Dosing Amifostine (Ethyol) in a Patient Receiving Cancer Therapy

Amifostine (Ethyol) is a chemoprotectant which is recommended for some patients receiving cancer therapy.

Patient Group	Cancer Therapy	Prevention Goal
women with ovarian cancer	cisplatin-based chemotherapy	nephrotoxicity
head and neck cancer	fractionated radiation therapy	acute and late xerostomia

Amifostine has not been demonstrated to protect against other complications of cancer therapy, or there are more effective alternatives.

Contraindications:

(1) hypersensitivity to amifostine or additives to the formulation

(2) severe reactions to previous administration

Indication	Standard Dose	Administration
ovarian cancer	910 mg per square meter BSA per day	IV push over 15 minutes given 30 minutes prior to chemotherapy
head and neck cancer	200 mg per square meter BSA per day	IV push over 3 minutes given 15-30 minutes before each fraction

Adverse reactions during administration are often dose dependent.

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