Clofarabine Injectable Solution

Clofarabine is used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (cancer of the blood and bone marrow). It’s used only in children and young adults aged 1–21 years. This drug is given after at least two other treatments haven’t worked to treat the cancer.

Clofarabine is only available as the brand-name drug Clolar. It isn’t available as a generic drug.

This drug comes as an intravenous (IV) solution, which is injected and infused into your vein. It’s only given by a healthcare provider. You won’t give this drug to yourself.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Bone marrow suppression See Details

• Liver and kidney damage See Details

• Damage to other organs See Details

What is clofarabine?

Clofarabine is a prescription drug. It’s available as an intravenous (IV) solution that a healthcare provider infuses into your vein. You won’t give this drug to yourself.

Clofarabine is only available as the brand-name drug Clolar. It isn’t available as a generic drug.

Why it's used

Clofarabine is used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (blood and bone marrow cancer). It’s only used in children and young adults aged 1–21 years.

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How it works

Clofarabine belongs to a class of anticancer drugs called antimetabolites. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way.

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More common side effects

The more common side effects of clofarabine can include:

• nausea

• vomiting

• diarrhea

• low white blood cell levels (raise your risk of infection)

• tiredness

• headache

• anxiety

• rash

• itching

• swelling and peeling skin on your hands and feet

• flushing (warming and reddening of your skin)

• swelling or irritation of the lining of your nose and mouth

If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 9-1-1 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:

• Infections. Symptoms can include:

  • fever
  • cold symptoms that don’t go away, such as runny nose or sore throat
  • flu symptoms, such as cough, tiredness, and body aches
  • pain during urination
  • white patches in your mouth or throat

• Anemia. Symptoms can include:

  • pale skin
  • extreme tiredness
  • lightheadedness
  • fast heart rate

• Bleeding. Symptoms can include:

  • small red or purple spots on your skin
  • bruising easily
  • unexpected bleeding or bleeding that lasts a long time, such as:
    • unusual bleeding from your gums
    • frequent nosebleeds
    • periods that are heavier than normal
  • coughing up blood
  • vomit that contains blood or that looks like coffee grounds
  • bloody urine
  • dark or bloody stools
  • headaches
  • weakness
  • dizziness

• Liver damage. Symptoms can include:

  • extreme tiredness
  • loss of appetite
  • discomfort or pain in the upper right part of your abdomen
  • dark urine
  • yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes

• Kidney damage or kidney failure. Symptoms can include:

  • making less urine than normal
  • not urinating as often as normal
  • severe nausea and vomiting
  • fluid retention or swelling throughout your body
  • bruising more easily than normal
  • blood in your urine
  • confusion

• Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and capillary leak syndrome. Symptoms can include:

  • fever
  • fast heart rate
  • fast breathing rate
  • shortness of breath
  • low blood pressure
  • dizziness
  • lightheadedness
  • fainting

• Tumor lysis syndrome. This condition is caused by the fast breakdown of cancer cells. This can cause kidney failure and death. Symptoms can include:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • weight loss
  • lack of energy
  • blood in your urine
  • making less urine than normal
  • heart failure
  • irregular heart rate
  • seizures
  • muscle cramps
  • muscle spasms
  • low blood pressure
  • passing out

• Inflammation of your bowel. Symptoms can include:

  • stomach pain, cramping, or tenderness
  • chills
  • fever
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea

• Skin reactions. Symptoms can include:

  • skin rash
  • blistering skin
  • peeling skin

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare provider who knows your medical history.

Clofarabine can interact with other medications, herbs, or vitamins you might be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. Your healthcare provider will look out for interactions with your current medications. Always be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, herbs, or vitamins you’re taking.

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking. Clofarabine warnings

People with liver problems

If you have liver problems or a history of liver problems, you may be more likely to get liver damage while you take this drug. Your doctor will watch you closely for signs of liver problems. They may adjust your dosage or tell you to stop taking this medication.

People with kidney problems

If you have kidney problems or a history of kidney disease, or a condition called tumor lysis syndrome, you may be more likely to develop kidney damage while you take this drug. Your doctor will watch you closely for signs of kidney problems. They may adjust your dosage or tell you to stop taking this medication.

People with heart disease

This drug can lower your blood pressure. This can cause your heart to work harder, which can make your heart disease worse. Your doctor will watch your heart function during the 5 days you receive this drug, especially if you’re on other medications that can affect your blood pressure.

People with low blood cell counts

This drug can decrease your blood cell levels even more. Your doctor will watch you closely while you’re receiving this drug. They may stop your treatment if your blood cell levels drop too low.

People with a weakened immune system

If you have a mild or severe infection, you’re at increased risk of kidney damage from taking this drug. Be sure your doctor knows about your infection before you take this drug.

Pregnant women

Clofarabine is a category D pregnancy drug. That means two things:

1. Research in humans has shown adverse effects to the fetus when the mother takes the drug.
2. This drug should only be used during pregnancy in serious cases where it's needed to treat a dangerous condition in the mother.

Talk to your doctor if you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Ask your doctor to tell you about the specific harm that may be done to the fetus. This drug should only be used if the potential risk to the fetus is acceptable given the drug’s potential benefit.

Women who are breast-feeding

Clofarabine may pass into breast milk and cause serious side effects in a child who is breastfed.

Talk to your doctor about breastfeeding your child. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication.

For seniors

This medication has not been studied in seniors. This drug is only approved for use in people aged 1–21 years.

For children

This medication hasn’t been shown to be safe and effective in children younger than 1 year of age.

Allergies

Clofarabine can cause a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms can include:

• skin rash
• blistering skin
• peeling skin

If you have an allergic reaction after leaving your appointment, call your doctor or local poison control center right away. If your symptoms are severe, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Receiving this drug again if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it could be fatal (cause death). Be sure to tell your doctor if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to this drug.

Your doctor will determine a dosage that’s right for you based on your individual needs. Your dose will be based on a ratio of your height and weight. Your general health may also affect your dosage. Tell your doctor about all health conditions you have before your healthcare provider administers the drug to you.

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always to speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Important considerations for taking this drug

You’ll receive this medication in cycles

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How long does it take?

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Can I drive home after?

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Travel

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Clinical monitoring

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Insurance

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Show Sources

• Clolar – clofarabine injection. (2015, December 18). Retrieved from  http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=55d3c78b-dca5-436b-97b5-73d166217415
• Clolar (clofarabine) injection, for intravenous use. (2016, October). Retrieved from http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/021673s025lbl.pdf

Content developed in collaboration with University of Illinois-Chicago, Drug Information Group

Medically reviewed by Creighton University, Center for Drug Information and Evidence-Based Practice on January 5, 2017

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.