Thioguanine

Indications

Acute leukaemias, especially acute myelogenous leukaemia & acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Chronic granulocytic leukaemia.

Dosage

100-200mg/sqm body surface area per day once or twice over a period of 5-20 days.

Contra-Indications

Pregnancy, lactation, prior resistance to drug.

Special Precautions

Thioguanine produce myelosuppression. When used in combination with other drugs producing myelosuppression, life-threatening infections and bleeding have been osburved as a consequences of thioguanine induced granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia. Thioguanine be withheld if there is evidence to toxic hepatitis or biliary stasis.

Side Effects

Myelosuppression, cytopenia, hyperuricaemia, nausea, vomiting, anorexia & stomatitis.

Drug Interactions

Complete cross-resistance between mercaptopurine and thioguanine.