If you have
multiple myeloma,
AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma, or
ovarian cancer, your healthcare provider may recommend a cancer drug called Doxil
® (
liposomal doxorubicin). This medicine is administered through an IV infusion (also known as an "IV drip") that lasts approximately 60 minutes, once every three or four weeks.
Doxil comes in one concentration (2 mg per mL) and is available in 10- and 30-mL single-use vials. It must be carefully diluted before use. As with most forms of chemotherapy, Doxil has the potential to cause serious side effects, including:
- Anemia
- Low levels of a certain type of white blood cells known as neutrophils (neutropenia)
- Hand-foot syndrome (pain, redness, and swelling of the palms and soles)
- Nausea
- Low blood platelets (thrombocytopenia).
(For more information on how this drug is used to treat cancer, click Doxil. This article takes an in-depth look at the medication's benefits, safety warnings, generic availability, and more.)
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