Home › Chemotherapy › Chemotherapy Drugs: — A Guide by Name

Understanding your treatment

Chemotherapy Drugs: A Guide by Name

Medically reviewed by Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · DM (Medical Oncology) · MD (Radiation Oncology) · Last reviewed September 2026

If you have a name on your prescription that means nothing to you, this page is where to start. Every chemotherapy drug has a generic name and usually at least one Indian brand name — and each belongs to a class that shapes how it works and what it is most likely to cause.

Medically reviewed by Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · DM (Medical Oncology) · MD (Radiation Oncology) · Last reviewed September 2026

Prescription-only medicine.

Chemotherapy medicines are prescription-only and are given under specialist supervision in a hospital or day-care unit. Nothing on this page or linked pages substitutes for your oncologist's advice, and no treatment described here should be started or stopped on the basis of information read online. It is not suitable for everyone — see who this is not for below.

Talk to an oncologist

Leave your details and a member of the oncology team will call you back to answer questions about your treatment plan.

No charge for the call, and no obligation to book anything.

412Chemotherapy pages, written and reviewed

17Oncologists on the panel

10Centres across Hyderabad

41Locations across two states

In short

Chemotherapy is a group of medicines that kill or slow cancer cells. Each belongs to a class — alkylating agents, antimetabolites, taxanes, anthracyclines, and others. Your prescription names one or more of these by generic or Indian brand name. This page lists every drug by class so you can find the one on your prescription.

In detail

Why does your prescription use a name you do not recognise?

Every chemotherapy drug has two names: a generic name, which is the international name for the molecule, and one or more brand names chosen by the manufacturer. Your prescription may use either one.

Paclitaxel and Intaxel are the same medicine. Cisplatin and Cisplat are the same medicine. The generic name is the one that appears on consent forms, clinical guidelines, and every reference your team uses.

Most chemotherapy is given as an intravenous infusion in a day-care unit. A smaller number — capecitabine, etoposide at lower doses, cyclophosphamide in some regimens — are available as tablets taken at home. The drug page will say which applies to yours.

Chemotherapy is almost always given in cycles with rest periods between them. You may be on one agent or a named combination — FOLFOX, CHOP, AC-T — where each letter stands for a different drug.

In detail

Which class of chemotherapy drug is on your prescription?

Alkylating agents damage the DNA inside cancer cells directly. Common agents in this class include cisplatin (Cisplat, Platikem), carboplatin (Kemocarb, Carbokem), oxaliplatin (Oxaliplat), cyclophosphamide (Endoxan, Cycloxan), and ifosfamide.

Antimetabolites mimic the building blocks of DNA and disrupt how cells copy themselves. This class includes 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), capecitabine (Xcap, Capegard, Xeloda), gemcitabine (Gemita, Gemcite), methotrexate (Biotrexate, Folitrax), and pemetrexed (Alimta).

Anthracyclines intercalate into DNA strands and prevent replication. The most commonly prescribed are doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Adrim, Doxokem) and epirubicin (Farmorubicin, Epikem).

Taxanes block the machinery that cells use to divide. Paclitaxel (Intaxel, Taxol), nab-paclitaxel (Nanoxel, Abraxane), and docetaxel (Docel, Taxotere) are the agents in this class.

Vinca alkaloids also disrupt cell division and include vincristine (Oncovin) and vinorelbine (Navelbine). Topoisomerase inhibitors — irinotecan (Irinokem, Camptosar), etoposide (VP-16), and topotecan (Hycamtin) — work by trapping an enzyme the cell needs to copy and untangle its DNA.

Eligibility

Who chemotherapy is not suitable for

Chemotherapy is not appropriate for every patient, and eligibility is always decided by an oncologist on the basis of individual health, blood tests, organ function, and cancer type.

Have severely reduced kidney or liver function, as many agents depend on these organs to process and clear the drug safely
Have very low blood countsWhite cells, platelets, or haemoglobin — that have not recovered sufficiently between cycles
Are pregnant, particularly in the first trimester, as most chemotherapy agents carry a risk of harm to the developing foetus
Have a very poor performance status, where the body is too weakened to tolerate treatment safely
Have had a documented severe allergic reaction to a specific agent being considered

Being told you are not currently suitable does not always mean permanently. Blood counts recover, organ function can improve, and your oncologist will reassess as your situation changes.

Want to talk this through with an oncologist?

Leave your number and an oncology coordinator will call you back at a time that suits you.

Step by step

How to find your drug on this site

Find the generic name

Your prescription will show a generic name, a brand name, or both. If you see only a brand name, ask the pharmacist to write the generic name alongside it — it is usually printed smaller on the dispensing label.

Identify the class

Use the class descriptions above to locate which group your drug belongs to. The class tells you broadly how the drug works and what type of side effects are most commonly reported.

Open the drug page

Each drug named above has its own page on this site. Select the name to read how it is given, what to watch for between cycles, and which symptoms need a same-day call to your team.

Read the side effects section

Every drug page lists side effects as frequency ranges attributed to named sources — NCCN, ASCO, ESMO, or the approved prescribing information. Common, occasional, and rare-but-serious effects are listed separately.

Note the red flags for your drug

Each page has a red flags section listing the specific symptoms that need urgent action for that drug. These differ between drugs. Read the red flags for your drug before your first cycle.

In detail

What does each drug page on this site tell you?

