daunorubicin hydrochloride at a glance
Medicine class
Anthracycline cytotoxic chemotherapy
Licensed uses
Acute myeloid and acute lymphoblastic leukaemias
Administration
Given into a vein by a trained hospital team
Important monitoring
Blood counts, heart function, liver and kidney function
Urine colour
May temporarily become red or orange because the treatment is red
What is daunorubicin hydrochloride used for?
UK-licensed uses for the selected product are:
Inducing remission in acute myeloid leukaemia.
Inducing remission in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Treating acute myeloid or acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children as part of combination treatment.
How does daunorubicin hydrochloride work?
Daunorubicin inserts itself between DNA base pairs and disrupts DNA and RNA production and function. This damages rapidly dividing leukaemia cells and prevents them multiplying, although healthy fast-growing cells can also be affected.
daunorubicin hydrochloride preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 20 mg
How to take daunorubicin hydrochloride
Daunorubicin hydrochloride is prepared and administered by trained hospital staff. The reconstituted, diluted solution is given into a well-positioned vein through a free-flowing intravenous line; it must not be injected into muscle or under the skin.
Food does not affect administration because treatment is intravenous.
Immediately report pain, burning, swelling or warmth around the intravenous line.
Tell the team if flushing develops during administration.
daunorubicin hydrochloride side effects
Common or expected effects
- Reduced blood-cell production, increasing risks of infection, anaemia, bruising and bleeding
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sore mouth, mouth ulcers or inflammation of the digestive tract
- Temporary hair loss
- Diarrhoea or abdominal discomfort
- Temporary red or orange urine
- Skin rash or darkening of the skin or nails
Get urgent medical advice
- Fever, shivering or other evidence of serious infection or sepsis
- Heart damage, which may cause breathlessness, leg swelling, chest symptoms or an abnormal heartbeat
- Severe bleeding, including blood in vomit or black stools
- Tissue injury if the solution leaks outside the vein
- Tumour lysis syndrome, potentially causing reduced urine, flank pain, or metabolic and kidney problems
- Severe allergic reaction
- Seizures, confusion, severe headache or visual disturbance suggesting posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome
daunorubicin hydrochloride in pregnancy
Daunorubicin can cross the placenta and may harm an unborn baby. It should generally be avoided during pregnancy unless specialist assessment concludes that treatment is clinically necessary and its potential benefit justifies the fetal risk. Tell the cancer team immediately about a pregnancy or possible pregnancy, and discuss contraception and fertility preservation before treatment.
daunorubicin hydrochloride while breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is contraindicated during daunorubicin treatment because serious harm to the infant is possible. Discuss feeding options with the specialist team before treatment starts.
daunorubicin hydrochloride interactions
The specialist team should review all prescribed, pharmacy-bought and complementary treatments before daunorubicin is given.
Other cardiotoxic treatments, including trastuzumab and some anticancer medicines
May increase the risk of heart damage, requiring careful assessment and cardiac monitoring.
Medicines that suppress bone marrow, including other cytotoxic treatments, chloramphenicol and some antiretrovirals
May further reduce blood-cell production and increase infection or bleeding risks.
Potentially hepatotoxic treatments such as methotrexate
Impaired liver handling of daunorubicin may increase toxicity.
Common questions about daunorubicin hydrochloride
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What type of cancer is daunorubicin hydrochloride used to treat?
It is licensed for acute myeloid and acute lymphoblastic leukaemias, including use in combination treatment for children.
How is daunorubicin hydrochloride given?
A trained hospital team prepares it and gives it into a vein through an intravenous line.
Why can daunorubicin hydrochloride make urine red?
The treatment itself is red and can temporarily colour urine red or orange. This expected colour change is different from blood in the urine.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.