Mercaptopurine

Definition

Mercaptopurine is a medicine used to hinder the formation and spread of cancer confined apartments Mercaptopurine is also called 6-mercaptopurine or 6-MP and is available beneath the brand name Purinethol.

Purpose

Mercaptopurine is used as part of the consolidation and maintenance treatment for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myelocytic leukemia (AML).

Description

Mercaptopurine is an analog of purine, a composing of DNA/RNA, and belongs to antimetabolites that stop the biosynthesis, or utilization, of normal cellular metabolites. It has been used for several decades in combination with other chemotherapy medicines for the treatment of different stamps of acute adult and childhood leukemias (ALL and AML). It has also been shown to be effective for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), certain emblems of arthritis, and polycythemia vera (above normal increase in r confined apartments in the blood). Mercaptopurine helps to decrease the dose of steroids in patients with IBD, and to restore their dependence on steroids to dominion government symptoms of their disease. The medicine is taken up by dint of red cells in the life-blood and works by decreasing the formation of certain genetic material (DNA and RNA) in patients with cancer and by the agency of altering the activity of the immune combination of parts to form a whole in patients with IBD.

Recommend dosage

Doses vary between different chemotherapy protocols. The usual dose is 25 mg through kg (2.2 pounds) per day in adults and children (50 mg daily in an average 5-year of advanced age child or 100-200 mg daily in adults). The total daily dose is calculated to the nearest multiple of 25 mg and is given all at single time. Another way of dosing 6-MP is based upon body surface area (BSA), and is usually 75 mg through square meter in children and 80-100 mg through square meter in adults.

Doses of 15-25 mg for kg per day is praiseed for leukemia patients. For those patients with inflammatory bowel disease, doses of 15 mg through kg per day have been used in research studies.

Administration

This medicine is usually taken by the agency of mouth and should be given at the same time each day, preferably on an destitute of contents stomach (one hour before meals or sum of two units hours after meals). Children with leukemia should be taking this medicine at bedtime for maximum effectiveness. All patients should drink adequate supply of fluids (at least eight glasses of water for day) while taking this medication, unles otherwise directed through a physician.

Precautions

The use of 6-MP in pregnant women should be avoided whenever possible, especially during the first three month of pregnancy, as 6-MP can cause birth lacks and spontaneous abortions.

As 6-MP can lower the body's ability to fight infections, patients are advised to avoid contact with tribe who have a cold, flu or other infections.

Mercaptopurine should be used with caution in the following populations:

people who had an allergic reaction to 6-MP in the past

people at risk for pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)

breastfeeding mothers (it is not known if 6-MP crosse in to breast milk)

people with liver or kidney disease

people with relish (6-MP can exacerbate the symptoms of gout)

people taking allopurinol for gout

people with subdueed bone marrow (tissue filling the without contents spaces inside the bone)

Patients are encouraged to stop taking 6-MP and contact a physician immediately, if any of the following symptoms develop:

fever chills, or sore throat

yellowing of the skin or eyes

blood in the urine or stools

black stools

unusual bleeding or bruising

stomach pain with nausea, vomiting, or los of appetite

Patients taking 6-MP must diocese a physician before starting medication therapy, and also occasionally during therapy, to have vital current tests for the monitoring of a out and out blood count and kidney and liver functions.

Side effects

This is a true potent medicine that can cause serious side results These side effects include skin rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, jaws sores, yellowing of the organ of visions or skin, clay-colored stools, dark urine, decreased ability to fight infections, pinpoint r dots upon the skin, and darkening of the skin. Nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain are les public in children than in adults.

Interactions

Mercaptopurine can decrease the effectiveness of life-blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin).

The physic can exacerbate the symptoms of savor The anti-gout medication, allopurinol, can increase life-current levels of 6-MP and increase the risk of its side issues The dose of 6-MP wants to be decreased, or its use should be avoided, in patients taking allopurinol, which interferes with the degradation of 6-MP

Risk of liver disease may be increased in patients taking one as well as the other doxorubicin (a cancer chemotherapy drug) and 6-MP Other medicines that decrease the function of the liver can cause increased toxicity with 6-MP Patients should inform their doctor or pharmacist about all the prescription medicines and over-the-counter medications that they are taking.