Leustatin : Uses, Side Effects, Interactions & More

IMPORTANT WARNING:

Leustatin injection (Cladribine Injection) should be administered in a hospital or medical facility under the supervision of a physician experienced in administering chemotherapy drugs for cancer.

Leustatin Injection can cause a severe decrease in the number of all types of blood cells in your blood. This can cause certain symptoms and can increase your risk of developing a serious infection or bleeding. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: fever, sore throat, chills, or other signs of infection; unusual bleeding or bruising; black, tarry stools; red blood in the stool; vomit with blood; or vomited material that looks like coffee grounds.

Leustatin can cause serious nerve damage. Nerve damage can occur more than a month after Leustatin injection. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: pain, burning, numbness, or tingling in your hands or feet; weakness in the arms or legs; or loss of ability to move arms or legs.

Leustatin can cause serious kidney problems. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney disease. Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking aminoglycoside antibiotics such as amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin (Garamycin), or tobramycin (Tobi, Nebcin); Amphotericin B (Amphotec, Fungizone); Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quina Accilinapril)), ramipril (Altace) and trandolapril (Mavik); or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and sulindac (Clinoril). If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: decreased urination; swelling of the face, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs; or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain tests before, during, and after treatment to check your body’s response to Leustatin.

Why is this medication prescribed?

Leustatin Injection (Cladribine Injection) is used to treat hairy cell leukemia (cancer of a certain type of white blood cell). Leustatin belongs to a class of medications known as purine analogs. It works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells.

How should this medicine be used?

Leustatin injection (Cladribine Injection) comes as a solution (liquid) that a doctor or nurse must inject intravenously (into a vein) at a medical facility. It is usually given slowly over 7 days as a continuous intravenous injection.

Other uses for this medicine

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

What special precautions should I follow?

Before receiving Leustatin Injection,

  • Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Leustatin, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in Leustatin injection. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
  • Tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and any of the following: immunosuppressants such as azathioprine (Imuran), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), methotrexate (Rheumatrex), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf). Your doctor will need to monitor you closely for side effects. Many other medications can also interact with Leustatin, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
  • Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease.
  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. You should not become pregnant while you are receiving Leustatin. If you become pregnant while receiving Leustatin, call your doctor. Leustatin can harm the fetus.

What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Leustatin Injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • stomach pain
  • constipation
  • loss of appetite
  • skin rash
  • headache
  • excessive sweating
  • pain, redness, swelling, or sores in the place where the medication was injected

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

  • pale skin
  • excessive tiredness
  • shortness of breath
  • dizziness
  • fast heartbeat

Leustatin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim collapsed, had a seizure, is having trouble breathing, or cannot wake up, immediately call 911 for emergency services.

Symptoms of overdose may include the following:

  • decreased urination
  • swelling of the face, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
  • unusual tiredness or weakness
  • unusual bleeding or bruising
  • black and tarry or bloody stools
  • bloody vomit or vomited material that looks like coffee grounds
  • fever, sore throat, chills, or other signs of infection
  • pain, burning, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet
  • weakness in the arms or legs.
  • loss of ability to move the arms or legs.

What other information should I know?

It is important that you keep a written list of all prescription and over-the-counter (over-the-counter) medications you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you every time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to take with you in case of emergencies.

Brand Names

  • Leustatin®

Other Names

  • 2-CdA
  • 2-Chloro-2′-deoxyadenosine
  • CdA
  • Chlorodeoxyadenosine

Disclaimer: DrLinex has made every effort to ensure that all information is factually accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a licensed health care professional’s choice of knowledge and expertise. You should always consult your doctor or other health care professional before taking any medication. The information given here is subject to change and it has not been used to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions or adverse effects. The lack of warning or other information for any drug does not indicate that the combination of medicine or medication is safe, effective or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *