ange the dose and frequency of your medicine as your condition changes.
Your doctor may order regular blood tests while you are taking Leukeran in order to monitor your blood cell count and to change your dosage if necessary.
How to take it
Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water.
Do not break, crush or chew the tablet.
When to take it
It is important to take your medicine regularly and at the same time each day
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure of the instructions on the bottle label.
How long to take it
Continue taking Leukeran for as long as your doctor tells you.
If you forget to take it
Tell your doctor if you forget to take a dose.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Leukeran. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
While you are taking it
Things you must do
Take Leukeran exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
Otherwise your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Leukeran, especially if you are being started on any new medicines.
Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant, are trying to become pregnant or trying to father a child while taking Leukeran.
If you are about to undergo surgery or an operation, tell your doctor or surgeon that you are taking Leukeran.
Things you must not do
Do not stop taking Leukeran or change the dose without first checking with your doctor.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.
Do not use Leukeran to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Things to be careful of
Do not break, crush or chew the tablet.
Provided the outer coating of the tablet is intact, there is no risk in handling Leukeran tablets.
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Leukeran affects you.
It is unlikely that Leukeran will cause problems with your ability to drive a car or operate machinery. However, as with many other medicines, Leukeran may cause dizziness, drowsiness or tiredness in some people.
Side effects
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Leukeran.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
frequent infections such as fever, sore throat or mouth ulcers
bruising or bleeding more easily than normal, nose bleeds
unusual tiredness, being short of breath, looking pale.
The above symptoms include the more common side effects of Leukeran which may result from the drop in production of bone marrow cells.
vomiting, diarrhoea
jaundice, a yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin
rash
fits or convulsions
persistent cough or breathlessness
numbness or weakness of the arms or legs
in women, periods may stop
in men, sperm production may be reduced or stopped.
Tell your doctor immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency |
