Daunorubicin (Conventional)

Daunorubicin is used to treat acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia, two types of cancer of the white blood cells. This drug is injected into the patient’s veins to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells. Doctors inject the drug one or more times per week, depending on the type of cancer, to stop it from spreading.

Warnings/Side Effects

This drug can cause the heart to be less effective at pumping blood through the body. Patients who have ever had heart failure, heart attacks, strokes or any other heart problems should not take this medication, and patients should get regular EKGs to make sure that the heart is continuing to pump blood effectively. If EKGs show that the heart’s effectiveness has decreased, patients should discontinue using this drug.

Patients who take Daunorubicin are more likely to suffer from infectious illness because the drug interferes with the functioning of the immune system. Patients may have flu-like symptoms, increased congestion or respiratory infections such as pneumonia.