Melphalan

Melphalan is used to treat cancer of ovaries and a type of cancer of bone marrow called multiple myeloma. It may be also used to treat other conditions, as determined by the doctor.

Melphalan is given as an injection into veins by the doctor, but try to take it at the same time every day. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to. It makes skin more sensitive towards sunlight, wear protective clothing or use sunscreen.

The most common side effects of this medicine include nausea, vomiting, anemia (low number of red blood cells) and hair loss. This medicine may reduce the number of blood cells in your blood thereby, increasing the susceptibility to infections. Regular blood tests are required to check your blood cells along with kidney, liver and heart function during treatment with this medicine. Inform your doctor if you observe signs of infections such as fever, chills, body ache or if you have unusual bruising or bleeding and bleeding gums or blood in your urine or stool.

Before taking it, tell your doctor if you have bleeding, liver, or kidney problems or are taking any medicines to treat infections. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your doctor know all medications you are using. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The use of effective contraception by both males and females during treatment is important to avoid pregnancy.

• Ovarian cancer
• Multiple myeloma

Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is a cancer that begins in the female organs that produce eggs (ovaries). This type of cancer is usually detected very late and can be fatal too. It usually spreads to the pelvis and stomach. Melphalan kills or stops the growth of cancer cells and also prevents the multiplication of cancer cells. It is an effective medicine but has some side effects that may be bothersome. So, you should discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. You should avoid drinking alcohol while having this treatment and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Multiple myeloma
If you have multiple myeloma, your body is destroying bone faster than it is being replaced. This makes bones weak and painful and more likely to break. Melphalan may be prescribed along with other cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. It is an important part of your treatment and increases the survival rate of people with multiple myeloma. This medicine will kill the cancerous cells and prevent their further growth as well as spread to other parts of the body. Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully to get the most benefit. Supplements of calcium and Vitamin D3 are also effective and may be prescribed if you do not have high blood calcium levels.

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Megval

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomatitis (Inflammation of the mouth)
• Anemia (low number of red blood cells)
• Hair loss
• Low blood platelets
• Diarrhea
• Decreased white blood cell count

Your doctor or nurse will give you this medicine. Kindly do not self administer.

Melphalan is an anti-cancer medication. It works by damaging the genetic material (DNA and RNA) of the cancer cells. This stops their growth and multiplication.

• Melphalan should be taken as per dose and duration suggested by the doctor.

Chabner BA, Bertino J, Cleary J, et al. Cytotoxic Agents. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. p. 1684.

Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 860-61.

Drugs.com. Melphalan Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Warnings. [Accessed 26 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from:

Mephalan. Dublin, Ireland: Aspen; 2004 [revised Aug. 2014]. [Accessed 26 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from: