What is the generic name for doxorubicin? The Answer and More

October 5, 2025 •

3 min read

First isolated in 1969 from the bacterium Streptomyces peucetius, doxorubicin remains a cornerstone of chemotherapy [1.9.1]. So, what is the generic name for doxorubicin? The simple answer is that doxorubicin is the generic name [1.2.3, 1.2.4].

Quick Summary

Doxorubicin is the generic name for a powerful chemotherapy drug used to treat many cancers. It is known by brand names like Adriamycin and Doxil and works by damaging cancer cell DNA.

Key Points

Generic Name: Doxorubicin is the generic name of the drug. Common brand names include Adriamycin and Rubex [1.2.3].
Drug Class: It is an anthracycline, a type of antitumor antibiotic used in chemotherapy [1.10.3, 1.10.4].
Mechanism: Doxorubicin works by inserting itself into cancer cell DNA and inhibiting the Topoisomerase II enzyme, which prevents cell replication [1.9.3].
Uses: It is used to treat a wide range of cancers, including breast, bladder, lymphoma, and leukemia [1.4.4].
Cardiotoxicity: A major risk is dose-dependent and potentially irreversible heart damage, requiring careful patient monitoring [1.5.3, 1.8.3].
The 'Red Devil': This nickname comes from its bright red color and its potential for severe side effects like hair loss and nausea [1.5.4].
Liposomal Formulation: Doxil is a liposomal version designed to reduce cardiotoxicity and alter side effects compared to conventional doxorubicin [1.7.2, 1.7.4].

Understanding Doxorubicin: More Than Just a Name

The question, 'What is the generic name for doxorubicin?' can be confusing because doxorubicin is, in fact, the generic name for this widely used chemotherapy medication [1.2.3, 1.2.4]. It belongs to a class of drugs called anthracyclines, which are a type of antitumor antibiotic [1.10.3, 1.10.4]. It is often sold under brand names, with Adriamycin being one of the most common [1.2.2, 1.2.3]. Another well-known formulation is the liposomal version, sold as Doxil, which encapsulates the drug in a fatty coating to alter its distribution in the body and reduce certain side effects [1.7.2, 1.7.3].

How Doxorubicin Works: The Mechanism of Action

Doxorubicin's primary mechanism of action is its ability to interfere with the DNA of cancer cells, thereby preventing them from growing and dividing [1.4.2]. It accomplishes this in two main ways:

DNA Intercalation: The drug's planar molecule structure inserts itself between the base pairs of the DNA double helix [1.9.3]. This blocks the processes of DNA replication and RNA transcription, which are essential for cell survival and multiplication [1.4.5].
Topoisomerase II Inhibition: Doxorubicin stabilizes a complex between DNA and an enzyme called topoisomerase II [1.9.3]. This enzyme is crucial for unwinding and resealing DNA strands during replication. By preventing the strands from being resealed, doxorubicin causes permanent DNA breaks, leading to cell death [1.9.1, 1.9.3].

Cancers Treated with Doxorubicin

Doxorubicin is a broad-spectrum anticancer agent used to treat a wide array of malignancies, often in combination with other chemotherapy drugs [1.4.1, 1.10.2]. Some of the cancers it is approved to treat include:

Breast Cancer [1.4.4]
Bladder Cancer [1.4.4]
Ovarian Cancer [1.4.4]
Stomach (Gastric) Cancer [1.4.4]
Lung Cancer (Small Cell and Non-Small Cell) [1.4.4]
Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma [1.4.4]
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) [1.4.4]
Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcomas [1.4.4]
Thyroid Cancer [1.4.4]
Wilms' tumor (a pediatric kidney cancer) [1.4.3]

The 'Red Devil': Common and Serious Side Effects

Doxorubicin has earned the nickname 'the Red Devil' not only for its bright red color but also for its potential for harsh side effects [1.5.4]. Patients' urine may turn a reddish-orange color for one to two days after administration, which is a normal and temporary effect [1.5.1].

Common Side Effects include:

Complete hair loss (alopecia) [1.5.5]
Nausea and vomiting [1.5.1]
Mouth sores (stomatitis) [1.5.1]
Fatigue and weakness [1.5.5]
Low blood cell counts (myelosuppression), leading to increased risk of infection, bleeding, and anemia [1.5.1, 1.6.3]

Serious Side Effects, most notably Cardiotoxicity, are a major concern. Doxorubicin can cause irreversible damage to the heart muscle, which can lead to congestive heart failure [1.5.3, 1.8.3]. This risk is cumulative, meaning it increases with the total amount of the drug a patient receives over their lifetime [1.8.4]. For this reason, doctors carefully monitor heart function before and during treatment using tests like echocardiograms [1.6.1].

Conventional vs. Liposomal Doxorubicin

The development of liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil) was a significant step in mitigating some of the drug's toxicity. By enclosing doxorubicin in a lipid sphere, the drug's circulation time in the body is extended, and its delivery to tumor tissue can be improved [1.7.3]. This formulation has shown a significantly lower risk of cardiotoxicity compared to conventional doxorubicin [1.7.2, 1.7.4].


Feature	Conventional Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)	Liposomal Doxorubicin (Doxil)
Formulation	Free drug in solution	Drug encapsulated in a lipid sphere (liposome) [1.7.3]
Cardiotoxicity	Higher risk, a primary dose-limiting factor [1.7.4]	Significantly reduced risk of heart damage [1.7.2, 1.7.4]
Common Side Effects	Higher rates of nausea, vomiting, and hair loss [1.7.4]	Higher rates of hand-foot syndrome (palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia) and mouth sores [1.7.4]
Efficacy	Comparable efficacy in many cancers, such as metastatic breast cancer [1.7.4]	Comparable efficacy, with a better safety profile for the heart [1.7.2]

Conclusion

While the answer to 'What is the generic name for doxorubicin?' is simply doxorubicin itself, this question opens the door to understanding a vital and complex chemotherapy agent. As a powerful anthracycline, it has been instrumental in treating numerous cancers for decades [1.9.1]. Its effectiveness is balanced by significant risks, especially to the heart, which has spurred the development of safer formulations like liposomal doxorubicin [1.7.2]. The management of its side effects and careful patient monitoring are critical aspects of its clinical use, ensuring its benefits outweigh its risks in the fight against cancer [1.6.1, 1.6.3].

For more detailed information, consult the National Cancer Institute's page on Doxorubicin Hydrochloride.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common brand names for doxorubicin include Adriamycin, Rubex, and the liposomal formulation Doxil [1.2.2, 1.2.3].

Doxorubicin is nicknamed the 'Red Devil' due to its clear, bright red color and its association with harsh side effects, such as hair loss, nausea, and potential heart damage [1.5.4].

The most serious side effect is cardiotoxicity, which is damage to the heart muscle. This can lead to congestive heart failure and is a cumulative, dose-limiting toxicity [1.5.3, 1.9.3].

Doxorubicin is administered as an intravenous (IV) infusion, typically in a hospital or clinic setting, once every 21 to 28 days [1.2.1, 1.4.1].

Yes, complete hair loss (alopecia), including eyelashes and eyebrows, is a very common side effect of treatment with doxorubicin [1.5.5].

Doxil is the brand name for liposomal doxorubicin. The doxorubicin is enclosed in a fatty sphere (liposome), which changes how the drug is distributed in the body, leading to a lower risk of heart damage but a higher risk of other side effects like hand-foot syndrome [1.7.2, 1.7.4].

Yes, it is common and expected for your urine to turn a reddish-orange color for 1 to 2 days after receiving a dose of doxorubicin. This is due to the drug's color and is not harmful [1.5.1].