cladribine
Other Name: Generic brand(s) available, Leustatin®
- For treating certain cancers of the blood, such as hairy cell leukemia.
- Tell your doctor if you have/had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have / had kidney disease, or if you have any allergies.
- Cladribine may harm the unborn baby.
- Let your doctor know if you are breastfeeding, pregnant or plan to become pregnant
- People who have cancer or leukemia are at a higher risk of developing other cancers/leukemias or blood clots. Also, some cancer medications may increase these risks. You should discuss these with your doctor.
- Do not use cladribine if you are pregnant. If there is ANY chance that you or your partner may become pregnant, you and your partner together must:► Use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time while taking this drug: Keep using birth control until 6 months after the last dose (general recommendation). Discuss with your healthcare team.
- Tell your doctor right away if you or your partner becomes pregnant.
- Do not breastfeed while on cladribine treatment.
- Effects on Fertility: Probable
- Effects on Fertility: Probable
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This drug is given by injection into a vein.
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This medication can interact with other medications and can result in the treatment not working as well or cause severe side effects.
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Make sure your health care team knows about all your medications (prescription, over-the-counter, herbals and supplements). Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
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For mild aches and pain:
- You may take acetaminophen (Tylenol®) tablets. Ask your health care team about the right dose for you.
- Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA), including low dose aspirin for heart conditions, may increase your chance of bleeding.
- Talk to your health care team before you start or stop these medications.
- If you feel unwell, take your temperature before taking any of these medications. They may hide a fever.
- Talk to your health care team or go to the closest emergency room right away if you have a fever. See the Fever pamphlet for more information.
The following side effects are common or severe. You may not have all of the side effects. Other side effects may occur. If you have any unusual or bothersome symptoms, discuss with your doctor.
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Unusual bleeding or bruising You may have black stools, cough up blood, blood in your urine, purple or red dots on your skin or bleeding that will not stop. Fever, chills, infection You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
While you are getting chemotherapy treatments:
If you have a fever, talk to your health care team or go to the closest emergency room. |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
Nausea and vomiting
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Headache
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Reactions at the injection site (redness, itchiness, bruising, mild rash or swelling) | Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Poor Appetite; don't feel like eating; weight loss
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Tiredness
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
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Blood clot (limb pain or swelling, hardened vein in limb), may occur in lungs (sudden start of coughing, breathing problems, chest pain, coughing blood) | Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Allergic reaction (fever, severe rash, itchiness, swollen face, lip or tongue, chest or throat tightness)
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Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Kidney problems
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Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Tingling, numb toes or fingers, difficulty with movements
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
Lung problems |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Heart problems |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
Rapid killing of cancer cells when you start treatment may lead to build up of cell waste products
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Get emergency medical help right away |
For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/symptom-management.
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.