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Dacarbazine Coupon - Dacarbazine 10ml of 100mg vial

dacarbazine

Generic DTIC-Dome
Used for Hodgkin Lymphoma, Melanoma
Used for Hodgkin Lymphoma, Melanoma

Dacarbazine is a chemotherapy medication called an alkylating agent. It's mainly used to treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma (also called Hodgkin’s disease). This medication is also approved for melanoma, a type of skin cancer. Dacarbazine doses are given at an infusion center or clinic as an injection into the vein (intravenous or IV). Possible side effects include nausea, loss of appetite, and low blood cell counts. Dacarbazine is a generic medication; the brand name DTIC-Dome is no longer available.

Reviewed by:
reviewer
Allison Baxley, PharmD, BCOP
reviewer
Cydnee Ng, PharmD
Last reviewed on October 30, 2024
BasicsSide effectsPros & consPharmacist tipsFAQsWarningsDosageInteractionsImagesReferencesPricesMedicare
basics-icon

What is Dacarbazine?

What is Dacarbazine used for?

How Dacarbazine works

Dacarbazine is a type of traditional chemotherapy medication that works to slow or stop the cancer from spreading. More specifically, it’s an alkylating agent.

Dacarbazine works by attaching to the cancer cell’s DNA and damaging the DNA. This usually kills the cancer cell.

Are you looking for information on Matulane (procarbazine) instead?

Drug Facts

Common BrandsDTIC-Dome (brand name no longer available)
Drug ClassAlkylating agent
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusLower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
basics-icon

What are the side effects of Dacarbazine?

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Poor appetite
  • Low white blood cell count
  • Low red blood cell count
  • Low platelets

Other Side Effects

  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Fever
  • Muscle aches
  • Hair loss
  • Flushing
  • Numbness in the face
  • Skin rash

Serious Side Effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
  • Serious infection (from having low white blood cell counts): temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, with or without other symptoms like chills, cough, muscle aches, very fast heartbeat, or confusion
  • Low red blood cell counts or low platelets: severe tiredness, nosebleeds, unexplained bruising or bleeding, bleeding that's hard to stop
  • Liver problems: nausea, vomiting, tiredness, stomach pain or swelling, pale-colored stool, dark-colored urine, yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin
  • Serious allergic reaction: sudden trouble breathing, tightness in the throat or chest, itchy rash, sudden confusion

Source: DailyMed

The following side effects have also been reported

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 these 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, such as leukemia. Discuss these possible effects with your doctor.

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

More common

Redness, pain, or swelling at place of injection

Less common

Black, tarry stools

blood in urine or stools

cough or hoarseness, accompanied by fever or chills

fever or chills

lower back or side pain, accompanied by fever or chills

painful or difficult urination, accompanied by fever or chills

pinpoint red spots on skin

unusual bleeding or bruising

Rare

Shortness of breath

stomach pain

swelling of face

yellow eyes or skin

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

Sores in mouth and on lips

Some 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

Loss of appetite

nausea or vomiting (should lessen after 1 or 2 days)

Less common

Feelings of uneasiness

flushing of face

muscle pain

numbness of face

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

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

Black, tarry stools

blood in urine or stools

cough or hoarseness, accompanied by fever or chills

fever or chills

lower back or side pain, accompanied by fever or chills

painful or difficult urination, accompanied by fever or chills

pinpoint red spots on skin

unusual bleeding or bruising

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

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

pros-and-cons

Pros and cons of Dacarbazine

thumbs-up

Pros

Is part of a recommended treatment plan for Hodgkin’s lymphoma

thumbs-down

Cons

Often causes low blood cell counts, which can put you at risk for infections and bleeding

Commonly causes nausea

pharmacist-tips

Pharmacist tips for Dacarbazine

pharmacist

  • Tell the nurse right away if you feel any pain, burning, or warmth during your dacarbazine infusion. It's possible for the medication to leak from the vein and reach healthy tissue nearby, which can be painful. Your care team will try to prevent this from happening by giving you a certain type of IV access device, like a port.

    • Dacarbazine commonly causes nausea and vomiting. Your oncologist will prescribe antiemetics, like ondansetron (Zofran) or prochlorperazine, for you to take at home (if they haven’t already). Contact your care team if the nausea or vomiting becomes too bothersome.

