thioguanine
Other Name: Lanvis®
- For treating acute leukemia, a type of blood cancer.
- Tell your doctor if you have or had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have any allergies.
- People who have cancer are at a higher risk of developing other cancers or blood clots. Also, some cancer medications, such as thioguanine, may increase these risks. You should discuss these with your doctor.
- This drug contains a small amount of lactose. If you cannot tolerate lactose, talk to your doctor.
- The use of this medication in men or women may cause harm to the unborn baby if pregnancy occurs. Let your health care team know if you or your partner is pregnant, becomes pregnant during treatment, or if you are breastfeeding
- ► Use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time while taking this drug. Keep using birth control for at least 6 months after your last dose unless your health care team told you differently. Talk to your health care team to figure out the best method(s) for you and/or your partner.
- Do not breastfeed while using this drug.
- This medication may affect fertility (ability to get pregnant)
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Take it exactly as directed by your doctor. Make sure you understand the instructions.
- Swallow whole with a glass of water
- If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible, otherwise skip this dose and take your next dose as scheduled. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed dose.
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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.
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Drinking alcohol and smoking during your treatment may increase some side effects and make your medication less effective. Speak to your health care team about smoking and drinking alcohol while on treatment.
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Keep this medication in the original packaging at room temperature in a dry place, away from heat and light. Keep out of sight and reach of children and pets.
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Do not throw out any unused medications at home. Bring them to your pharmacy to be thrown away safely.
The following side effects have been seen in people using thioguanine with other chemotherapy drugs, so some of these effects may be caused by chemotherapy.
You may not have all of the side effects below. You may have side effects that are not listed.
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Diarrhea May happen days to weeks after you get your treatment. If you have diarrhea :
See the Diarrhea pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Rapid killing of cancer cells when you start treatment
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Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
Mouth sores You may have round, painful, white or gray sores inside your mouth. They can occur on the tongue, lips, gums, or inside your cheeks. In more severe cases they may make it hard swallow, eat or to brush your teeth. They usually last 1 to 2 weeks. To help prevent mouth sores:
If you have mouth sores:
See the Mouth Care pamphlet for more information.
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Contact your health care team as soon as possible | ||||
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 treatment:
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Get emergency medical help right away |
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Low appetite
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Infection of your intestines, tear in your stomach or intestines
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Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
Nausea and vomiting May occur in hours to days after your treatment. It is easier to prevent nausea than to treat it if it happens. To help prevent nausea:
If you have nausea or vomiting:
Also see Nausea & Vomiting pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your healthcare team if nausea lasts more than 48 hours or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours | ||||
Skin sensitivity to sunlight Your skin may be more sensitive to the sun. You can have an itchy rash and other skin reactions when you are exposed to the sun.
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Rash; dry, itchy skin Rash may be severe in some rare cases and cause your skin to blister or peel. If this happens, get emergency medical help right away. To prevent and treat dry skin,
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Liver problems It may cause you to gain weight, have a tender (hurts to touch) right side of your belly or have eyes or skin that may look yellow. You may also have bright red or black/tarry coloured poo, a swollen or painful belly and feel confused or forget things. |
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.