| Brand Name: |
Leukeran |
| Generic Name: |
Chlorambucil |
| Form: |
Tablets |
| Manufacturer: |
Aspen |
What is Leukeran?
Leukeran (Chlorambucil) is indicated in the treatment of certain types of cancer including leukemia and lymphoma. In some cases, Leukeran may be prescribed as a treatment for certain blood disorders or kidney problems. Chlorambucil is an alkylating agent. It works by slowing the growth of cancer cells.
How is Leukeran used?
Leukeran comes in a bottle of 25 tablets, each containing Chlorambucil 2mg.
Your doctor will prescribe an individual dosage based on a number of different factors. Follow their dosing instructions exactly.
Leukeran is an oral tablet to be taken by mouth.
Most patients start with a daily dosage of 0.1mg to 0.2 mg per kg of body weight. This is taken for three to six weeks as required. Chlorambucil may work better in short courses, rather than taken continuously as maintenance therapy.
Adverse effects
The most common side effects of Chlorambucil are:
- bone marrow suppression (this can usually be reversed if treatment is stopped early enough)
- anemia
- leukopenia
- neutropenia
- thrombocytopenia
- pancytopenia
Other side effects you may experience include:
- gastrointestinal upset (nausea, vomitting, diarrhea)
- tremors / muscle twitching
- myoclonia
- confusion
- agitation
- ataxia
- hallucinations
- allergic reactions
- pulmonary fibrosis
- hepatotoxicity and jaundice
- drug fever
- peripheral neuropathy
- interstitial pneumonia
- sterile cystitis
- infertility
- leukemia and secondary malignancies
If you notice any of the above side effects while taking Chlorambucil, contact your doctor immediately.
Warnings
Chlorambucil is a carcinogenic substance. Only take Leukeran for chronic cases of lymphatic leukemia or malignant lymphomas. Convulsions, infertility, leukemia, and secondary malignancies have been observed when chlorambucil was used.
Chlorambucil can damage chromatids or chromosomes in humans. Reversible and permanent sterility have both also been observed in patients receiving chlorambucil.
Leukeran a Pregnancy Category D medicine. It can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise your doctor if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. In case of accidental pregnancy while taking Chlorambucil, contact your doctor as soon as you become aware of this.
Breast feeding is not recommended while taking Leukeran as it may be passed to the baby through the milk.
Leukeran can cause significant changes to blood cell counts, particularly to lymphocytes and neocytes, which in turn can cause irreversible bone marrow damage.
Chlorambucil should not be taken until at least 4 weeks after chemotherapy or radiation.
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