Details About Generic Salt ::  Mercapto

Main Medicine Class::    

(mer-cap-toe-PURE-een)

Purinethol

Tablets

50 mg

Class: Purine antimetabolite

 Indications

Adult

Acute lymphoblastic leukemias.

Pediatric

Acute lymphoblastic leukemias.

Acute myeloblastic leukemias (adults).

 Contraindications Prior resistance to this drug.

 Route/Dosage

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Remission Induction

ADULTS: PO Initiate therapy with 2.5 mg/kg/day, rounded to the nearest 25 mg. If no response after 4 wk of therapy, may increase dose £ 5 mg/kg/day PO. An alternative regimen is to initiate therapy with 80 to 100 mg/m²/day, rounded to the nearest 25 mg.

PEDIATRIC: PO Initiate therapy with 2.5 mg/kg/day, rounded to the nearest 25 mg. If no response after 4 wk of therapy, may increase dose £ 5 mg/kg/day PO. An alternative regimen is to initiate therapy with 70 to 100 mg/m²/day, rounded to the nearest 25 mg.

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Maintenance

ADULTS: PO Usual range is 1.5 to 2.5 mg/kg/day as a single dose.

PEDIATRIC: PO Usual range is 1.5 to 2.5 mg/kg/day as a single dose. An alternative regimen is 75 mg/m²/day, rounded to the nearest 25 mg.

Interactions

Allopurinol

Inhibition of mercaptopurine metabolism; coadministration may cause increased toxicity.

Co-trimoxazole

Potentiates bone marrow suppression associated with mercaptopurine.

Methotrexate

May increase oral bioavailability of mercaptopurine.

Warfarin

Mercaptopurine may decrease the hypoprothrombinemic effect of warfarin; monitor and adjust warfarin therapy as necessary.

Lab Test Interferences None well documented.

 Adverse Reactions

DERMATOLOGIC: Rash; hyperpigmentation. GI: Very low potential for nausea and vomiting; anorexia, diarrhea, mucositis, intestinal ulceration, ascites, hepatocellular necrosis, cholestatic jaundice. HEMATOLOGIC: Bone marrow suppression, nadir at 7 to 14 days.

 Precautions

Pregnancy: Category D. Lactation: Undetermined. Bone marrow toxicity: Most consistent dose-related toxicity is bone marrow suppression manifested by anemia, leukopenia, or thrombocytopenia. Hepatotoxicity: Hepatotoxicity occurs with greatest frequency when doses of 2.5 mg/kg/day are exceeded. Deaths have occurred from hepatic necrosis. Renal function impairment: Start with smaller doses because of the possibility of slower drug elimination and a greater cumulative effect.

PATIENT CARE CONSIDERATIONS

 Administration/Storage

• Store tablets at room temperature.
• Extemporaneous oral suspension (50 mg/mL oral suspension): Crush thirty 50 mg oral tablets completely. Combine with 1:2 mixture of methylcellulose 1% and syrup to form a paste. Dilute with sufficient amount of methylcellulose/syrup mixture for a final total volume of 30 mL. Simple syrup or cherry syrup may be used. It is stable for 14 days at room temperature in amber glass bottles.
• Administer PO. Give on an empty stomach since food may reduce bioavailability.
• Shake suspension well before using.
• Follow procedures for proper handling and disposal of anticancer drugs. Wear gloves and avoid skin exposure and inhalation of fumes.

 Assessment/Interventions

• Monitor CBC at least once weekly during therapy. During induction therapy, these parameters may need to be assessed more frequently.
• Monitor LFTs at baseline and periodically. Monitor more frequently if patient is receiving other hepatotoxic drugs concurrently.
• Hyperuricemia may occur because of rapid cell lysis; monitor serum uric acid. Minimize effects of hyperuricemia with hydration, urinary alkalinization, and allopurinol.

OVERDOSAGE: SIGNS & SYMPTOMS   Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, myelosuppression, liver dysfunction, gastroenteritis

 Patient/Family Education

• Contraceptive measures are recommended during therapy for men and women.
• Notify health care provider if fever, sore throat, chills, nausea, vomiting, unusual bleeding or bruising, yellow discoloration of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, flank or joint pain, swelling of the feet or legs, or symptoms suggestive of anemia occurs.
• May cause diarrhea, fever, and weakness; notify health care provider if these become pronounced.
• Maintain adequate fluid intake.

Medicscientist Drug Facts

Drugs Class ::

Indications for Drugs ::

 Indications

Adult

Acute lymphoblastic leukemias.

