- pale skin.
- weakness.
- shortness of breath.
- sore throat, fever, chills, or other signs of infection.
- swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet.
- unusual bruising or bleeding.
- yellowing of the skin or eyes.
- loss of appetite.
What does mercaptopurine do in the body?
6-mercaptopurine belongs to a group of medicines called cytotoxics (also called chemotherapy) and works by reducing the number of new blood cells your body makes. Mercaptopurine is
used to treat cancer of the blood (leukaemia)
in adults, adolescents and children.
Does mercaptopurine cause fever?
Mercaptopurine-induced fever
Does mercaptopurine make you sick?
Estimates suggest side effects occur in around one in five people taking azathioprine and mercaptopurine, and can occur at any time during treatment. Side effects from azathioprine and mercaptopurine may include the following:
Nausea (feeling sick)
, vomiting and loss of appetite.
How long can you stay on mercaptopurine?
Research suggests that for some people azathioprine or mercaptopurine can continue to be effective for
at least five years and possibly longer
.
What happens if you stop taking mercaptopurine?
However there is a risk of
relapsing
if you stop taking azathioprine or mercaptopurine. Around 1 in 5 people with Crohn’s and 1 in 10 with Ulcerative Colitis are at risk of relapsing within a year of stopping treatment.
Is mercaptopurine a chemotherapy?
Mercaptopurine is a
chemotherapy drug
used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and acute promyelocytic leukaemia (a rare form of AML). It may sometimes be used to treat other cancers.
Can mercaptopurine cause weight gain?
Swelling of the body, tiredness, bruising. High blood pressure which may cause headaches, dizziness, blurred vision. Belly pain.
Increased appetite and weight gain
.
Can I take mercaptopurine at night?
You
take Xaluprine in the evening
, with food or on an empty stomach. But whichever you choose, you should do the same thing each day. You should drink some water after taking the liquid.
How long does it take mercaptopurine to work?
Mercaptopurine works to reduce inflammation in the body by targeting the immune system. 6MP is given at a lower dose than azathioprine. It
may take up to 6 months for the 6MP
to start working effectively. Your doctor may want you to continue taking other medicines during this time to help manage your disease.
Does mercaptopurine affect immune system?
MERCAPTOPURINE, 6-MP (mer kap toe PYOOR een) is a chemotherapy drug. It interferes with the growth of cancer cells and
can reduce immune system activity
. It is used to treat certain types of acute leukemia.
Can I drink alcohol with mercaptopurine?
Yes,
it safe to drink alcohol while you are taking mercaptopurine
, however large quantities of alcohol should be avoided.
Can you cut mercaptopurine in half?
Inform your doctor or nurse and keep to your child’s regular dose schedule. Sometimes it is necessarily to halve tablets to get the correct dose. A tablet cutter may be used for this but you should
keep it only for cutting chemotherapy tablets
.
What is the half life of mercaptopurine?
Intravenous administration of an investigational preparation of mercaptopurine revealed a plasma half-disappearance time of
21 minutes in pediatric patients and 47 minutes in adults
. The volume of distribution usually exceeded that of the total body water.
Can you take ibuprofen with mercaptopurine?
No interactions
were found between ibuprofen and mercaptopurine. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.
Can 6MP make you tired?
In the first few months of taking mercaptopurine,
you may feel tired and weak
because the drug lowers your red blood count and makes you anemic. You may also feel short of breath at times. Talk to your doctor about treatment to help you feel more energetic.
