Leukeran

Uses
Leukeran (Chlorambucil) is a cancer drug used to treat of certain types of cancer including leukemia and lymphoma. Leukeran is also used in some patients as a treatment for certain blood disorders or kidney problems. Chlorambucil is classified as an alkylating agent. Leukeran slows or stops the growth of cancer cells.

Dosage and administration
Leukeran comes in a bottle of 25 tablets, each containing Chlorambucil 2mg.

Your doctor will prescribe an individual dosage based on a number of different factors. Follow their dosing instructions exactly.

Leukeran is an oral tablet to be taken by mouth.

Most patients start with a daily dosage of 0.1mg to 0.2 mg per kg of body weight. This is taken for three to six weeks as required. Chlorambucil may work better in short courses, rather than taken continuously as maintenance therapy.

Side effects
The most common side effects of Chlorambucil are:

• bone marrow suppression (this can usually be reversed if treatment is stopped early enough)
• anemia
• leukopenia
• neutropenia
• thrombocytopenia
• pancytopenia

Other side effects you may experience include:

• gastrointestinal upset (nausea, vomitting, diarrhea)
• tremors / muscle twitching
• myoclonia
• confusion
• agitation
• ataxia
• hallucinations
• allergic reactions
• pulmonary fibrosis
• hepatotoxicity and jaundice
• drug fever
• peripheral neuropathy
• interstitial pneumonia
• sterile cystitis
• infertility
• leukemia and secondary malignancies

If you notice any of the above side effects while taking Chlorambucil, contact your doctor immediately.

Precautions
Chlorambucil is only to be used in chronic cases of lymphatic leukemia or malignant lymphomas. Leukeran can have a carcinogenic effect and lead to convulsions, infertility, leukemia, and secondary malignancies.

Chromatid or chromosome damage has been reported in use with Chlorambucil in humans. Chlorambucil is also know to cause both reversible and permanent sterility have been observed in both sexes.

Leukeran is a Pregnancy Category D drug that can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Make sure you tell your doctor if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. In case of accidental pregnancy while taking Chlorambucil, contact your doctor as soon as you become aware of this.

Breast feeding while taking Leukeran is not recommended, as it may be passed to the baby through the milk.

Leukeran can cause significant changes to lymphocytes and neocytes. In some cases this can lead to irreversible bone marrow damage. Make sure to have regular blood tests while taking Leukeran.

If undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, allow at least 4 weeks to pass before taking Chlorambucil.