Main content      HealthWise KnowledgeBase         Generic Name
Brand Name     cytarabine, cytosine arabinoside Cytarabine,
Cytosar-U, DepoCyt      Cytarabine is given intravenously .
Sometimes it is given as a shot under the skin or directly into
the spinal fluid. It can be given in a low, average, or high
dose.      How It Works      Cytarabine is classified as an
antimetabolite. It kills cancer cells by interfering with the
way they multiply.      Why It Is Used      Cytarabine is used
to treat acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and acute
lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) . It is sometimes used to treat
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and some types of brain tumors .      How
Well It Works      Cytarabine is an effective antitumor drug.
But the type and extent of a cancer determines how well this
drug slows or stops the growth of cancer cells in the body.
Cytarabine is often combined with other drugs.      Side Effects
Cytarabine is often given with another medicine called
dexamethasone. This is done to prevent