Chlorambucil

Generic name: Chlorambucil
Brand names: Leukeran
Dosage form: tablet
Drug class: Alkylating agents

Usage of Chlorambucil

Chlorambucil is an anti-cancer chemotherapy drug used for treatment of Hodgkin's disease and specific types of leukemias and lymphomas. It is from a group of medicines called alkylating agents which acts on cancer cells to slow down or stop their growth. It is a tablet that you swallow with a glass of water.

Chlorambucil side effects

What are the serious (bad) side effects of chlorambucil? Allergic Reactions: You should immediately get emergency medical help if you have signs of:

allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, swelling in your face or throat, hives)

or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Other serious (bad) side effects: You should call your doctor at once if you have:

a seizure

any unusual lump or mass,

severe diarrhea or vomiting,

a cough that is new or worsening,

signs of bone marrow suppression eg. dizziness, feeling tired or short of breath, pale lips or fingernail beds, fast heart rate,

signs of liver problems eg. low appetite, pain in the upper right side of stomach, dark urine, clay-colored stools, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or

signs of low blood cell counts eg. high body temperature, chills, tiredness, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath.

What are the common side effects of chlorambucil?

nausea, vomiting or diarrhea,

white patches or sores in or around your mouth,

bone marrow suppression,

low blood cell counts,

missed menstrual periods in women.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Chlorambucil

Fertility: Chlorambucil can affect your fertility (your ability to become pregnant or father a child) while taking treatment and afterwards. You should discuss this with your healthcare provider if you are planning on starting a family in the future. Men might be able to store sperm before starting treatment and women might be able to store eggs. You still may be able to become pregnant, so it is important to use effective birth control while you are using this medicine and for a time afterwards. Pregnancy: Do not use chlorambucil if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. It could harm the unborn baby or cause birth defects. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine. If you are planning a pregnancy you should discuss with your doctor how long after treatment you need to wait before trying to conceive. Breastfeeding: It is not known if chlorambucil passes into breast milk. Many drugs do pass into breast milk and because there is potential for serious adverse reactions to your child if you breastfeed, it is important that you talk to your doctor and make a decision whether you:

do not breastfeed and take chlorambucil,

or discontinue chlorambucil and breastfeed.

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How to use Chlorambucil

Your dose of chlorambucil will be worked out according to your condition that you are being treated for, your body weight, whether it is initiation of treatment or a short course.

The dosage may change or be delayed depending on how well you respond to treatment and any change in blood test results. What happens if I miss a dose? Take the medicine as soon as you can, but if it is almost the same time for your next dose, then skip the missed dose. You should not take two doses at one time. What happens if I overdose? If you think you have taken too much of this medicine you should get emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include agitation, fast heartbeats, skin rash, bruising, bleeding gums, nosebleeds, trouble breathing, or signs of infection (fever, chills, weakness).

Warnings

Chlorambucil may:

Decrease blood cells in bone marrow, so it is important you have tests done regularly to check if your blood cells are being affected by this medicine.

Increase your risk of bleeding or infection, you should call your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding, or new signs of infection (fever, chills, weakness).

Increase the chance of developing other cancers.

Affect your fertility, which is your ability to become pregnant or be able to father a child. Women should not become pregnant while taking chlorambucil and for a time afterwards as it may harm your fetus or cause birth defects. See below on this page for more information about chlorambucil and pregnancy.

You should not breastfeed while using this medicine. See the breastfeeding section below for more information on chlorambucil and breastfeeding.

What other drugs will affect Chlorambucil

Other drugs may affect chlorambucil, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

To check for interactions with chlorambucil, click the link below.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

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