12 MG/KG ARE GIVEN INTRAVENOUSLY ONCE DAILY FOR 4 SUCCESSIVE DAYS. THE
DAILY DOSE SHOULD NOT EXCEED 800 MG. IF NO TOXICITY IS OBSERVED, 6 MG/KG ARE
GIVEN ON THE 6TH, 8TH, 10TH AND 12TH DAYS UNLESS TOXICITY OCCURS. NO THERAPY IS
GIVEN ON THE 5TH, 7TH, 9TH OR 11TH DAYS. THERAPY IS TO BE DISCONTINUED AT THE
END OF THE 12TH DAY, EVEN IF NO TOXICITY HAS BECOME APPARENT.
POOR RISK PATIENTS OR THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN AN ADEQUATE NUTRITIONAL STATE SHOULD RECEIVE 6 MG/KG/DAY FOR 3 DAYS.
IF NO TOXICITY IS OBSERVED, 3 MG/KG MAY BE GIVEN ON THE 5TH, 7TH AND 9TH DAYS
UNLESS TOXICITY OCCURS. NO THERAPY IS GIVEN ON THE 4TH, 6TH OR 8TH DAYS. THE
DAILY DOSE SHOULD NOT EXCEED 400 MG.
A SEQUENCE OF INJECTIONS ON EITHER SCHEDULE CONSTITUTES A "COURSE OF THERAPY."
MAINTENANCE THERAPY: IN INSTANCES WHERE TOXICITY HAS NOT BEEN A PROBLEM, IT IS
RECOMMENDED THAT THERAPY BE CONTINUED USING EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULES:
1. REPEAT DOSAGE OF FIRST COURSE EVERY 30 DAYS AFTER THE LAST DAY OF THE
PREVIOUS COURSE OF TREATMENT.
2. WHEN TOXIC SIGNS RESULTING FROM THE INITIAL COURSE OF THERAPY HAVE SUBSIDED,
ADMINISTER A MAINTENANCE DOSAGE OF 10 TO 15 MG/KG/WEEK AS A SINGLE DOSE. DO NOT
EXCEED 1 GM PER WEEK.
THE PATIENT'S REACTION TO THE PREVIOUS COURSE OF THERAPY SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO
ACCOUNT IN DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF THE DRUG TO BE USED, AND THE DOSAGE SHOULD
BE ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY. SOME PATIENTS HAVE RECEIVED FROM 9 TO 45 COURSES OF
TREATMENT DURING PERIODS WHICH RANGED FROM 12 TO 60 MONTHS.