About thioguanin e
Purine antimetabolite chemotherapy
Used for
- Treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, usually as part of combination chemotherapy.
- Treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in selected treatment plans.
Usual adult dose
Dose varies by leukemia and chemotherapy plan; specialist-directed dosing is typically about 100–200 mg/m² daily for several weeks.
Usual dose in children
Specialist-directed dosing is typically about 60–200 mg/m² daily, adjusted for the treatment plan and blood counts.
Common side effects
- Low blood cell counts, increasing infection, bruising, and bleeding risk.
- Liver injury, including rare severe liver blood-vessel complications.
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or mouth sores.
- Increased uric acid, which may cause gout or kidney problems.
Important warnings
- Requires regular blood-count and liver-function monitoring.
- Can cause severe bone-marrow suppression; dosing must follow the specialist’s treatment plan.
- Avoid live vaccines during treatment; infection risk may be increased.
- Do not substitute for other leukemia medicines without specialist direction.
Pregnancy
May harm an unborn baby. Avoid during pregnancy unless a specialist judges treatment essential; reliable contraception is important.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment because of potential serious harm to the infant.
Interactions
- Allopurinol can increase thioguanine effects; the dose may need adjustment.
- Other medicines that suppress bone marrow can increase blood-count problems.
- Aminosalicylates, such as mesalazine, may increase blood toxicity.
- Live vaccines may cause infection during immunosuppressive treatment.
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 It may be incomplete or out of date.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.