I spent 8 months on Fludarbine, and it was a very hard drug. I developed an Hemolytic Anemia from it needing blood transfusions, eventually, spending 1.5 years on steriods to keep my red blood counts up enough so as to breath and not need oxygen; and, an additional, 1.5 years weaning from them as well, the Fludarbine wasn’t effective against my non hodgkins, not saying though, it would not work for someone else. It just didn’t for me.
Before my useage of it, one other woman had developed the H. Anemia, but when, I developed it, it was then, put on the list of side effects. So, in a way, I had my 15 minutes of fame. It would had been nice to have met the other woman. But, due to us both, we might have saved many others possible deaths from it, I nearly, died. The medical field, the oncologist did not know, or realize my counts were dropping rapidly due to the drug and keep giving it to me, even though I was having extreme difficulty breathing.
I remember the day I asked him while it was dripping, if I could have be having this breathing difficulty due to the drug and clearly, remember him saying, it was not on the precautionary warnings. He then, left coming back in a short while, yelling to the chemo nurse to pull it stat, STAT… he called and found out about the other woman.
I could had died.
Some facts about the drug.
Generic Name Brand Name
fludarabine Fludara, Oforta
Fludarabine is available as an oral and intravenous (IV) medicine.
Fludarabine is an antimetabolite medicine. It causes cell death by interfering with the way genetic material (DNA) in the cell multiplies.
Fludarabine is used in combination with other medicines to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL).
Fludarabine is an effective treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that has not responded to other types of chemotherapy, such as chlorambucil or cyclophosphamide. Studies are ongoing to find out the safety and effectiveness of fludarabine in people who have not received other types of chemotherapy or who are responding to other types of chemotherapy.
Side effects are common with fludarabine and can include:
Severe rapid destruction of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia).Decreased platelet counts (thrombocytopenia), which may lead to bleeding in the digestive tract, causing tarry stools.Joint pain.Blood in urine or stools.Blurred vision.Chest pain or discomfort.Diarrhea.Cough, wheezing, hoarseness, or shortness of breath.Confusion.Fever or chills.General feeling of discomfort or illness (malaise).Mouth sores (stomatitis).Nausea or vomiting.Painful, burning, or difficult urination.Rapid or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).Hair loss (uncommon side effect).See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
Fludarabine should be administered only under the supervision of a medical oncologist or hematologist.
You may not be able to become pregnant or father a child after taking this medicine. Discuss fertility with your doctor before starting treatment.
Fludarabine can cause birth defects. Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant or if you wish to become pregnant or father a child while you are taking it.
Fludarabine can interact with many other medicines. Be sure that your doctor has a complete list of all prescription and nonprescription medicines you are taking.
Do not drink alcoholic beverages or take medicines containing aspirin while being treated with fludarabine, because these can cause bleeding from your stomach.