Melphalan belongs to a group of drugs called cytotoxics (also called chemotherapy). It is approved in order to be used for the treatment of cancer. It works in order to reduce the number of abnormal cells formed in the body.
The melphalan 50 mg injection is specifically used for:
- Multiple myeloma: a type of cancer that forms from cells in the bone marrow called plasma cells. Plasma cells help in order to fight infection and disease by producing antibodies.
- Advanced cancer of the ovaries
- Childhood neuroblastoma: cancer of the nervous system.
- Malignant melanoma: skin cancer.
- Soft tissue sarcoma: cancer of the muscle, fat, blood vessels, fibrous tissue, or other supporting tissue of the body.
Approval: In the year of 1964, Melphalan was approved for medical use in the United States.
Melphalan specifically belongs to the class of nitrogen mustard alkylating agents. It acts in order to interfere with the formation of DNA and RNA.
Dosage Form: Melphalan comes in the form of injection generically and under the brand name Alkeran. Melphalan should only be prescribed for you by a specialist healthcare professional, experienced in order to treat blood problems or cancer.
The recommended dose of melphalan injection can be administered as an infusion into your vein or as a perfusion to a particular part of the body through an artery.
Your healthcare provider will determine how much melphalan you will have. The amount of this medication depends on:
- your body weight or body surface area (a specific measurement taking into account your weight and your size).
- other medicines you are having
- your disease
- your age
- whether or not you have kidney problems.
When you're administered melphalan, your healthcare team will take regular blood tests. This is in order to check the number of cells in the blood. Your healthcare professional may sometimes change your melphalan dose as a result of these tests.
Side Effects: Side effects of melphalan are usually mild and not life threatening. The commonly reported side effects may include fatigue, decreased WBC count, decreased lymphocyte count, decreased platelet count, diarrhea, nausea, hypokalemia, anemia, and vomiting.
Cost: The melphalan price in India may vary depending on the wholesaler/pharmacy and of course the brand you choose. The cost of melphalan ranges from around 2,199 INR to 2,500 INR for a supply of vial of 1 injection.
