dacarbazine citrate at a glance
Medicine class
Cytotoxic alkylating agent of the triazene group
How it is given
Injection or infusion into a vein by an experienced oncology or haematology team
Key monitoring
Blood counts and liver and kidney function
Important handling point
Prepared solutions and administration equipment must be protected from light
What is dacarbazine citrate used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for:
Metastatic malignant melanoma.
Advanced Hodgkin lymphoma as part of combination chemotherapy.
Advanced adult soft-tissue sarcomas as part of combination chemotherapy, excluding mesothelioma and Kaposi sarcoma.
How does dacarbazine citrate work?
Dacarbazine is activated by liver enzymes. Its reactive metabolites add methyl groups to DNA, disrupting DNA replication and limiting cancer-cell growth.
How to take dacarbazine citrate
Trained healthcare professionals prepare and administer dacarbazine into a vein. Tell staff immediately about burning, pain, redness or swelling near the cannula because leakage can damage tissue.
Take prescribed anti-sickness medicines exactly as directed by the oncology team.
Do not drive or operate machinery if nausea, vomiting, confusion, lethargy or other nervous-system effects impair you.
dacarbazine citrate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea, vomiting or reduced appetite.
- Reduced white blood cells, increasing infection risk.
- Anaemia, which may cause tiredness or breathlessness.
- Reduced platelets, increasing bruising or bleeding.
Get urgent medical advice
- Fever or other infection symptoms associated with low white blood cells.
- Anaphylaxis, including breathing difficulty, swelling or collapse.
- Severe bone-marrow suppression with infection, bleeding or marked weakness.
- Rare liver veno-occlusive disease or liver necrosis.
- Severe pain or tissue injury if the infusion leaks outside the vein.
- Confusion, seizures or significant visual disturbance.
dacarbazine citrate in pregnancy
The selected UK product is contraindicated during pregnancy because dacarbazine is genotoxic and animal studies indicate mutagenic and teratogenic effects. Discuss contraception, fertility preservation and any suspected pregnancy urgently with the specialist team.
dacarbazine citrate while breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is contraindicated during treatment with the selected UK product. Discuss alternatives and timing with the oncology team.
dacarbazine citrate interactions
The oncology team should review prescribed, over-the-counter and complementary products before treatment.
Fotemustine
Must not be combined with dacarbazine because severe, potentially fatal acute lung toxicity can occur.
Live vaccines
Avoid because immune suppression may allow serious or fatal vaccine-related infection.
Phenytoin
Dacarbazine may reduce phenytoin absorption and increase seizure risk.
Warfarin and other oral anticoagulants
Coagulation may become less predictable, requiring more frequent INR monitoring.
Common questions about dacarbazine citrate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is dacarbazine citrate chemotherapy?
Yes. It is cytotoxic chemotherapy classified as an alkylating agent.
Why must it be protected from light?
Light can degrade the prepared solution and produce substances associated with local irritation and other adverse effects.
What should I do if I develop a fever?
Contact the 24-hour oncology service immediately because fever can indicate serious infection when white blood cells are low.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.