Active ingredient
- melphalan hydrochloride
Legal Category
POM: Prescription only medicine
POM: Prescription only medicine
The Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) is the leaflet included in the pack with a medicine. It is written for patients and gives information about taking or using a medicine. It is possible that the leaflet in your medicine pack may differ from this version because it may have been updated since your medicine was packaged.
Below is a text only representation of the Patient Information Leaflet. The original leaflet can be viewed using the link above.
The text only version may be available in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call emc accessibility on 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet are: PL39699/0040, PL39699/0039.
Melphalan 50 mg Powder and Solvent for Solution for Injection / Infusion
Package Leaflet: Information for the User
Melphalan 50 mg Powder and Solvent for Solution for Injection / Infusion
melphalan
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine
In this leaflet:
1 What Melphalan is and what it is used for
2 Before you have Melphalan
3 How to have Melphalan
4 Possible side effects
5 How to store Melphalan
6 Further information
1 What Melphalan is and what it is used for
Melphalan injection contains a medicine called melphalan. This belongs to a group of medicines called cytotoxics (also called chemotherapy). Melphalan is used to treat cancer. It works by reducing the number of abnormal cells your body makes.
Melphalan is used for:
Ask your doctor if you would like more explanation about these diseases.
2 Before you have Melphalan
Do not have Melphalan if:
Do not have Melphalan if the above applies to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or nurse before having Melphalan.
Take special care with Melphalan
Before you use Melphalan, tell your doctor or nurse if:
If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or nurse before having Melphalan.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or nurse if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. This includes herbal medicines.
In particular, tell your doctor or nurse if you are taking any of the following:
Having vaccines while you are taking Melphalan
If you are going to have a vaccination speak to your doctor or nurse before you have it. This is because some vaccines (like polio, measles, mumps and rubella) may give you an infection if you have them whilst you are being treated with Melphalan.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Do not have Melphalan if you are planning to have a baby. This applies to both men and women. Melphalan may harm your sperm or eggs. Reliable contraceptive precautions must be taken to avoid pregnancy whilst you or your partner are having this injection. Ask your doctor for advice.
If you are already pregnant, it is important to talk to your doctor before having Melphalan.
Do not breast-feed while having Melphalan. Ask your doctor or midwife for advice.
3 How to have Melphalan
Melphalan should only be prescribed for you by a specialist doctor who is experienced in treating blood problems or cancer.
Melphalan injection can be given:
Your doctor will decide how much Melphalan you will have. The amount of Melphalan depends on:
When you are given Melphalan, your doctor will take regular blood tests. This is to check the number of cells in your blood. Your doctor may sometimes change your dose as a result of these tests.
If you have more Melphalan than you need
Your doctor will give you Melphalan so it is unlikely that you will receive too much. If you think you have been given too much or have missed a dose, tell your doctor or nurse.
4 Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Melphalan can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you get any of the following, talk to your specialist doctor or go to hospital straight away:
Talk to your doctor if you have any of the following side effects which may also happen with this medicine:
Very common (affects more than 1 in 10 people)
Common (affects less than 1 in 10 people)
Rare (affects less than 1 in 1,000 people)
The following side effects also happen with Melphalan:
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
5 How to store Melphalan
6 Further information
What Melphalan contains
The active ingredient is melphalan. Each Melphalan injection contains 50 mg of melphalan.
The other ingredients are povidone K12 and hydrochloric acid. Melphalan is dissolved in a diluent before being injected. The diluent contains water, sodium citrate, propylene glycol and ethanol.
What Melphalan looks like and contents of the pack
Each pack contains one Melphalan Injection vial and one Melphalan Injection Diluent vial.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorisation holder:
Manufacturer:
Other formats:
To listen to or request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call, free of charge:
0800 198 5000 (UK only).
Please be ready to give the following information:
Product name Melphalan Injection 50 mg Reference number PL 39699/ 0039
This is a service provided by the Royal National Institute of the Blind.
Leaflet date: August 2014
Melphalan is a registered trademark of Aspen.
3016 Lake Drive, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24, Ireland
0800 0087 392