Myelodysplastic syndrome is treated with decitabine (a group of conditions in which the bone marrow produces blood cells that are misshapen and does not produce enough healthy blood cells). A group of drugs known as hypomethylation agents includes decitabine. It functions by destroying faulty bone marrow cells and assisting the bone marrow in producing healthy blood cells.

A doctor or nurse will administer decidetabine intravenously (into a vein) over the course of three hours using a powder that must be mixed with liquids. For three days, it is typically injected every eight hours. This time of therapy is referred to as a cycle, and the cycle may be repeated every six weeks for whatever long your doctor advises. Decitabine should typically be administered for a minimum of four cycles, but it may be prolonged if your doctor determines that you will benefit from further therapy.

If you suffer certain adverse effects, your doctor can also decide to postpone your treatment or lower your dose. Throughout your decitabine therapy, be careful to let your doctor know how you are feeling.

Before each dose of decitabine, your doctor will prescribe medication to stop nausea and vomiting.

Ask your doctor or chemist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before receiving a dose of decitabine,

• If you have an allergy to decitabine or any other drug, let your doctor and chemist know right once.
• Inform your doctor and chemist about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products that you are now taking or intend to use. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• If you suffer from renal or liver illness, let your doctor know.
• Inform your doctor if you intend to father a child, are already pregnant, or think you could become pregnant. Pregnancy should not occur while you are using decitabine, either for you or your spouse. While your decitabine therapy and for two months after it has ended, you should take birth control to avoid becoming pregnant yourself or with your partner. Discuss effective birth control options with your doctor. Call your doctor if you or your partner falls pregnant while taking decitabine. The foetus may suffer from decitabine.
• Inform your doctor if you are nursing a baby.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

If you are unable to keep a scheduled appointment to receive a dose of decitabine, call your doctor right away.

Side effects with decitabine are possible. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Extreme fatigue
• Pale skin
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Rapid heart rate
• Having trouble falling or staying asleep
• Weakness
• Breathing difficulty
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Acid reflux or indigestion
• Embarrassing sores on the lips, tongue, or mouth
• Skin with rosy patches
• Rash
• Alteration in skin tone
• Hair fall
• Muscle or joint pain
• Chest discomfort or pain in the chest wall
• Hand, foot, ankle, lower leg, or stomach swelling
• Redness, swelling, or discomfort at the injection site

Certain adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away if any of these symptoms occur to you:

• Uncommon bruising or bleeding
• Hives
• Itching
• Breathing or swallowing challenges
• The facial swelling
• Infection-related symptoms including a sore throat, a fever, chills, or a cough

If you experience any of the following signs of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), call your doctor right away:

• Severe thirst
• Often urinating
• Severe hunger
• Weakness
• Distorted vision

Other negative effects of decitabine may occur. If you have any strange side effects while taking this medicine, call your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Overdose symptoms could include:

• Uncommon bruising or bleeding
• Infection-related symptoms including a sore throat, a fever, chills, or a cough

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To monitor your body’s reaction to decitabine, your doctor will request specific lab tests.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.