      • Make sure you drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated if you experience vomiting as a side effect of dacarbazine. This is also helpful if you have diarrhea, which is another possible but pretty rare side effect. Avoid sugary sports drinks though because sugar won't help replace the electrolytes you've lost and can make diarrhea worse. Talk with your care team if you need help managing these side effects.

        • Dacarbazine often causes you to have a low white blood cell count. This can make it hard for your body to fight infections well if you get sick. You can help prevent getting infections by washing your hands often, avoiding crowds, and washing raw fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating them.

          • Check your temperature regularly, such as once a day. Call your care team as soon as possible if your temperature is 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher; this means you have a fever. Sometimes, having a fever can be the only sign that you’re sick. It’s important to let your care team know if you get sick so they can help prevent any infections from getting worse.

            • Sometimes, dacarbazine can irritate your liver. Be sure to get any blood tests that your oncologist tells you to do during treatment. Your oncologist uses these test results to check your liver health and make sure it's safe for you to keep taking this medication. Call your care team right away if you have stomach pain, yellowish skin, or yellow around the whites of your eyes since these can be signs of liver problems.

              faqs

              Frequently asked questions about Dacarbazine

              What cancer type is dacarbazine most commonly used for?
              Dacarbazine is most commonly used for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It’s used as part of a chemotherapy combination regimen called ABVD, which is considered a first-choice treatment option for some people with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Dacarbazine is also sometimes used off-label to treat a type of cancer called soft tissue sarcoma. This medication is FDA approved for treating metastatic melanoma as well. But the treatment options for melanoma have changed over the last few decades, and dacarbazine is rarely used to treat melanoma now.
              What’s the most common side effect of dacarbazine?
              The most common side effect of dacarbazine is having a low number of blood cells in your body. Dacarbazine can cause your white blood cell count to drop. Your white blood cells help your body fight infection. So when their levels are low, your body can't fight off an infection as well if you get sick. This medication can also cause you to have fewer red blood cells, leading to anemia and making you feel tired. In addition, dacarbazine can cause you to have fewer platelets in your blood, which can put you at risk for bleeding. Your oncologist will keep track of your blood cell counts very closely while you’re taking dacarbazine. Contact your care team if you have any unexpected bruising or bleeding or if you feel very tired. These can be signs that you have low blood cell counts.
              Does dacarbazine cause nausea?
              Yes, dacarbazine has a high risk of causing nausea and vomiting. Because of this high risk, it’s important to take medications to prevent nausea along with dacarbazine. Your oncologist will prescribe anti-nausea medications that you can either take by mouth or get through your IV on the same day you get chemotherapy. Your oncologist will also prescribe anti-nausea medications for you to take at home if you need them in between treatments. Contact your care team if you have severe nausea that doesn’t get better with medications so they can help you manage this side effect.
              How long will I need to take dacarbazine?
              How long you'll need to take dacarbazine depends on many factors. Your oncologist will consider the type and stage of cancer you have, what other anti-cancer medications you're taking, how well treatment is working, and whether you’re having any bothersome or serious side effects. For example, how many treatments of dacarbazine you get as part of the ABVD treatment plan for Hodgkin’s lymphoma depends on the stage of your cancer and how well you’re responding to therapy. You'll need PET scans done regularly so your oncologist can see how well treatment is working Make sure to follow up with your oncologist regularly to discuss your progress with dacarbazine.
              Will I lose my hair if I take dacarbazine?
              Some people who take dacarbazine have experienced hair loss. Many of the medications often given with dacarbazine cause hair loss, too. Typically, your hair will grow back after you stop chemotherapy. Let your care team know if you experience hair loss during treatment with dacarbazine. They can discuss with you about ways to prevent more hair loss. Your care team can also provide resources about wigs, wraps, and scarves to help you cope with this side effect.
              Is dacarbazine safe to take during pregnancy?
              Talk with your oncologist if you’re pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant. Dacarbazine hasn’t been well studied in human pregnancies. But animal studies show that the medication might cause harm to an unborn baby. Your oncologist will discuss with you about the risks of taking dacarbazine during pregnancy.
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              What are the risks and warnings for Dacarbazine?

              Dacarbazine can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

              risk-warning

              Low blood cell counts

              Dacarbazine commonly causes low blood cell counts, which can sometimes be dangerous. Low red blood cell counts can lead to problems like anemia and tiredness. And low platelet levels can put you at risk for bleeding. What's more, a low white blood cell count puts you at risk for serious and life-threatening infections because your immune system is weaker. You might be more likely to have complications from having low white blood cell counts if you’re older than 65 or if you’ve had chemotherapy or radiation before.

              Your oncology care team will check your blood cell counts before every dacarbazine treatment. They'll pay closer attention to your white blood cell counts. If your counts are too low, your oncologist might make adjustments to your treatment to give your body time to make new blood cells.

              Since your immune system can get weak during treatment and you're at risk for infections, it’s important to do your best to avoid getting sick. Wash your hands often and avoid crowds. Check your temperature regularly, and call your care team right away if your temperature is 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

              risk-warning

              Liver problems

              Rarely, some people who took dacarbazine developed liver damage, including blood clots in their liver. This mostly happened when dacarbazine was given with other chemotherapy medications.

              Your oncology care team will keep track of your liver health on a regular basis to make sure dacarbazine is still safe for you to take. If your liver test results are too high, your oncologist might pause or stop your treatment with dacarbazine while they check for possible problems. Call your care team right away if you experience symptoms of liver problems, such as stomach pain, yellowish skin, or yellow around the whites of your eyes.

              risk-warning

              Harm to an unborn baby

              Based on animal studies, dacarbazine might harm an unborn baby or raise the risk for miscarriage (pregnancy loss) if it's given during pregnancy. Let your oncologist know right away if you become pregnant while you're getting treated with dacarbazine.

              risk-warning

              Allergic reaction

              It’s possible to have a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis after you get your dacarbazine injection. Get medical attention as soon as possible if you have sudden trouble breathing, tightness in your throat or chest, an itchy rash, or sudden confusion.

              dosage

              Dacarbazine dosage forms

              Typical dosing for Dacarbazine

              Your oncologist will calculate your dose based on your body surface area (BSA; in units of m2), which takes into account your height and weight.

              The dose will also vary depending on what type of cancer you have and which other medications you’re taking with dacarbazine.

              • Hodgkin’s lymphoma: The most common dose is 375 mg/m2 injected into the vein (IV) every 2 weeks.

              • Metastatic melanoma: The recommended dose is 250 mg/m2 given IV once per day for 5 days (can be repeated every 3 weeks). Another dosing option is 2 mg/kg to 4.5 mg/kg of body weight per day given IV for 10 days (can be repeated every 4 weeks).

              interactions

              Interactions between Dacarbazine and other drugs

              Dacarbazine may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Dacarbazine. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

              Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

              Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

              Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

              • Aldesleukin
              images

              Dacarbazine images

              This medicine is Colorless Vial.

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              References

              Best studies we found

              American Cancer Society. (2018). What Is Hodgkin lymphoma?

              American Cancer Society (2019). How chemotherapy drugs work.

              American Cancer Society. (2023). Chemotherapy for melanoma skin cancer.

              View All References (22)

              American Cancer Society. (2024). Anemia (low red blood cell counts).

              American Cancer Society. (2024). Fevers.

              American Cancer Society. (2024). Neutropenia (low white blood cell counts).

              American Cancer Society. (2024). Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count).

              Bates, S. A. (2024). Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). National Human Genome Research Institute.

              Boschi, R., et al. (2012). Extravasation of antineoplastic agents: Prevention and treatments. Pediatric Reports.

              Engert, A., et al. (2010). Reduced treatment intensity in patients with early-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma. The New England Journal of Medicine.

              Esposito, S., et al. (2016). Chemotherapy against cancer during pregnancy: A systematic review on neonatal outcomes. Medicine.

              MedlinePlus. (2023). Low white blood cell count and cancer.

              Meitheal Pharmaceuticals Inc. (2024). Dacarbazine injection, powder, for solution [package insert]. DailyMed.

              National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). ABVD regimen.

              National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). PET scan.

              National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Port.

              National Cancer Institute. (2023). Nausea and vomiting related to cancer treatment (PDQ®)–Health professional version.

              National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). What you need to know: Neutropenia and risk for infection.

              National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2021). Anemia and neutropenia: Low red and white blood cell counts.

              National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2022). Nausea and vomiting.

              National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2023). Hodgkin lymphoma.

              National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2024). Melanoma.

              National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2024). Soft tissue sarcoma.

              Rossi, A., et al. (2017). Chemotherapy-induced alopecia management: Clinical experience and practical advice. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.

              West, H. J. (2017). Chemotherapy-induced hair loss (alopecia). Journal of the American Medical Association Oncology.

              GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.
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