Every drug page names the medicine in full — generic name and common Indian brand names — and states whether it is given by infusion, injection, or tablet.

Side effects are listed by how often they occur, attributed to named guidance bodies such as NCCN, ASCO, or ESMO, or to the approved prescribing information for that drug.

Each page includes a red flags section with symptoms that mean call today and symptoms that mean go to hospital now. These are drug-specific — the red flag list for a platinum agent is not the same as for an anthracycline.

Pages do not include doses, infusion rates, or body-surface-area calculations. Those decisions are made by your oncologist and pharmacist, not by a website.

Checklist

What to have answered before your first cycle

The generic name of every drug you will receive
Whether each drug is given by infusion, injection, or tablet
How many cycles are planned and how long each rest period is
Which side effects are expected to appear in the first 48 hours
The number to call if you develop a fever or feel suddenly unwell
Which over-the-counter medicines and supplements to avoid
What blood tests are needed before each cycle and what delays one
Who to contact if you cannot swallow a tablet dose or miss a day

Still have a question about your treatment? Tell us what is on your chart and an oncologist will explain what it means for you, what to expect and what your schedule is likely to look like.

Talk to an oncologist 1800 202 8726

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a generic name and a brand name?

The generic name is the international name for the active molecule — cisplatin, paclitaxel, gemcitabine. The brand name is what a manufacturer calls their version — Cisplat, Intaxel, Gemita. Both refer to the same medicine. Consent forms, clinical guidelines from NCCN and ASCO, and hospital records all use the generic name, which is why it is useful to know yours. If only a brand name appears on your prescription, ask the pharmacist to add the generic name so you can use drug guides and ask your team informed questions.

Can the same drug have a different brand name in a different hospital?

Yes. Hospitals procure whichever brand their pharmacy stocks at the time of your cycle, and that can change between cycles or between centres. If you notice a different name on your infusion bag or tablet blister, check with your nurse before worrying — what matters is that the generic name is the same. You are entitled to ask before the infusion starts.

My prescription has two or three drug names. Does that mean my cancer is more serious?

Not necessarily. Combination regimens — two or three drugs given together — are the standard approach for many cancers across many stages, not a sign of severity. Combinations are used because drugs from different classes attack cancer cells in different ways, which reduces the chance of resistance developing. Each drug in your combination has its own page on this site, and the side effects you may experience are broadly the combined effects of the individual agents.

Does the class of a drug tell me what side effects to expect?

Broadly, yes. Alkylating agents such as cisplatin are associated with nausea, kidney effects, and peripheral nerve changes. Anthracyclines such as doxorubicin can affect heart muscle over cumulative doses. Taxanes such as paclitaxel are commonly associated with nerve symptoms and hair loss. But there is meaningful variation within every class, which is why each drug has its own page with specific frequency ranges from named sources. Check the page for your exact drug rather than relying on the class alone.

Can I take herbal medicines or supplements alongside chemotherapy?

Not without telling your oncology team first. Some herbal preparations and high-dose supplements interact with chemotherapy in ways that are clinically significant. St John's Wort, for example, affects how several agents are metabolised. High-dose antioxidant supplements taken during treatment are a subject of ongoing discussion in oncology guidance. This is not a reason to feel judged for using them — it is a reason to disclose everything you are taking so your team can advise you on timing. Write down the name and dose of every preparation, including traditional and Ayurvedic remedies, and bring the list to your next appointment.

Are the drugs listed here the same drugs I will be given?

The drugs on these pages are those commonly used in oncology for the cancers treated across our centres. Your oncologist selects from these on the basis of your cancer type, stage, biomarker results, and general health — not every drug is indicated or suitable for every person. If a drug on your prescription does not appear here, ask your oncology team for written information about it, or ask whether a patient information sheet from the manufacturer is available.

Who would be treating you

The medical oncologists on the CION panel

Chemotherapy is prescribed, dosed and supervised by a medical oncologist. These are the six on the CION panel.

Dr. Naresh Gundu

Medical Oncologist

MBBS · DNB Internal Medicine (Sir Gangaram, New Delhi) · DM Medical Oncology (AIIMS)

Call Book appointment

Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy

Medical Oncologist

MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Kukatpally

Call Book appointment

Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla

Medical Oncologist

MBBS · MD · DM (Adyar, Chennai) · ECMO · MRCP SCE (UK)

Call Book appointment

Dr. Owais Mohammed

Medical Oncologist

Call Book appointment

Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy

Medical Oncologist

MBBS · DM (Medical Oncology) · MD (Radiation Oncology) · L.B. Nagar

Call Book appointment

Dr. N. Kiranmayee

Medical Oncologist

Call Book appointment

Which oncologist you see depends on the centre nearest you and on what your treatment involves. Tell us where you are and we will point you to the closest.

Talk it through

Reading about a medicine is not the same as being told what to expect

This page explains what the medicine does in general. What it cannot tell you is how your own regimen was chosen, what your schedule looks like, or which of these effects apply to you — that needs your reports and a conversation.

Free first consultation Second opinion on an existing plan 10 centres across Hyderabad

Speak to an oncologist

Share your details and the team will call you back to arrange a consultation or a second opinion.

Bring your reports if you have them. If you do not, come anyway.

list of links to other editorial pages, which base contract s2.1 permits explicitly. It contains no form, no phone number and no CTA button, so it does not turn this page into an advertisement. Generated by scripts/hub_update.py --include-out. -->

Full index