subject: Cytotoxic Drugs and their Hazardous Consequences [print this page] The term Drugs' is very importantThe term Drugs' is very important. In the form of medicines, these drugs have the capability to save millions of lives by fighting against the deadliest diseases. But these drugs can be hazardous too and their exposures can badly contaminate the surroundings and can take millions of lives. This article is all about the cytotoxic drugs that are one of the fatal hazardous drugs.
Cytotoxic drugs were developed in the year 1940. After its discovery, it became the best known noxious chemical agent used in the manufacturing of medicines. These drugs are the most toxic hazardous drugs. These harmful drugs are non-selective in their action mechanism, so it affects both the cancerous as well as non-cancerous cells. The medicines prepared from these hazardous drugs have a number of side effects.
According to recent reports, the workers engaged in handling of cytotoxic drugs are mostly affected by its harmful characters. The reports from numerous healthcare organizations on disinfection of the surroundings showed hazardous drugs in the urine of the healthcare workers. Exposures to these harmful drugs results in adverse reproductive outcomes and increased cancers in the healthcare staffs.
Several known effects of cytotoxic drugs in the monitored patients include renal and hepatic toxicity, hematopoetic toxicity, cardiotoxicity, immunotoxicity, pulmonary toxicity, dermal toxicity, ototoxicity and injuries to the tissues with a rapid turnover rate. A number of the cytotoxic agents that includes alkalizing agents have been associated with secondary cancers in the treated patients. Also according to some surveys, these drugs have found to be genotoxic and rodent carcinogens.
In addition to their carcinogenic and mutagenic characteristics, many of the cytotoxic agents have been associated with the adverse reproductive disorders that have been observed in the animals as well as female and male treated patients. To minimize the health hazards caused due to these perilous drugs, healthcare units should properly implement safety and precautionary measures.
