Melphalan (Systemic)

Brand Names : Alkeran, L-PAM, phenylalanine mustard

Category

• Antineoplastic

Description

Melphalan (MEL-fa-lan) belongs to the group of medicines called alkylating agents. It is used to treat cancer of the ovaries and a certain type of cancer in the bone marrow.

Melphalan interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by melphalan, other effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other effects may not be serious but may cause concern. Some effects may not occur for months or years after the medicine is used.

Before you begin treatment with melphalan, you and your doctor should talk about the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of using it.

Melphalan is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form:

Oral
• Tablets (U.S. and Canada)

Parenteral
• Injection (U.S. and Canada)

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S. -

• Alkeran

In Canada -

• Alkeran

Other commonly used names are L-PAM and phenylalanine mustard .