Acridinyl anisidide

Trade Names:
AMISA, AMSA, Amsacrine

Type of Drug:
Acridinyl anisidide belongs to a general group of chemotherapy drugs known as topoisomerase II inhibitors. It is used to treat several types of cancer including leukemia and lymphoma.

How Drug Works:
Acridinyl anisidide stops the growth of cancer cells by blocking the development of DNA and RNA.

How Drug Is Given:
Acridinyl anisidide is given into a vein (intravenously) as a 1-hour infusion. Tell the nurse immediately if you feel stinging or burning in the vein during or after the drug is given. The dose given will depend on your size, whether other medicines are given with it, and your liver blood tests. Since this drug is still being studied, the specific dose, how it is given, and schedule will be determined by the clinical trial.

Read the following information. If you do not understand it or if any of it causes you special concern, check with your doctor.

Before taking this drug, tell your doctor:

  • If you are trying to become pregnant, are pregnant, or breastfeeding. This drug may cause birth defects if either the male or female is taking it at the time of conception or during pregnancy. Men and women who are taking this drug need to use some kind of birth control. However, do not use oral contraceptives (“the pill”) without checking with your doctor.

  • If you think you may want to have children in the future. Many chemotherapy drugs can cause sterility.

  • If you have any of the following medical problems: chickenpox or exposure to chickenpox, gout, heart disease, congestive heart failure, shingles, kidney stones, liver disease, or other forms of cancer.

  • If you are taking any other prescription or over-the-counter drugs, including vitamins and herbals.
Should I avoid any other medicines, foods, alcohol, and/or activities?
Your prescription and nonprescription medicines may interact with other drugs, causing harm. Certain foods or alcohol can also interact with drug products. Never begin taking a new medicine—prescription or nonprescription—without asking your doctor or nurse if it will interact with alcohol, food, or other medicines. Some drug products can cause drowsiness and affect activities such as driving.

Precautions:
Acridinyl anisidide is given intravenously. If the drug accidentally leaks out of the vein where it is given, it can damage the tissue and cause scarring. Tell the nurse right away if you notice redness, pain, or swelling at the place of injection.
Acridinyl anisidide can lower your blood counts (white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets). Your doctor will check your blood counts before and after each treatment to see how it affects your blood counts. Your doctor or nurse will give you specific instructions if your blood counts are low.
Acridinyl anisidide can cause a decrease in your white blood cell count, especially 7 to 14 days after the drug is given. This can increase your chance of getting an infection. Report fever of 100.5°F or higher, or signs of infection such as pain in passing your urine, coughing, and bringing up sputum.
Acridinyl anisidide can cause a decrease in the platelet count. This can increase your risk of bleeding. DO NOT take any aspirin or aspirin-containing medicines. Report unusual bruising, or bleeding such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums when you brush your teeth, or black, tarry stools.
Acridinyl anisidide can cause nausea and vomiting. Ask your doctor or nurse to give you a medicine to prevent or lessen this side effect.
The dose of acridinyl anisidide will be decreased if your liver or kidneys are not working properly. Blood tests will be done before each treatment to check your blood counts, liver and kidney function, and potassium level. If the potassium level is low, you will receive some extra potassium.
While you are being treated with acridinyl anisidide, and after you stop treatment with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations) without your doctor’s okay. Try to avoid contact with people who have recently taken the oral polio vaccine. Check with your doctor about this.
Tell all the doctors, dentists, and pharmacists you visit that you are taking this drug.
  • Most of the following side effects probably will not occur.
  • Your doctor or nurse will want to discuss specific care instructions with you.
  • They can help you understand these side effects and help you deal with them.
Side Effects:
More Common Side Effects
  • Decreased white blood cell count with increased risk of infection
  • Decreased platelet count with increased risk of bleeding
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Irritation of vein used for giving the drug
  • Decrease in red blood cell counts with increased risk of tiredness
Less Common Side Effects
  • Sores in mouth or on lips
  • Damage to liver
  • Diarrhea
  • Skin rash
Rare Side Effects
  • Skin may turn yellow to orange
  • Seizures
  • Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
  • Hearing loss
  • Tingling sensations in hands and feet
  • Congestive heart failure in patients who have been treated with other anthracycline antibiotics
  • Cardiac arrest
Side Effects / Symptoms of the Drug
This drug may irritate your vein, so a special intravenous catheter may be placed for your treatment.

Other side effects not listed above can also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or nurse if you develop any problems.
FDA Approval: This drug is being studied for cancer treatment.