Hexalen Dosage

HEXALEN® capsules is administered orally. Doses are calculated on the basis of body surface area.

HEXALEN® capsules may be administered either for 14 or 21 consecutive days in a 28 day cycle at a dose of 260 mg/m2/day. The total daily dose should be given as 4 divided oral doses after meals and at bedtime. There is no pharmacokinetic information supporting this dosing regimen and the effect of food on HEXALEN® capsules bioavailability or pharmacokinetics has not been evaluated.

HEXALEN® capsules should be temporarily discontinued (for 14 days or longer) and subsequently restarted at 200 mg/m2/day for any of the following situations:

1. Gastrointestinal intolerance unresponsive to symptomatic measures;
   
2. White blood count <2000/mm3 or granulocyte count <1000/mm3;
   
3. Platelet count <75,000/mm3;
   
4. Progressive neurotoxicity.

If neurologic symptoms fail to stabilize on the reduced dose schedule, HEXALEN® capsules should be discontinued indefinitely.

Procedures for proper handling and disposal of anticancer drugs should be considered. Several guidelines on this subject have been published (2-9). There is no general agreement that all of the procedures recommended in the guidelines are necessary or appropriate.