How to take melphalan/melphalan tablets

Melphalan/Melphalan tablets contain a drug called Melphalan, which belongs to a group of drugs called cytotoxic (also called chemotherapy) and is used to treat certain types of cancer. It works by reducing the number of abnormal cells produced by the body. Melphalan tablets are mainly used to treat multiple myeloma (MM): advanced ovarian cancer, advanced breast cancer and polycythemia vera. Its usage includes the following:

(1)Multiple myeloma: For adult patients, the usual dosage regimen1: 0.15 mg/kg daily divided into 4 days, repeated every 6 weeks , usually used in combination with corticosteroids ; Protocol 2 is 6 mg once daily for 2-3 weeks, followed by 4 weeks of rest with careful monitoring of blood counts. If white blood cell and platelet counts rise, a daily maintenance dose of 2 mg may be given. Several treatments have been used, please refer to the detailed guide for the specific product.

Delay or adjust dose if necessary. Caution may be required to increase the dose until myelosuppression is observed to ensure that potentially therapeutic levels are achieved.

(2) Ovarian cancer:; For adult patients, daily 0.2 mg/kg for 5 days, repeat every 4-8 weeks, or immediately after bone marrow recovery.

(3) Breast cancer: For adult patients, 0.15 mg/kg or 6 mg/m2 daily for 5 consecutive days, repeating every 6 weeks; dose reduction may be necessary if bone marrow toxicity is observed.

(4)Polycythemia vera: For adult patients, the remission induction dose is 6-10 mg daily for 5-7 days, then 2-4 mg daily until satisfactory disease control is achieved; the maintenance dose is 2-6 mg once weekly, with careful hematologic control and dose adjustments based on blood cell counts.