Dacogen

SIDE EFFECTS

Like most medications, DACOGEN® (decitabine) for Injection may cause side effects. DACOGEN may actually lower some patients' blood cell counts before raising them. This drop in blood cell counts may increase fatigue and risk of infection. Talk to your healthcare provider when you begin receiving DACOGEN about how a drop in blood cell counts would be managed if it were to occur.

There are steps you and your doctor can take to help manage DACOGEN side effects. Please talk to your healthcare provider for more information.

Common Side Effects

Side effects associated with DACOGEN treatment may include the following:


  • Neutropenia (low white blood cell count)
  • Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)
  • Anemia (low red blood cell count)
  • Fatigue
  • Pyrexia (fever)
  • Nausea
  • Cough
  • Petechiae (small red or purple spots under the skin)
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Hyperglycemia (abnormally high blood sugar level)

Important Safety Information

  • DACOGEN may be harmful to the fetus of a pregnant woman. Women should avoid becoming pregnant while receiving treatment with DACOGEN.
  • Men should not father a child while receiving DACOGEN, and for two months afterward.
  • Alert your doctor before receiving DACOGEN if your medical history includes kidney or liver problems.

DACOGEN is indicated for treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), including previously treated and untreated, de novo, and secondary MDS of all FAB subtypes (RA, RARS, RAEB, RAEB-t, CMML) and Intermediate-1, Intermediate-2, and High-Risk IPSS groups.

DACOGEN may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant while using DACOGEN. Men should be advised not to father a child while receiving treatment with DACOGEN, and for 2 months afterwards. The most commonly occurring adverse reactions include neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, fatigue, pyrexia, nausea, cough, petechiae, constipation, diarrhea, and hyperglycemia.

DACOGEN is available by prescription only. Please see the important product information for DACOGEN for more information. This site does not contain everything that is known about DACOGEN. If you would like to know more, talk to your healthcare professional.