Fludarabine (Systemic)

Brand Names : Fludara

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Also, because of the way cancer medicines act on the body, there is a chance that they might cause other unwanted effects that may not occur until months or years after the medicine is used. These delayed effects may include certain types of cancer. Discuss these possible effects with your doctor.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Arm, back or jaw pain; black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; chest pain or discomfort; chest tightness or heaviness; constipation; cough or hoarseness; coughing or spitting up blood; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever or chills; general feeling of discomfort or illness; lower back or side pain; nausea; pain; painful, burning, or difficult urination; pale skin; pinpoint red spots on skin; shortness of breath; sneezing; sore throat; sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips or in mouth; stomach pain, severe; sweating; swelling; tender, swollen glands in neck; thickening of bronchial secretions; troubled breathing; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness or weakness; vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds; wheezing

Less common

Agitation; aneurysm; bleeding gums; blurred vision; confusion; decreased urine output; difficulty in breathing or swallowing; dilated neck veins; dizziness; extreme fatigue; fainting; fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat, or pulse; headache; increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding; irregular breathing; loss of hearing; nosebleeds; numbness or tingling in fingers, toes, or face; pain, redness, or swelling in arm or leg; paralysis; prolonged bleeding from cuts; seizures; slurred speech; sudden and severe inability to speak; temporary blindness; weakness in arm and/or leg on one side of the body, sudden and severe; weight gain

Rare

Blindness; continuing vomiting; dark-colored urine; drowsiness; frequent urination; hives; itching; ; light-colored stools; loss of appetite; loss of consciousness; lower abdominal cramping; muscle tremors; puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips or tongue; rapid, deep breathing; restlessness; skin rash; stomach pain; trouble speaking, thinking or walking; unusual tiredness or weakness; yellow eyes or skin

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Abdominal pain; bladder pain; body aches or pain; burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, �pins and needles�, or tingling feelings; cloudy urine; congestion; diarrhea; difficulty in moving; dry mouth or throat; flushed, dry skin; frequent urge to urinate; fruit-like breath odor; increased hunger; increased thirst; increased urination; joint pain; muscle aching or cramping; muscle pains or stiffness; runny nose; swollen joints; trouble in swallowing; voice changes; weight loss

Less common

Abdominal fullness; bluish color of skin; changes in skin color; cracked lips; dandruff; decreased urination; decrease in height; difficulty in sleeping; discouragement; feeling sad or empty; gaseous abdominal pain; heartburn; irritability; loss of interest or pleasure; lightheadedness; oily skin; pain or tenderness around eyes and cheekbones; rapid breathing; recurrent fever; stuffy nose; sunken eye; trouble concentrating; wrinkled skin

This medicine may rarely cause a temporary loss of hair in some people. After treatment with fludarabine has ended, normal hair growth should return.

After you stop treatment with fludarabine, it may still produce some side effects that need attention. During this period of time, check with your doctor if you notice the following:

Rare

Cough or hoarseness; fever or chills; loss of vision; lower back or side pain; painful or difficult urination

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.