Purinethol (Mercaptopurine) Drug Information: Overdosage and Contraindications

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May 27, 2012

Purinethol

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Purinethol User Reviews >>

Purinethol

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OVERDOSE

Signs and symptoms of overdosage may be immediate (anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea); or delayed (myelosuppression, liver dysfunction, and gastroenteritis). Dialysis cannot be expected to clear mercaptopurine. Hemodialysis is thought to be of marginal use due to the rapid intracellular incorporation of mercaptopurine into active metabolites with long persistence. The oral LD₅₀ of mercaptopurine was determined to be 480 mg/kg in the mouse and 425 mg/kg in the rat.

There is no known pharmacologic antagonist of mercaptopurine. The drug should be discontinued immediately if unintended toxicity occurs during treatment. If a patient is seen immediately following an accidental overdosage of the drug, it may be useful to induce emesis.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

PURINETHOL should not be used in patients whose disease has demonstrated prior resistance to this drug. In animals and humans, there is usually complete cross-resistance between mercaptopurine and thioguanine.

PURINETHOL should not be used in patients who have a hypersensitivity to mercaptopurine or any component of the formulation.

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