Purinethol (Mercaptopurine) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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May 26, 2012

Purinethol

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Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells.
While the exact cause(s) of leukemia is not known, risk factors have been identified.
Leukemias are grouped by how quickly the disease develops (acute or chronic) as well as by the type of blood cell that is affected (lymphocytes or myelocytes). The four main types of leukemia include acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), acute myelocytic leukemia (AML), and chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML).
People with leukemia are at significantly increased risk for developing infections, anemia, and bleeding. Other symptoms and signs include easy bruising, weight loss, night sweats, and unexplained fevers.
The diagnosis of leukemia is supported by findings of the medical history and examination, and examining blood and bone marrow samples under a microscope.
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Purinethol User Reviews >>

Purinethol

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PURINETHOL®
(mercaptopurine) 50-mg Scored Tablets

CAUTION

PURINETHOL (mercaptopurine) is a potent drug. It should not be used unless a diagnosis of acute lymphatic leukemia has been adequately established and the responsible physician is experienced with the risks of PURINETHOL and knowledgeable in assessing response to chemotherapy.

DRUG DESCRIPTION

PURINETHOL (mercaptopurine) was synthesized and developed by Hitchings, Elion, and associates at the Wellcome Research Laboratories.

Mercaptopurine, known chemically as l,7-dihydro-6H-purine-6-thione monohydrate, is an analogue of the purine bases adenine and hypoxanthine. Its structural formula is:

PURINETHOL®
(mercaptopurine) Structural Formula Illustration

PURINETHOL is available in tablet form for oral administration. Each scored tablet contains 50 mg mercaptopurine and the inactive ingredients corn and potato starch, lactose, magnesium stearate, and stearic acid.

What are the possible side effects of mercaptopurine (Purinethol)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using mercaptopurine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
fever, chills, sore throat, body aches, weakness, muscle pain, flu symptoms;
severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back,...

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What are the precautions when taking mercaptopurine (Purinethol)?

Before taking mercaptopurine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

This medication should not be used if you have a certain medical condition. Before taking this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if a certain drug (thioguanine) did not work for you in the past. This may affect how well mercaptopurine works for you.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: other blood disorders (e.g., anemia, low blood cell counts), gout, kidney disease (including kidney stones), liver disease, pancreatitis, radiation treatment,...

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Last reviewed on RxList: 7/1/2011
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.