Raltitrexed For Colorectal Cancer: Before Using

Raltitrexed For Colorectal Cancer - Systemic

Brand Names

Tomudex Raltitrexed For Colorectal Cancer *** 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 raltitrexed, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

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

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. Raltitrexed causes toxic or harmful effects in rats. In addition, many cancer medication may cause sterility which could be permanent. Although sterility 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 receiving this drug. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you are receiving raltitrexed. Tell your family doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while receiving raltitrexed. Because raltitrexed may cause serious side effects, pregnancy is generally not recommended while you are taking it.

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 raltitrexed may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is generally not recommended while you are taking it.

Use for Children

Studies on this drug have been done only in adult diseaseds and there is no special info comparing use of raltitrexed in child with use in other age groups.

Elderly care

Elderly people are especially sensitive to the effects of raltitrexed. Raltitrexed may be more likely to cause side effects such as cracked lips, diarrhea, difficulty in swallowing, sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips, tongue, or inside the mouth in elderly diseaseds.

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 receiving raltitrexed, it is especially important that your family doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:

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
Mercaptopurine - Purinethol
Methotrexate - Rheumatrex
Plicamycin - Mithracin
Zidovudine - AZT, Retrovir
If you have ever been treated with radiation or cancer medication Raltitrexed may increase the side effects of medication or radiation therapy on the blood
Folic acid
Leucovorin - Wellcovorin
Vitamin preparations containing folic or folinic acid May interfere with the effectiveness of raltitrexed

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of raltitrexed. 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

Infection Raltitrexed can decrease your body's ability to fight infection

Kidney disease
Liver disease Effects of raltitrexed may be increased because of slower removal from the body; your family doctor may need to change your dose