of getting an infection. Call your care team for advice if you get a fever, chills, sore throat, or other symptoms of a cold or flu. Do not treat yourself. Try to avoid being around people who are sick.
This medication may increase your risk to bruise or bleed. Call your care team if you notice any unusual bleeding.
Be careful brushing and flossing your teeth or using a toothpick because you may get an infection or bleed more easily. If you have any dental work done, tell your dentist you are receiving this medication.
Avoid taking medications that contain aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen unless instructed by your care team. These medications may hide a fever.
This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.
It is recommended that you stop smoking tobacco products (like cigarettes or cigars) while taking this medication. Smoking tobacco products may increase your risk of developing lung cancer in the future.
Talk to your care team if you wish to become pregnant or think you might be pregnant. This medication can cause serious birth defects. Talk to your care team about reliable forms of contraception.
Do not breast-feed while taking this medication.
This medication may cause infertility. Talk to your care team if you are concerned about your fertility.
If you are going to need surgery or other procedure, tell your care team that you are using this medication.
You should make sure you get enough vitamin B6 while you are taking this medication. Discuss the foods you eat and the vitamins you take with your care team.
What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Bleeding—bloody or black, tar-like stools, vomiting blood or brown material that looks like coffee grounds, red or dark brown urine, small red or purple spots on skin, unusual bruising or bleeding
- Infection—fever, chills, cough, sore throat, wounds that don't heal, pain or trouble when passing urine, general feeling of discomfort or being unwell
- Pain, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Confusion
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Pain, redness, or swelling with sores inside the mouth or throat
- Vomiting
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Where should I keep my medication?
Keep out of the reach of children and pets.
Store between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Protect from light. Keep the container tightly closed. Get rid of any unused medication after the expiration date.
To get rid of medications that are no longer needed or have expired:
- Take the medication to a medication take-back program. Check with your pharmacy or law enforcement to find a location.
- If you cannot return the medication, ask your pharmacist or care team how to get rid of this medication safely.
NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
Additional Information From Chemocare.com About Procarbazine
Self-Care Tips:
- Procarbazine may cause you to be drowsy or dizzy. Do not attempt to operate heavy machinery, unless you know how you will react to the medication. Try to avoid taking with other medications that may make you sleepy, such as sedatives, antihistamines, or sleeping pills. You should discuss this with your healthcare provider.
- In general, drinking all types of alcoholic beverages should be avoided. You could experience severe nausea and vomiting, as drinking alcohol may interact with this medicine.
- To reduce nausea, take anti-nausea medications as prescribed by your doctor, and eat small, frequent meals.
- Keep your bowels moving. Your health care provider may prescribe a stool softener to help prevent constipation that may be caused by Procarbazine.
- Drink 2 to 3 quarts of fluid every 24 hours, unless you were told to restrict your fluid intake, and maintain good nutrition. This will decrease your chances of being constipated, and prevent dehydration.
- For flu-like symptoms, keep warm with blankets and drink plenty of liquids.
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help relieve discomfort from fever, headache and/or generalized aches and pains. However, be sure to talk with your doctor before taking it.
- You may be at risk of infection so try to avoid crowds or people with colds or not feeling well and report fever or any other signs of infection immediately to your healthcare provider.
- Wash your hands often.
- Use an electric razor and soft toothbrush to minimize bleeding.
- Avoid contact sports or activities that could cause injury.
- Avoid sun exposure. Wear SPF 15 (or higher) sun block and protective clothing, as you will be very susceptible to sun burns.
- To reduce nausea, take anti-nausea medications as prescribed by your doctor, and eat small, frequent meals.
- To help treat/prevent mouth sores, use a soft toothbrush, and rinse three times a day with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of baking soda and/or 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of salt mixed with 8 ounces of water.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Maintain good nutrition.
- If you experience symptoms or side effects, be sure to discuss them with your health care team. They can prescribe medications and/or offer other suggestions that are effective in managing such problems.
- Do not share your pills with anyone.
When to contact your doctor or health care provider:
Seek emergency help immediately and notify your health care provider, it you experience the following symptoms:
- Shortness of breath, wheezing, difficulty breathing, closing up of the throat, swelling of facial features, hives (possible allergic reaction).
Contact your health care provider immediately, day or night, if you should experience any of the following symptoms:
- Fever of 100.4° F (38° C), chills (possible signs of infection)
The following symptoms require medical attention, but are not emergency situations. Contact your health care provider within 24 hours of noticing any of the following:
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Black or tarry stools, or blood in your stools or urine
- Nausea (interferes with ability to eat and unrelieved with prescribed medication)
- Vomiting (vomiting more than 4-5 times in a 24 hour period)
- Diarrhea (4-6 episodes in a 24-hour period)
- Constipation unrelieved by laxative use
- Severe abdominal pain
- Mouth sores (painful redness, swelling or ulcers)
- Painful urination
- Severe numbness, bone or joint pain
- Feeling faint or dizzy
- Extreme fatigue (unable to carry on self-care activities)
- Signs of infection such as redness or swelling, pain on swallowing, coughing up mucous, or painful urination.
Always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.
