Top Salts
Amifostine
How Amifostine works
Amifostine works by removing free radical, harmful elements produced by cisplatin (a medicine used to treat cancer) or radiation therapy in tissues.
Side Effects
Nausea, Vomiting, Decreased blood pressure, Hiccup, Sleepiness, Dizziness, Flushing (sense of warmth in the face, ears, neck and trunk), Fever, Chills
Usage
Amifostine is used to prevent dryness in the mouth after radio therapy of head and neck cancer
It is also used to reduce the harmful effect of chemotherapy on the kidneys during treatment with cisplatin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is Amifostine FDA approved?Yes, it is FDA an approved drug
Q. What is Amifostine used for?Amifostine is used to reduce toxicity to kidneys associated with cisplatin therapy in patients with advanced ovarian cancer, and in prevention of dry mouth (xerostomia) during radiotherapy for head and neck cancer
Q. How does Amifostine work?It protects the normal cells against the harmful effects of chemotherapy medications and radiation treatment by producing a chemical ‘thiol' that binds to and detoxifies the harmful compounds produced by cisplatin. Amifostine does not interfere with the action of cisplatin.
