Doxorubicin is commonly associated with which adverse effects?

• A. Alopecia
• B. Nausea
• C. Nephritis
• D. Cardiotoxicity and red urine

Answer: (D)

Doxorubicin has a distinctive adverse effect profile that clinicians watch for closely: dose-dependent cardiotoxicity and a red-orange discoloration of the urine. The heart damage arises from free radical injury to cardiac cells, making it a major dose-limiting toxicity; cumulative doses are monitored and strategies like dexrazoxane can reduce this risk. The red urine is a characteristic, harmless pigment-related effect of the drug that patients may notice.

Alopecia and nausea are common with many chemotherapeutic agents, so they’re not unique to doxorubicin. Nephritis isn’t a hallmark adverse effect of this drug, unlike certain other chemotherapies.

Thus, the best-supported adverse effects for doxorubicin are cardiotoxicity and red urine.