Raltitrexed For Colorectal Cancer (Systemic)
Brand Names : Tomudex
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For raltitrexed, the
following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual
or allergic reaction to raltitrexed.
Pregnancy - Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you
intend to have children. There is a chance that this medicine may cause birth
defects if either the male or female is taking it at the time of conception
or if it is taken during pregnancy. Raltitrexed causes toxic or harmful effects
in rats. In addition, many cancer medicines may cause sterility which could
be permanent. Although sterility has not been reported with this medicine,
the possibility should be kept in mind. Be sure that you have discussed this with your doctor before receiving
this medicine. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you are
receiving raltitrexed. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become
pregnant while receiving raltitrexed. Because raltitrexed may cause serious
side effects, pregnancy is generally not recommended while you are taking
it.
Breast-feeding - Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or
if you intend to breast-feed during treatment with this medicine. Because
raltitrexed may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is generally not
recommended while you are taking it.
Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in
adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of raltitrexed
in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults - Elderly people are especially sensitive to the
effects of raltitrexed. Raltitrexed may be more likely to cause side effects
such as cracked lips, diarrhea, difficulty in swallowing, sores, ulcers, or
white spots on the lips, tongue, or inside the mouth in elderly patients.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving
raltitrexed, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know
if you are taking any of the following:
-
Amphotericin B by injection (e.g., Fungizone) or
-
Antithyroid agents (medicine for overactive thyroid) or
-
Azathioprine (e.g., Imuran) or
-
Chloramphenicol (e.g., Chloromycetin) or
-
Colchicine or
-
Flucytosine (e.g., Ancobon) or
-
Ganciclovir (e.g., Cytovene) or
-
Interferon (e.g., Intron A, Roferon-A) or
-
Mercaptopurine (e.g., Purinethol) or
-
Methotrexate (e.g., Rheumatrex) or
-
Plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin) or
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Zidovudine (e.g., AZT, Retrovir) or
-
If you have ever been treated with radiation or cancer medicines - Raltitrexed
may increase the effects of these medicines or radiation therapy on the blood
-
Folic acid or
-
Leucovorin (e.g., Wellcovorin) or
-
Vitamin preparations containing folic or folinic acid - May interfere
with the effectiveness of raltitrexed
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of raltitrexed. Make sure you tell your doctor
if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Chickenpox (including recent exposure) or
-
Herpes zoster (shingles) - Risk of severe disease affecting other
parts of the body
-
Infection - Raltitrexed can decrease your body's ability to fight
infection
-
Kidney disease or
-
Liver disease - Effects of raltitrexed may be increased because
of slower removal from the body; your doctor may need to change your dose
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