Doses - MELPHALAN

Dogs:

For adjunctive treatment of ovarian carcinoma, multiply myeloma, lymphoreticular neoplasms, osteosarcoma, and mammary or pulmonary neoplasms:
a) 2 - 4 mg/m2 PO every 48 hours (every other day). 1.5 mg/m2 PO every 24 hours (oncedaily) for 7 - 10 days. (Jacobs, Lumsden et al. 1992)
For multiple myeloma:
a) 2 - 4 mg/m2 PO q 24- 48h (Gilson and Page 1994)
b) 0.1 mg/kg PO daily for 10 days then every other day (Vail and Ogilvie 1994)
For anal sac or apocrine gland adenocarcinomas:
a) 2 mg/m2 PO once daily for one week, then every other day (Peterson and Couto 1994b)

Cats:

For adjunctive treatment of FIP:
a) Predniso(lo)ne 4 mg/kg PO once daily with melphalan 2 mg/m2 (or about 1/4 of a 2 mgtablet) once every 48 hours. (Weiss 1994)
For chronic lymphocytic leukemia:
a) 2 mg/m2 PO every other day with or without prednisone at 20 mg/m2 PO every otherday. (Peterson and Couto 1994a)
Monitoring Parameters - 1) CBC with platelets at least every 1-2 weeks until stable
Client Information - Clients must understand the importance of both administering melphalan asdirected and to report immediately any signs associated with toxicity (e.g., abnormal bleeding, bruising, urination, depression, infection, shortness of breath, etc.).
Dosage Forms/Preparations/FDA Approval Status/Withholding Times - Veterinary-Approved Products: None

Human-Approved Products:

Melphalan Oral Tablets 2 mg; Alkeran® (Glaxo Wellcome); (Rx)
Melphalan Powder for injection: 50 mg in single use vials with 10 ml vial of sterile diulent;
Alkeran® (Glaxo Wellcome) (Rx)