Table of Contents
What does it mean for a drug to be cytotoxic?
Cytotoxic drugs (sometimes known as antineoplastics) describe a group of medicines that contain chemicals which are toxic to cells, preventing their replication or growth, and so are used to treat cancer. They can also be used to treat a number of other disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
What happens if you touch cytotoxic drugs?
Exposure to cytotoxic drugs has been reported to cause increased frequency of chromosome damage in exposed workers. They can cause acute skin, eye, and mucous membrane irritations, as well as nausea, headaches, and dizziness.
What are examples of cytotoxic drugs?
Related drugs
- ALLOPURINOL.
- APREPITANT.
- AZATHIOPRINE.
- BLEOMYCIN.
- CARMUSTINE.
- CISPLATIN.
- CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE.
- DACARBAZINE.
What are the effects of cytotoxicity?
A cytotoxic compound can cause cell damage or death, either through necrosis or apoptosis. Some substances are more cytotoxic than others and researchers aim to measure a chemical’s cytotoxicity levels to ensure that it is not harmful and/or fatal to patients.
How long is someone cytotoxic for?
Cytotoxic drugs are used mainly to treat cancer and can be harmful to normal cells. These drugs are processed through the body and may be present in urine, faeces, vomit and fluid drained from body cavities for up to seven days after treatment.
How long do you stay cytotoxic?
Generally, you should follow cytotoxic precautions while you are taking cytotoxic medication and for at least 48 hours after you finish the medication. If you stay in hospital following chemotherapy, the nurses may continue the precautions for 7 days.
Is cytotoxicity good or bad?
The “good” cytotoxicity Cytotoxicity is desired in the treatment of cancer as well as in therapy of some autoimmune diseases. For cancer therapy the selective killing of tumor cell is the main goal.
What causes cytotoxic?
Chemical agents may act by hampering protein or nucleic acid synthesis in the cell, by weakening the membrane in the cell or by impeding cellular energy production pathways. Common examples of cytotoxic agents that cause cytotoxicity are T cells that kill viruses, bacteria and cancer cells.