LEUCOVORIN (Systemic)
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.?
Generic name product may be available in the U.S. and Canada.
Other commonly used names are citrovorumfactor and folinic acid.
Category
- Antianemic
- Antidote,to folic acid antagonists
- Antineoplastic adjunct
Description
Leucovorin (loo-koe-VOR-in)is used as an antidote to the harmful effects of methotrexate (a cancer medicine)that is given in high doses. It is used also to prevent or treat certain kindsof anemia. Leucovorin acts the same way in the body as folic acid, which maybe low in these patients.
Leucovorin is also used along with fluorouracil (a cancer medicine) totreat cancer of the colon (bowel).
Leucovorin is available only with a prescription and is to be given onlyby or under the supervision of your doctor. It is available in the followingdosage forms:
Oral- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Parenteral- Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine,the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it willdo. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For leucovorin, thefollowing should be considered:
Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to leucovorin. Also tell your health care professional ifyou are allergic to any other substance, such as foods, sulfites or otherpreservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy?Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been donein either humans or animals.
Breast-feeding?It is not known whether leucovorin passes intothe breast milk. However, it has not been reported to cause problems in nursingbabies.
Children?In children with seizures, leucovorin may increasethe number of seizures that occur.
Older adults?Many medicines have not been studied specificallyin older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactlythe same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effectsor problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing useof leucovorin in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health careprofessional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter[OTC]) medicine.
Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of leucovorin. If you are taking leucovorin asan antidote to methotrexate, make sure you tell your doctor if you have anyother medical problems, especially:
- Kidney disease?Levels of methotrexate may be increased becauseof its slower removal from the body, so the dose of leucovorin may not beenough to block the unwanted effects of methotrexate
- Nausea and vomiting?Not enough leucovorin may be absorbed intothe body to block the unwanted effects of methotrexate
Proper Use of This Medicine
It is veryimportant that you take leucovorin exactly as directed, especially when it is being taken to counteract the harmful effectsof cancer medicine. Do not miss any doses. Also, it isbest to take the doses at evenly spaced times day and night. For example,if you are to take 4 doses a day, the doses should be spaced about 6 hoursapart. If this interferes with your sleep or other daily activities, or ifyou need help in planning the best times to take your medicine, check withyour health care professional.
Do not stop taking leucovorin without checking withyour doctor. It is very important that you get exactly the right amount.
Dosing?The dose of leucovorin will be different fordifferent patients. Follow your doctor's orders or thedirections on the label. The following information includes only theaverage doses of leucovorin. If your dose is different,do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The number of tablets or doses of injection that you take depends on thestrength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses youtake each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time youtake the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking leucovorin.
- For use as an antidote to methotrexate:
- For oral (tablets) or injection dosage forms:
- Adults, teenagers, and children?Dose is based on body sizeand must be determined by your doctor.
- For use as an antidote to other medicines:
- For oral (tablets) or injection dosage forms:
- Adults, teenagers, and children?Dose may range from 0.4 milligrams(mg) to 15 mg a day and must be determined by your doctor.
- For certain kinds of anemia:
- For oral (tablets) or injection dosage forms:
- Adults, teenagers, and children?Up to 1 mg a day.
- For colon cancer:
- For injection dosage forms:
- Adults and teenagers?Dose is based on body size and must bedetermined by your doctor.
- Children?Dose must be determined by your doctor.
Missed dose?If you miss a dose of leucovorin or if you vomitshortly after taking a dose, check with your doctor rightaway. Your doctor may want you to take extra leucovorin to make upfor what you missed. Do not take more medicine on your own, however, sinceit is very important that you receive just the right dose at the right time.
Storage?To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Store away from heat and direct light.
- Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in otherdamp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be surethat any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Alongwith its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Leucovorinusually does not cause any side effects.
However, check with yourdoctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur shortlyafter you receive this medicine:
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if the following side effectoccurs:
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Ifyou notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Additional Information
Once a medicine has been approved for marketingfor a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medicalproblems. Although these uses are not included in the product labeling, leucovorinis used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:
- Ewing's sarcoma (type of cancer found in the bone)
- Gestational trophoblastic tumors (tumors in the uterus or womb)
- Head and neck cancer
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (cancer of the lymph system)
Other than the above information, there is no additionalinformation relating to proper use, precautions, or side effects for theseuses.
Revised: 08/14/2000
