Higher dose cytarabine for acute myeloid leukaemia

Higher-doses of cytarabine are an intensive treatment. They can be used on their own or with other medicines to treat some people with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

Treatment for AML can be divided into three stages:

• Induction (to get AML under control)
• Consolidation (to keep AML under control)
• Maintenance (to reduce the risk of AML coming back)

Higher-doses of cytarabine are used during consolidation. We cover what higher-dose cytarabine is, who might have it and how to have it. We also cover its main side effects and any special precautions you may need to take while you’re on it.

You can order printed copies of this leaflet free to UK addresses.

Visit our website to download this leaflet or any of our other resources.

All our information is available free of charge to people affected by leukaemia, myeloproliferative neoplasms or myelodysplastic syndromes in the UK. It costs us approximately £3 to provide one booklet. Please consider adding a donation to your order if you can.