| Chemotherapy drug | Side effects (short-term and long-term) |
| L-asparaginase, Elspar - usually given IV; also can be given as an injection (a shot into muscle or skin) |
- Drowsiness can occur during and continue for several weeks after treatment
- Nausea, vomiting, and cramping
- Allergic reaction: rash or increased breathing effort
|
| Busulfan, Myleran - usually given orally |
- Fatigue, tiredness
- Decreased appetite
- Hair loss (reversible)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Decrease in blood cell counts
|
| Carboplatin (Paraplatin) - usually given IV |
- Decrease in blood cell counts
- Hair loss (reversible)
- Dizziness
- Darkened skin coloration
- Ringing in ears and hearing loss
- Kidney damage
|
| Cisplatin (cisplatinum, Platinol, Platinol-AQ) - usually given IV |
- Decrease in blood cell counts
- Allergic reaction: rash and increased breathing effort
- Nausea and vomiting that usually occurs for about 24 hours
- Ringing in ears and hearing loss
- Fluctuations in blood electrolytes
- Kidney damage
|
| Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar) - can be given IV or orally (by mouth) |
- Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain
- Decreased appetite
- Sore mouth and taste changes
- Diarrhea
- Hair loss (reversible)
- Bladder damage
|
| Cytarabine (Ara-C, cytosine arabinoside, Cytosar-U) - usually given IV and/or intrathecally (into the spinal column) |
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Decreased appetite
- Decrease in blood cell counts
- Fever and flu-like symptoms
|
| Daunorubicin (Cerubidine), doxorubicin (Adriamycin PFS, Adriamycin RDF, Rubex) - usually given IV |
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hair loss (reversible)
- Red colored urine (not bleeding but a drug effect)
- Decrease in blood cell counts
|
| Dtoposide (VePesid, VP-16) - may be given orally or IV, teniposide (Vumon) - usually given IV |
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hair loss (reversible)
- Decrease in blood cell counts
- Low blood pressure
- Decreased appetite
- Diarrhea
|
| Hydroxyurea (Hydrea) - usually given orally |
- Decrease in blood cell counts
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
|
| Mercaptopurine (6-MP, Purinethol) - usually given orally |
- Nausea and vomiting
- Decreased appetite
- Tiredness and weakness
- Decrease in blood cell counts
|
| Methotrexate (MTX) - may be given IV, intrathecally (into the spinal column), or orally (by mouth) |
- Nausea and vomiting
- Decrease in blood cell counts
- Diarrhea
- Skin rashes
- Dizziness, headache, or drowsiness
|
| Thioguanine (6-TG) - usually given orally |
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Decreased appetite
- Decrease in blood cell counts (after several weeks)
|
| Thiotepa (Thioplex, Tepa) - usually given IV, intrathecally (directly into the spinal column), may be instilled in bladder, or injected into the tumor |
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hair loss (reversible)
- Decrease in blood cell counts
- Temporary or permanent sterility (inability to have children)
|
| Topotecan (Hycamtin) - given IV |
- Muscle achiness
- Nausea and vomiting
|
| Vincristine (Oncovin) - usually given IV, vinblastine (Velban, Velbe) - usually given IV |
- Weakness
- Loss of reflexes
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hair loss (reversible)
- Diarrhea or constipation, abdominal cramping
- Decrease in blood cell counts
|