Classes
DEA Class; Rx
Common Brand Names; Leukeran
- Antineoplastics, Alkylating
Description
Oral alkylating agent
Approved for use as palliative treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, and certain non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas including lymphosarcoma and giant follicular lymphoma
Has black box warnings for severe myelosuppression, carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, and infertility
Indications
Indicated for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity or resistance; demonstrated resistance to chlorambucil previously
Adverse Effects
- Neutropenia (25-33%)
- Anemia
- Leukopenia
- Thrombocytopenia
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- GI effects
- Leukemia
- Myelosuppression
- Hyperuricemia
- Infertility
- Hepatotoxicity & jaundice
- Type I hypersensitivity
- Rash
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome (rare)
- Toxic epidermal necrosis (rare)
- Urticaria
Warnings
History of seizures; head trauma; those receiving other potentially epileptogenic drugs
Potentially mutagenic, carcinogenic & teratogenic; avoid pregnancy
Can cause infertility
Severely myelosuppressive
May need lower dosages in liver failure
Beware of cross-hypersensitivity w/ other alkylating agents
Reduce dose in preexisting myelosuppressive situations or if WBC/Plt counts fall below normal
If used within 4 week of radiation/cytotoxic chemotherapy
Avoid pregnancy
Pregnancy and Lactation
Pregnancy Category: D
Lactation: not known if excreted in breast milk; do not nurse
Maximum Dosage
The maximum dosage is dependent on indication, response, and toxicity.
The maximum dosage is dependent on indication, response, and toxicity.
How supplied
Chlorambucil
tablet
- 2mg
