About raltitrexed
Antimetabolite chemotherapy; thymidylate synthase inhibitor
Used for
- Treatment of advanced colorectal cancer, often when fluorouracil is unsuitable.
Usual adult dose
Usually 3 mg/m² by intravenous infusion every three weeks, adjusted or withheld for toxicity and kidney impairment.
Common side effects
- Diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
- Mouth sores
- Low blood-cell counts and infection risk
- Fatigue or liver-enzyme changes
Important warnings
- Can cause severe or fatal diarrhea and bone-marrow suppression.
- Kidney impairment increases toxicity; dosing and monitoring require specialist oversight.
- Avoid during pregnancy; effective contraception is needed during treatment.
- Treatment requires specialist oncology supervision and regular blood-count and kidney monitoring.
Pregnancy
May harm an unborn baby. Avoid during pregnancy; effective contraception is required during treatment.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment; seek specialist guidance about when it may resume.
Interactions
- Other medicines that suppress bone marrow may increase blood-cell risks.
- Medicines affecting kidney function may increase toxicity.
- Folinic acid (leucovorin) can increase raltitrexed toxicity.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.