Pediatric

Acute lymphoblastic leukemias.

Acute myeloblastic leukemias (adults).

Drug Dose ::

 Route/Dosage

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Remission Induction

ADULTS: PO Initiate therapy with 2.5 mg/kg/day, rounded to the nearest 25 mg. If no response after 4 wk of therapy, may increase dose £ 5 mg/kg/day PO. An alternative regimen is to initiate therapy with 80 to 100 mg/m²/day, rounded to the nearest 25 mg.

PEDIATRIC: PO Initiate therapy with 2.5 mg/kg/day, rounded to the nearest 25 mg. If no response after 4 wk of therapy, may increase dose £ 5 mg/kg/day PO. An alternative regimen is to initiate therapy with 70 to 100 mg/m²/day, rounded to the nearest 25 mg.

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Maintenance

ADULTS: PO Usual range is 1.5 to 2.5 mg/kg/day as a single dose.

PEDIATRIC: PO Usual range is 1.5 to 2.5 mg/kg/day as a single dose. An alternative regimen is 75 mg/m²/day, rounded to the nearest 25 mg.

Contraindication ::

 Contraindications Prior resistance to this drug.

Drug Precautions ::

 Precautions

Pregnancy: Category D. Lactation: Undetermined. Bone marrow toxicity: Most consistent dose-related toxicity is bone marrow suppression manifested by anemia, leukopenia, or thrombocytopenia. Hepatotoxicity: Hepatotoxicity occurs with greatest frequency when doses of 2.5 mg/kg/day are exceeded. Deaths have occurred from hepatic necrosis. Renal function impairment: Start with smaller doses because of the possibility of slower drug elimination and a greater cumulative effect.

Drug Side Effects ::

 Adverse Reactions

DERMATOLOGIC: Rash; hyperpigmentation. GI: Very low potential for nausea and vomiting; anorexia, diarrhea, mucositis, intestinal ulceration, ascites, hepatocellular necrosis, cholestatic jaundice. HEMATOLOGIC: Bone marrow suppression, nadir at 7 to 14 days.

Drug Mode of Action ::  

Drug Interactions ::

Interactions

Allopurinol

Inhibition of mercaptopurine metabolism; coadministration may cause increased toxicity.

Co-trimoxazole

Potentiates bone marrow suppression associated with mercaptopurine.

Methotrexate

May increase oral bioavailability of mercaptopurine.

Warfarin

Mercaptopurine may decrease the hypoprothrombinemic effect of warfarin; monitor and adjust warfarin therapy as necessary.

Drug Assesment ::

 Assessment/Interventions

• Monitor CBC at least once weekly during therapy. During induction therapy, these parameters may need to be assessed more frequently.
• Monitor LFTs at baseline and periodically. Monitor more frequently if patient is receiving other hepatotoxic drugs concurrently.
• Hyperuricemia may occur because of rapid cell lysis; monitor serum uric acid. Minimize effects of hyperuricemia with hydration, urinary alkalinization, and allopurinol.

Drug Storage/Management ::

 Administration/Storage

• Store tablets at room temperature.
• Extemporaneous oral suspension (50 mg/mL oral suspension): Crush thirty 50 mg oral tablets completely. Combine with 1:2 mixture of methylcellulose 1% and syrup to form a paste. Dilute with sufficient amount of methylcellulose/syrup mixture for a final total volume of 30 mL. Simple syrup or cherry syrup may be used. It is stable for 14 days at room temperature in amber glass bottles.
• Administer PO. Give on an empty stomach since food may reduce bioavailability.
• Shake suspension well before using.
• Follow procedures for proper handling and disposal of anticancer drugs. Wear gloves and avoid skin exposure and inhalation of fumes.

Drug Notes ::

 Patient/Family Education

• Contraceptive measures are recommended during therapy for men and women.
• Notify health care provider if fever, sore throat, chills, nausea, vomiting, unusual bleeding or bruising, yellow discoloration of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, flank or joint pain, swelling of the feet or legs, or symptoms suggestive of anemia occurs.
• May cause diarrhea, fever, and weakness; notify health care provider if these become pronounced.
• Maintain adequate fluid intake.

Medicscientist Drug Facts

Disclaimer ::

The Information available on this site is for only Informational Purpose , before any use of this information please consult your Doctor .Price of the drugs indicated above may not match to real price due to many possible reasons may , including local taxes etc.. These are only approximate indicative prices of the drug.