Fludarabine
Looking up MedlinePlus…
From MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
Boxed warning
WARNING: CNS TOXICITY, HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA, AND PULMONARY TOXICITY WARNING: CNS TOXICITY, HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA, AND PULMONARY TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Severe central nervous system toxicity occurred in 36% of patients treated with doses approximately four times greater (96 mg/m 2 /day for 5 to 7 days) than the recommended dose. This toxicity was seen in ≤0.2% of patients treated at the recommended dose levels (25 m g/m 2 ). (5.1) Instances of life-threatening and sometimes fatal autoimmune hemolytic anemia have been reported after one or more cycle s of treatment.
(5.3) In a clinical investigation of the combination of fludarabine phosphate with pentostatin (deoxycoformycin) for the treatment of refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), there was an unacceptably high incidence of fatal pulmonary toxicity. (5.5) WARNING: SEVERE BONE MARROW SUPPRESSION, CNS TOXICITY, HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA, AND PULMONARY TOXICITY Fludarabine Phosphate Injection should be administered under the supervision of a qualified physician experienced in the use of antineoplastic therapy. Fludarabine phosphate injection can severely suppress bone marrow function.
When used at high doses in dose-ranging studies in patients with acute leukemia, fludarabine phosphate was associated with severe neurologic effects, including blindness, coma, and death. This severe central nervous system toxicity occurred in 36% of patients treated with doses approximately four times greater (96 mg/m 2 /day for 5 to 7 days) than the recommended dose. Similar severe central nervous system toxicity, including coma, seizures, agitation and confusion, has been reported in patients treated at doses in the range of the dose recommended for chronic lymphocytic leukemia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)] .
Instances of life-threatening and sometimes fatal autoimmune phenomena such as hemolytic anemia, autoimmune thrombocytopenia/thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), Evans syndrome, and acquired hemophilia have been reported to occur after one or more cycles of treatment with Fludarabine Phosphate Injection. Patients undergoing treatment with Fludarabine Phosphate Injection should be evaluated and closely monitored for hemolysis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].
In a clinical investigation using fludarabine phosphate in combination with pentostatin (deoxycoformycin) for the treatment of refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), there was an unacceptably high incidence of fatal pulmonary toxicity. Therefore, the use of Fludarabine Phosphate Injection in combination with…
Dosing in kidney impairment
Renal Impairment Adjustments to the starting dose are recommended to provide appropriate drug exposure in patients with creatinine clearance 30 to 79 mL/min, as estimated by the Cockroft-Gault equations. These adjustments are based on a pharmacokinetic study in patients with renal impairment. Fludarabine Phosphate Injection should not be administered to patients with creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/min.
Starting Dose Adjustment for Renal Impairment [See table below.] Renally impaired patients should be monitored closely for excessive toxicity and the dose modified accordingly.
| Creatinine Clearance | Starting Dose |
| ≥ 80 mL/min | 25 mg/m 2 (full dose) |
| 50 to 79 mL/min | 20 mg/m 2 |
| 30 to 49 mL/min | 15 mg/m 2 |
| < 30 mL/min | Do not administer |
Preparation and administration
Prepare this dose
Your numbers for fludarabine. Take vial strength, diluent, and limits from the label below.
Enter a dose to see draw volume, final concentration, and rates.
Use of Infusion Solutions Fludarabine Phosphate Injection contains no antimicrobial preservative and should be used within 8 hours of opening. Care must be taken to assure sterility of infusion solutions. Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit.
Fludarabine Phosphate Injection should not be mixed with other drugs.
Drug interactions
Check fludarabine against a medication listLabel text (2 paragraphs)
Fludarabine phosphate injection in combination with pentostatin is not recommended due to the risk of severe pulmonary toxicity (5.5 and 7.1).
7.1 Pentostatin The use of Fludarabine Phosphate Injection in combination with pentostatin is not recommended due to the risk of fatal pulmonary toxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)].
Contraindications
None None
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
5.6 Pregnancy Based on its mechanism of action, fludarabine phosphate can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of Fludarabine Phosphate Injection in pregnant women. Fludarabine phosphate was embryolethal and teratogenic in rats and rabbits. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus. Women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].
8.1 Pregnancy [See Warnings and Precautions (5.6)]. Based on its mechanism of action, fludarabine phosphate can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of Fludarabine Phosphate Injection in pregnant women. In rats, repeated intravenous doses of fludarabine phosphate at 2.4 times and 7.2 times the recommended human intravenous dose (25 mg/m 2 ) administered during organogenesis caused an increase in resorptions, skeletal and visceral malformations (cleft palate, exencephaly, and fetal vertebrae deformities) and decreased fetal body weights.
Maternal toxicity was not apparent at 2.4 times the human intravenous dose, and was limited to slight body weight decreases at 7.2 times the human intravenous dose. In rabbits, repeated intravenous doses of fludarabine phosphate at 3.8 times the human intravenous dose administered during organogenesis increased embryo and fetal lethality as indicated by increased resorptions and a decrease in live fetuses. A significant increase in malformations including cleft palate, hydrocephaly, adactyly, brachydactyly, fusions of the digits, diaphragmatic hernia, heart/great vessel defects, and vertebrae/rib anomalies were seen in all dose levels (≥ 0.5 times the human intravenous dose).
If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus. Women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant.
17.3 Pregnancy Fludarabine phosphate can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Women should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)]. Manufactured for: Areva Pharmaceuticals Inc. Georgetown, IN 47122 Made in Italy Revised: October 2018
Lactation
8.3 Nursing Mothers It is not known whether fludarabine phosphate is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions including tumorigenicity in nursing infants, a decision should be made to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug for the mother.
For breastfeeding, also see LactMed (National Library of Medicine), which summarizes milk levels and infant effects.
Supply and cost
Drug shortage status
Recalls (last 24 months)
Therapeutic equivalence (Orange Book)
Price ladder
Not the price at the counterThese are not what a patient pays at the pharmacy counter. They are what pharmacies, health plans, and government buyers pay, before manufacturer rebates. A patient's cost depends on their insurance (copay, coinsurance, or deductible) or the pharmacy's cash price.