How Is VIDAZA Given?

VIDAZA treatment must be given in a doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital by a trained nurse or doctor. VIDAZA can be given in 2 different ways¹:

Subcutaneous Injection

A subcutaneous injection is similar to the way people with diabetes take their insulin each day.

Using a small needle, the nurse injects VIDAZA into the layer of fat just under the skin. It is not a deep injection and should not go into a muscle or vein. Injection sites, or areas to inject, include the thigh, stomach, or upper arm.

Some patients need to receive more than one shot of VIDAZA daily (usually 2). A different site on the body is used for each injection.

IV Infusion

An IV infusion is suitable for patients who have difficulty with injections (shots). VIDAZA is delivered into a vein through a tube, usually attached to the lower arm. IV is usually the fastest way to deliver medicines within the body since they go directly into the bloodstream.

To give you an IV infusion of VIDAZA, your nurse or doctor will insert a needle into a vein and allow the VIDAZA solution to infuse (run in) over 10–40 minutes.

Treatment Cycle¹

VIDAZA is given at a doctor's office daily for 7 days. This is followed by 21 days without treatment. Each 28-day period is called a "cycle" of treatment. For both injections and IV infusions of VIDAZA, it's 7 days on, 21 days off.

Your doctor will look at blood counts and other factors during treatment with VIDAZA. Based on these factors, treatment cycles may take longer than 28 days.

Staying on VIDAZA

It is important for treatment cycles to continue for as long as your doctor recommends them. To allow treatment benefit to occur, patients should take VIDAZA for at least 4–6 cycles (about 4–6 months).

If you seem to be improving with VIDAZA, your doctor may want to continue treatment for as long as you benefit from it.