Mercaptopurine : Before Using

Mercaptopurine - Systemic

Brand Names

Purinethol, 6-MP Mercaptopurine *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For mercaptopurine, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to mercaptopurine.

Pregnancy care

Tell your family doctor if you are pregnant or if you intend to have children. There is a risk that this drug may cause birth defects if either the male or female is taking it at the time of conception or if it is taken during pregnancy. However, studies have not been done. Mercaptopurine has been shown to cause damage to the fetus in rats and increases the risk of miscarriage or premature births. In addition, many cancer medication may cause sterility which could be permanent. Although this has not been reported with this drug, the possibility must be kept in mind.

Be sure that you have discussed this with your family doctor before taking this drug. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you are taking mercaptopurine. Tell your family doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while taking mercaptopurine.

Breast-feeding problem

Tell your family doctor if you are breast-feeding or if you intend to breast-feed during treat with this drug. Because mercaptopurine may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is generally not recommended while you are taking it.

Use for Children

Although there is no special info comparing use of mercaptopurine in child with use in other age groups, it is not expected to cause various side effects or problems in child than it does in adults.

Elderly care

Many medication have not been studied specifically in elderly people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in adults people or if they cause various side effects or problems in elderly people. There is no special info comparing use of mercaptopurine in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking mercaptopurine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Acetaminophen - Tylenol - with long-term, high-dose use
Amiodarone - Cordarone
Anabolic steroids - nandrolone " Anabolin ", oxandrolone " Anavar ", oxymetholone " Anadrol ", stanozolol " Winstrol "
Androgens - male hormones
Anti-infectives by mouth or by injection - drug for infection
Antithyroid agents - drug for overactive thyroid
Carbamazepine - Tegretol
Chloroquine - Aralen
Dantrolene - Dantrium
Disulfiram - Antabuse
Divalproex - Depakote
Estrogens - female hormones
Etretinate - Tegison
Gold salts - drug for arthritis
Hydroxychloroquine - Plaquenil
Methyldopa - Aldomet
Naltrexone - Trexan - with long-term, high-dose use
Oral contraceptives - birth control pills containing estrogen
Phenothiazines - acetophenazine " Tindal ", chlorpromazine " Thorazine ", fluphenazine " Prolixin ", mesoridazine " Serentil ", perphenazine " Trilafon ", prochlorperazine " Compazine ", promazine " Sparine ", promethazine " Phenergan ", thioridazine " Mellaril ", trifluoperazine " Stelazine ", triflupromazine " Vesprin ", trimeprazine " Temaril "
Phenytoin - Dilantin
Plicamycin - Mithracin
Valproic acid - Depakene chance of unwanted effects on the liver may be increased

Azathioprine - Imuran
Corticosteroids - cortisone-like drug
Cyclosporine - Sandimmune
Muromonab-CD3 - monoclonal antibody - Orthoclone OKT3 There may be an increased risk of infection and development of cancer because mercaptopurine reduces the body's immunity

Allopurinol - Zyloprim Effects of mercaptopurine may be increased because allopurinol blocks its removal from the body

Amphotericin B by injection - Fungizone
Antithyroid agents - drug for overactive thyroid
Azathioprine - Imuran
Chloramphenicol - Chloromycetin
Colchicine
Flucytosine - Ancobon
Ganciclovir - Cytovene
Interferon - Intron A, Roferon-A
Plicamycin - Mithracin
Zidovudine - AZT, Retrovir
If you have ever been treated with radiation or cancer medication Mercaptopurine may increase the side effects of medication or radiation therapy on the blood

Probenecid - Benemid
Sulfinpyrazone - Anturane Mercaptopurine may raise the concentration of uric acid in the blood. Since these medication are using to lower uric acid levels, they may not be as effective in diseaseds taking mercaptopurine

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of mercaptopurine. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Chickenpox - including recent exposure
Herpes zoster - shingles chance of severe disease effecting other parts of the body

Gout - history of
Kidney stones - history of Mercaptopurine may increase levels of uric acid in the body, which can cause gout or kidney stones

Infection Mercaptopurine may decrease your body's ability to fight infection

Kidney disease
Liver disease Effects of mercaptopurine may be increased because of slower removal from the body