Parenteral Manual

Pentostatin (SPECIAL ACCESS PROGRAM)

Disclaimer: Official controlled document is the CHEO online copy. It is the responsibility of user to ensure that any paper copy version is the same as the online version before use.

Alternate Name(s): 
2-deoxycoformycin, Nipent
Classification: 
Antimetabolite antineoplastic - CYTOTOXIC
Original Date: 
August 2006
Revised Date: 
June 2015
Indications: 
  • Treatment of high-risk or refractory chronic GVHD
  • Hairy-cell leukemia in adult patients
  • Used in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, mycosis fungoides, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, T-cell lymphoma

THIS MEDICATION IS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY A CHEMO-TRAINED NURSE. IF THE NURSE IS NOT CHEMO-TRAINED, THEY ARE TO CONTACT THE UNIT NURSE EDUCATOR OR ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSE.

Reconstitution and Stability: 
  • Store vials intact in the refrigerator
  • Reconstitute 10 mg vials with 5 mL sterile water for injection (final concentration 2 mg/mL)
  • Reconstituted vials stable for 72 hours at room temperature
  • Diluted solutions in 0.9% NaCl (concentration 0.02 mg/mL) stable 48 hours room temperature, 96 hours refrigerated
  • Diluted solutions in D5W (concentration 0.02 mg/mL) stable 24 hours room temperature, 96 hours refrigerated
Compatibility: 

- Solutions Compatible: D5W, 0.9% NaCl, dextrose-saline combinations

- Additives/Above Cassette Compatible: No Information

- Y-site Compatible: ondansetron

Administration: 

(For approved routes of administration by nursing personnel, refer to Policy for the Administration of Intravenous Medications.)

SC NO
IM NO
IV Direct

Yes

Infusion Time: 5 minutes

Vigorous hydration before and after administration
IV Intermittent Infusion

 Yes

Infusion Time: 20-30 minutes
IV Continuous Infusion NO

 

 

 

Dosage: 

(For neonatal dosages, refer to Neonatal IV Drug Manual.)

  • 4 mg/m2  every 2 weeks
Creatinine Clearance/GFR Dose
   > 50 mL/min/1.73 m2 Full Dose
   < 50 to > 30 mL/min/1.73 m2  50% dosing
    < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2  Hold
Potential hazards of parenteral administration: 
  • Non Vesicant
  • Common: nausea/vomiting, immunosuppression, lethargy, skin rash, renal and hepatic toxicity
  • Occasional: diarrhea, myalgias, painful keratoconjunctivitis, myelosuppression
  • Rare: allergic reaction, seizures, coma
Notes: 
  • Do not administer with HD cyclophosphamide, fludarabine and vidarabine
  • Febrile patients on treatment should receive empiric intravenouse antibiotics even if not neutropenic

 

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