In the field of medicine, a coup is taking place, more and more drugs are being synthesized that affect the growth of oncological pathology. Thanks to such discoveries, oncological diseases are no longer a death sentence, a patient suffering from cancer has chances to live a long and fulfilling life.
However, the consequences of the actions of drugs used in chemotherapy are still quite significant and somewhat reduce the quality of life of the patient. Pharmacologists are working on this issue and to this day, and already on the pharmaceutical market appeared drugs that reduce the toxicity of antitumour agents on the human body, one of these drugs is Leucovorin.
Form release, composition and packaging
Leucovorin is the main active ingredient - calcium folinate pentahydrate, which is combined with chloride and sodium hydroxide.
In one package, 5 bottles of 45 ml of solution or 1 bottle in a volume of 80 ml.1 ml of the solution containing calcium folinate, corresponds to 10 mg of folic acid.
Manufacturer
The production and distribution of this drug is handled by the Teva pharmaceutical plant in Israel and Hungary.
Indications for use
Leucovorin can be taken only for certain indications and only after consulting a specialist!
There are a number of conditions in which the use of this drug is indicated:
- Leucovorin is used as an antagonist medication for drugs that block folic acid in the human body, it is necessary to eliminate toxic symptoms on the background of chemotherapy. These drugs include methotrexate, pyrimethamine, trimethoprim.
- Presence of atypical changes and neoplasms in the area of the intestine and rectum( malignant).Leucovorin in this situation is prescribed in combination with the drug 5-fluorouracil.
- Anemia( decrease in the level of erythrocyte cells in the blood and a decrease in hemoglobin), caused by insufficient concentration of folic acid in the body.
Contraindications
Contraindicated taking leucovorin in such situations:
- If there is a history( and at the moment) of megaloblastic anemia, the cause of which is the lack of vitamin B12;
- It is forbidden to use women who carry the baby and during breastfeeding;
- It is not recommended to use the drug for children under 2 years;
- Do not prescribe a drug to people with epilepsy and chronic kidney failure;
- Increased immunological sensitivity to one of the substances that make up leucovorin.
Mechanism of action of the preparation
Calcatin folinate is constantly competing with folate antagonists for the transport membrane protein. Thus, leucovorin promotes the formation and concentration of various forms of folate within the cells of the human body.
Instructions for Use Leucovorin
Suspension of active ingredient Leucovorin must be previously diluted in physiological saline. Enter the drug is allowed only parenterally: intravenously or intramuscularly.
- Use of leukovorin after administration of methotrexate in high doses:
- If the active substance of the drug methotrexate is excreted rapidly( 48 hours after the administration, the concentration of the substance is about 1 μmol), then leucovorin is administered parenterally one day after the first injection of methotrexate. The dose of leucovorin should be 15 mg of the substance. The number of injections is 10 times, the time interval between injections should be at least 4 hours.
- If a blood test reveals that the concentration of methotrexate 72 hours after injection is about 0.5-0.2 μmol, then leucovorin should be administered in the same dosage( 15 mg) at a time interval of 6 hours.
- If the active substance of methotrexate is detected in the blood 48 hours after the administration( about 5 μmol) and the creatinine level is doubled in 24 hours, 150 mg of leucovorin should be administered by intravenous infusion. Infusion should be performed every 3 hours until the methotrexate concentration in the blood drops to 1 μmol. Then leucovorin is administered at 15 mg.
- In the presence of malignant common neoplasms of the rectum or colon , leucovorin is administered infusion intravenously very slowly at a dose of 200 mg per square meter( the patient's body surface area).After leucovorin should begin the administration of fluorouracil at a dose of 370 mg per square meter. One course lasts about 5 days, once a day, drugs are injected. The course of treatment should be carried out regularly every 4 weeks break.
- In anemic conditions of , due to a lack of folic acid in the body, a leukovorin dose of 3 to 6 mg is recommended.
Side effects of
Among the adverse reactions to the drug leucovorin should be noted such:
- Hyperemia and a feeling of heat at the injection site of the drug;
- Anaphylactic shock, skin allergic rash as urticaria;
- Pathological changes in the nervous system are represented by sleep disorders, increased excitability, epileptic epilepsy is more frequent in patients with epilepsy;
- In some cases, with the introduction of a too high dose of the drug there are phenomena of dyspepsia: nausea and vomiting, sometimes a strong diarrheal syndrome may develop;
- Sensitivity disorders on the surface of the palms and sole of the feet;
- Inflammation of the mucous membranes;
- Increases the level of platelet cells in the blood.
Overdose
Calcium folinate does not have obvious toxic properties, therefore, overdose phenomena have not been studied.
Special instructions
In the treatment of leucovorin, the indices of the functional capacity of the kidneys and the relative density of urine should be monitored without fail.
It is not recommended to prescribe the drug to patients suffering from functional kidney failure and people with epilepsy in the anamnesis.
The drug leucovorin neutralizes the effect of antiepileptic drugs!
Compatibility of
Leucovorin significantly affects the activity of antiepileptic drugs( phenobarbital, pyrimidine, etc.).The drug enhances the toxic properties of fluorouracil and slightly reduces the activity of methotrexate.
Reviews
Maria, 38 years old:
I was diagnosed with cancer of the rectum two years ago, the neoplasm is located in the ampullar part. Within 1 year I take a combined therapy of fluorouracil and leucovorin. Result on the face, very satisfied with the drug!
Anton, 52 years old:
I have suffered from megaloblastic anemia since my childhood, after it started taking leucovorin, the condition improved much and there were no side reactions, which is very surprising.
Price in Moscow
The price for the drug Leucovorin in pharmacies in Moscow: from 600 to 810 rubles.
Analogues of Leucovorin
Analogues of leucovorin include Neovorin, Calcium folinate - Vista, Calciumumfolinate "Ebove", Dalizol.
Synonyms
- Leucovorin Lachema,
- Leucovorin-Lans,
- Leucovorin-Teva.
Conditions for dispensing from pharmacies
The drug is dispensed strictly according to the doctor's prescription.
Storage conditions and shelf life
Store leucovorin in a place protected from sunlight at a temperature of no higher than 8 degrees, do not freeze. Shelf life of one vial of the substance is 2 years.