About busulphan
Alkylating chemotherapy medicine
Used for
- Treats chronic myeloid leukaemia.
- Used in conditioning before stem-cell transplantation.
Usual adult dose
Chronic myeloid leukaemia: commonly 4–8 mg daily, adjusted by blood counts. Transplant dosing is specialist-directed.
Usual dose in children
Specialist-directed dosing for stem-cell transplant conditioning; dosing varies by protocol and body size.
Common side effects
- Low blood cell counts and infections
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea
- Mouth sores
- Lung or liver injury
Important warnings
- Can severely suppress bone marrow; requires close blood-count monitoring.
- May cause infertility and prolonged absence of menstrual periods.
- Rarely causes seizures, lung scarring, or liver injury.
- Increases risk of later cancers; specialist supervision is essential.
Pregnancy
May harm an unborn baby. Avoid pregnancy during treatment; specialist advice is needed before conception.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment.
Interactions
- Other medicines that suppress bone marrow can increase blood-count problems.
- Itraconazole and metronidazole may increase busulfan exposure.
- Phenytoin may alter busulfan levels; specialist monitoring is required.
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 It may be incomplete or out of date.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.