About busuphlan
Alkylating chemotherapy medicine
Used for
- Treats chronic myeloid leukaemia.
- Used in some stem-cell transplant conditioning regimens.
Usual adult dose
For chronic myeloid leukaemia, dosing is individualized by a specialist, often 4–8 mg daily. Transplant doses follow specialist protocols.
Usual dose in children
Used in children for certain transplant regimens; dosing is individualized by a specialist using body size and treatment protocol.
Common side effects
- Low blood-cell counts, increasing infection or bleeding risk.
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or mouth sores.
- Infertility and menstrual changes.
- Lung injury, skin changes, or liver problems.
Important warnings
- Can cause severe, prolonged suppression of bone marrow; blood tests are essential.
- May cause serious lung or liver injury.
- Can cause infertility and harm an unborn baby; effective contraception is required.
- Long-term use may increase risk of other cancers.
Pregnancy
Can harm an unborn baby. Avoid during pregnancy unless a specialist considers treatment essential.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment because the medicine may cause serious harm to an infant.
Interactions
- Other medicines that suppress bone marrow can increase blood-cell complications.
- Itraconazole and metronidazole may increase busulfan exposure.
- Acetaminophen may affect busulfan clearance; discuss before use.
- Phenytoin can alter busulfan exposure.
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 It may be incomplete or out of date.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.