Low Dose
Subcutaneous Cytarabine
Canterbury Regional Cancer &
Haematology Service
Patient Information
This information leaflet instructs you how to inject Cytarabine subcutaneously (SC), under the skin.
This injection is given twice daily for either seven or ten days. This leaflet outlines the following:
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What is low dose Cytarabine
What are the potential side effects?
How do I store the drug at home?
What equipment will I need?
Do I need to take any special precautions while I am on Cytarabine home?
How to administer the injection.
What if I spill the Cytarabine at home?
How do I safely dispose of waste?
What is low dose Cytarabine?
Cytarabine is a chemotherapy drug used to decrease the number of cancer cells (blasts) circulating in
your body.
What are the potential side effects?
Nausea/vomiting, fever, rash, stomach upsets and diarrhoea are common side effects of this drug. We
can supply medication that will help you manage these side effects. Cytarabine will also decrease your
white cell count so regular blood tests are taken to monitor your blood counts when you see the Doctor
in the outpatient clinic.
How do I store the drug at home?
The drug is given by injection so you will need to store the syringes in an airtight container in the
bottom of the fridge on a shelf and keep away from food. The person giving the injection is the only
person who may handle the syringes.
What equipment will I need?
The hospital will supply you with
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syringes fill with the drug
needles for injection
alcohol/chlorhexidine wipes
plasters to cover the injection site
purple gloves (if someone else is giving the injection)
large heavy duty plastic bags and cable ties to secure the plastic bag
Small purple sharps container.
Please return all used the used equipment to the hospital.
Ref 2437
Authorised by: Nursing Director Oncology/Haematology
Page 1 of 3
December 2015
Low Dose Cytarabine – Patient Information
Do I need to take any special precautions at home?
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Flush the toilet with a full flush and with the lid down every time you use it.
Wear disposable gloves to clean up any split body fluids (such as urine, bowel motions, and
vomit).
Place all of the materials used to clean up the spill into double plastic grocery bags bag
supplied by the hospital and seal with the cable tie and either burn it or dispose of the bag into
the rubbish
Put soiled incontinence pads, colostomy and used catheter bags into a sealed plastic bag and
returned to your community health care worker or treating hospital.
Use bowl or plastic bag in case you need to vomit. If you use a bowl for vomiting, do not use it
for anything else and disposed of when you finish your chemotherapy treatment.
Wash soiled linen separately in hot or cold water at the maximum cycle. Dry on a clothesline or
in a drier.
How do I (we) give the injection?
If you are injecting yourself, wearing gloves is optional. If another person giving you the injection,
they need to wear gloves for protection.
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Wash your hands and dry them thoroughly.
Assemble all the equipment on a paper hand towel and open the plaster.
Attach the needle to the end of the syringe. Do not to touch the needle to keep it sterile.
Clean the injection area with the alcohol swab. Wait 30 seconds for the area to dry. This step is
important to keep bacteria from getting into your body when the drug is injected.
Using 2 fingers pinch up a fold of skin away from the underlying
muscle.
Insert the needle at a 90°angle. Press the plunger only after the
needle is in the fold of the skin.
Press the plunger all the way to the end of the syringe to give the full
dosage.
Dispose of the syringe in the purple sharps container.
Dispose of gloves (if used) into the plastic bag.
What if I spill the drug?
If the drug is spilt on your skin, wash the area with hot soapy water and report the spillage to the
doctor or nurse at the hospital (phone numbers below). If the drug is spilt on the furniture, wash the
area with hot soapy water, allow it to dry and report the spillage the hospital. If you spill the drug on
your clothes change your clothing and rinse the soiled
How do I safely dispose of waste?
Put each used syringe into the purple sharps container, and put used alcohol swabs, plasters and gloves
into the plastic bag after each injection. When the treatment is complete, seal the sharps container lid
and return it and the sealed plastic bag (use the cable tie) to the hospital.
Ref 2437 Page 2 of 3
Authorised by: Nursing Director,
Oncology/Haematology
December 2015
Low Dose Cytarabine – Patient Information
Useful telephone numbers
Haematology Outpatients (Monday to Friday) 0800. –1630 ph3640640 extention 80824
Bone Marrow Transplant phone 3640 640 extension 80660
Notes
Ref 2437 Page 3 of 3
Authorised by: Nursing Director,
Oncology/Haematology
December 2015