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Procarbazine (also called Matulane or possibly Natulan) is a chemotherapy agent used in the treatment of Hodgkin's Lymphoma / Disease and Nonhodgkin's Lymphoma. It comes in capsule form and is taken by mouth. It is more often than not used in conjunction with other chemotherapy agents in a multidrug regimen. It is an antineoplastic - procarbazine interferes with the growth of cancer cells. It does this by acting as an alkylating agent and a MAO (monoamine oxidase) inhibitor.

Before taking this medicine: Inform your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and over-the-counter medicines you take, including the drug digoxin, or medicines containing phenylpropanolamine or pseudoephedrine. Inform your medical doctor of any other medical conditions or allergies or if you are pregnant or breast feeding.

Dosing: Ask your doctor for exact dose and instructions if you forget a dose. On overdose contact emergency help immediately (US: dial 911).

While taking this medicine: Do not drink alcohol or items that contain alcohol - it can cause a drug interaction and increase sedation. Avoid eating foods containing a high tyramine content, even up to two weeks after the last treatment (one effect is extreme pain). Some foods may be:

alcohol	avocados	bananas
bologna/hot dogs	canned figs	chocolate
cheese	liver	meats
soy sauce	prepared herring	pepperoni
fava beans	raisins	papaya
salami	sausage	sour cream
yogurt	yeast

Your medical team may have a better list and should be consulted prior to starting on this medicine. The drug may cause a rash or intensify sunburn in areas exposed to the sun or a sunlamp. You may want to wear sunscreen or protective clothing if going outside, even up to 4 weeks after your last treatment. Procarbazine lowers blood counts so follow medical advise regarding bleeding and avoiding contact with sick people. There are most likely other restrictions which you should consult your doctor about.

Short Term Side Effects: Common: nausea and vomiting (ask your doctor about drugs to counteract nausea like zofran or kytril), peripheral neuropathy (numbness in hands and/or feet), hair loss, pounding heartbeat or shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness when moving, dry mouth, constipation, difficult urination. Possible: fainting, severe headache, joint, muscle or chest pain, abnormal bleeding, insomnia, mouth sores, depression.

Long Term Side Effects: procarbazine may be toxic to the liver. Talk to your medical team on follow-up studies on blood counts.

Some of the regimens using procarbazine:

MOPP (Hodgkin's Disease - a "P")

Procarbazine Reference Links:

Detailed information from Healthtouch (US)
Information sheet from CanCareSA (Australia)

Manufacturer

Roche Laboratories

Disclaimer: This information is general in nature. Please consult with a doctor or the literature provided with the drug packaging if you need specific information on a drug. The author is not responsible for missing or inaccurate information and the reader assumes full responsibility for their actions. As always, please consult with medical personnel before undertaking any medical treatment.

For more information on Hodgkin's Disease, please see the following pages: :

Childhood Hodgkin's Disease: Chemotherapy

Childhood Hodgkin's Disease: Treatment

Childhood Hodgkin's Disease: Introduction

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This page is a work in progress - if you have more complete information, references, or other information please contact the author. The author is not in the medical field and does not warrant the correctness of the material on this page or the sites linked - please take online information and consult with your own medical team to make informed decisions.

Chemotherapy - Procarbazine