Details

Mitotane is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body. Mitotane is used to treat cancer of the adrenal gland (adrenal cortical carcinoma). You may need to stop taking mitotane for a short time if you have a serious injury or medical emergency. You may need to take steroid medication along with mitotane, especially if you have a serious injury or medical emergency. To make sure mitotane is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have recent infection, surgery, or trauma liver disease or if you take a blood thinner. Mitotane should not be used in pregnancy.

Typical Uses

Mitotane is used to treat cancer of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands produce hormones, which are needed by the body to deal with stress, fight infection, and maintain normal functions such as blood pressure. Certain cancers cause the adrenal glands to produce too much cortisol and other hormones, causing a certain serious condition (Cushing's syndrome). Too much of these hormones can cause many problems such as blood pressure changes, weight changes, muscle/bone weakness, thinning skin, and diabetes. Mitotane works by killing or slowing the growth of adrenal gland cells and also reverses the side effects caused by too much hormone production. This drug may also be used alone or with other medications to treat other forms of Cushing's syndrome not caused by adrenal cancer (e.g., non-pituitary tumour).

Side Effects

Common mitotane side effects may include blurred or double vision confusion, problems with speech, balance, or walking a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out easy bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums) or any bleeding that will not stop.

Drug Interactions

• Mitotane+abiraterone- Mitotane can significantly reduce the blood levels of abiraterone, which may make the medication less effective in treating your condition. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
• Mitotane+boceprevir- Using boceprevir together with mitotane is not recommended. Combining these medications may significantly reduce the blood levels of boceprevir, which may make the medication less effective in treating hepatitis C.
• Mitotane+daclatasvir- Using daclatasvir together with mitotane is not recommended. Combining these medications may significantly decrease the blood levels of daclatasvir, which may reduce its effectiveness in treating hepatitis C. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
• Mitotane+hydrocodone- Mitotane may reduce the blood levels of hydrocodone, which may make the medication less effective in treating your pain. Additionally, if you have been receiving treatment with hydrocodone, adding mitotane may cause you to experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, yawning, excessive sweating, goose bumps, fever, chills, flushing, restlessness, irritability, anxiety, depression, pupil dilation, tremor, rapid heartbeat, body aches, involuntary twitching and kicking, abdominal cramping, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and weight loss.

Mechanism of action

Mitotane is an oral chemotherapeutic agent indicated in the treatment of inoperable adrenal cortical carcinoma of both functional and non-functional types. Mitotane can best be described as an adrenal cytotoxic agent, although it can cause adrenal inhibition, apparently without cellular destruction. The administration of Mitotane alters the extra-adrenal metabolism of cortisol in man leading to a reduction in measurable 17-hydroxy corticosteroids, even though plasma levels of corticosteroids do not fall. The drug apparently causes increased formation of 6-B-hydroxyl cortisol.

Pregnancy Category : D