About fludarabine phosphate
Purine analogue antineoplastic
Used for
- Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), usually after other treatment.
Usual adult dose
CLL: usually 40 mg/m² by mouth once daily for five days, repeated every 28 days; specialist-directed.
Common side effects
- Low blood-cell counts and infections
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or tiredness
- Fever or chills
- Nervous-system problems, including confusion or vision changes
Important warnings
- Can severely suppress bone marrow and increase serious infection risk.
- May cause serious nervous-system injury, especially at high doses.
- Can cause autoimmune destruction of red blood cells.
- Requires specialist monitoring of blood counts and kidney function.
Pregnancy
May harm an unborn baby; avoid during pregnancy. Effective contraception is needed during treatment and afterward.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment and for a period afterward; consult the product information.
Interactions
- Pentostatin increases risk of severe lung toxicity.
- Dipyridamole and other adenosine-uptake inhibitors may reduce effectiveness.
- Combining with other bone-marrow-suppressing medicines can worsen blood-cell effects.
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 It may be incomplete or out of date.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.