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Gemcitabine Drug Information
Gemcitabine (Gemzar®) is available only by prescription and is used to help treat the following types of cancer:
This chemotherapy drug is not appropriate for everyone; your healthcare provider needs complete information on your medical history and what medicines you are taking before prescribing gemcitabine. In particular, let your healthcare provider know if you have any type of infection, a history of low white blood cells, or kidney disease.
Gemcitabine is administered intravenously (through an IV). It is usually given at a healthcare provider's office, a hospital, or an "infusion center." The most commonly reported side effects include:
- Increased liver enzymes
- Anemia
- Nausea and vomiting.
(Click Gemcitabine for more information, including a detailed description of the drug's effects in the body, who makes it, and more. This article also discusses how it performed in clinical studies.)
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD