If you are allergic to Novantrone, you should not take it.  The active ingredient is mitoxantrone.  Ask your doctor about the inactive ingredients.

Your doctor needs to know the following information about you to help decide if Novantrone is right for you.  Tell your doctor if you have now or had in the past:

heart disease
treatment with Novantrone
cancer chemotherapy treatment
radiation treatment to the chest area
blood-clotting problems
anemia or low red blood cell counts
low white blood cell counts
unusual or unexpected bleeding
infections
liver disease or problems
any known allergies or sensitivities
Also tell your doctor if you take other medicines, including nonprescription medicines and nutritional supplements.

How do I take Novantrone?

Novantrone is given through a needle placed in a vein in your arm.  The dose takes about 5 to 15 minutes to deliver.  Novantrone treatment is usually given once every 3 months for about 2 to 3 years (8 to 12 doses).  However, this may differ for different patients.

What diagnostic tests will be performed?

You will need to have regular testing of your heart and blood to help avoid serious side effects.

Before each dose of Novantrone, your doctor will take blood samples to check your blood counts and liver function.  Your doctor may also take a blood sample if you begin to have signs of an infection.  If you are a woman who is capable of becoming pregnant, even if you are using birth control, you must have a pregnancy test before each Novantrone dose, and you should know the results before you receive each Novantrone dose.

To measure possible changes to the heart, you should have regular electrocardiograms (ECGs) and you should have regular testing of your heart’s ability to pump blood.  Measuring your heart’s ability to pump blood requires taking pictures of your heart using a simple, painless test such as an echocardiogram.  Your heart should be tested before each dose of Novantrone, or if you show signs of heart problems.

You and your doctor should carefully track the total amount of Novantrone you get.  Your doctor may stop Novantrone if your tests show that your heart’s ability to pump blood has decreased.  If you change doctors, make sure your new doctor knows how much Novantrone you have taken.

What should I avoid while taking Novantrone?

Women should not become pregnant or breastfeed while taking Novantrone because it may harm the baby.  Talk with your doctor about effective birth control.  Tell your doctor if you become pregnant.
Talk with your doctor about any medicines you currently take and any medicines you plan to start or stop taking.  These include prescription and non-prescription medicines and nutritional supplements.  Some medicines may affect how Novantrone works.
What are the possible side effects of Novantrone?

Most side effects of Novantrone are not severe and can normally be treated by your doctor.  The most common side effects of Novantrone in patients with MS are nausea, hair thinning, loss of menstrual periods, bladder infections, and mouth sores.  The nausea is usually mild and generally lasts for less than 24 hours.  A small number of patients treated with Novantrone develop heart problems during treatment or after treatment has stopped.  Tell your doctor if you have trouble breathing, swellin