LEUGET

LEUGET

Description

Leucovorin is an antidote to folic acid antagonists like methotrexate which inhibit the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase. It is a 5-formyl derivative of tetrahydrofolic acid which is well absorbed on intramuscular administration and rapidly metabolized to biologically active folates for distribution to all body tissues with high concentration in CSF. Thus, leucovorin reduces methotrexate toxicity and this is required in several protocols of bone sarcoma and acute leukemias. Leucovorin also enhances the cytotoxicity of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and is used for important treatment protocols for cancer of the gastrointestinal tract like esophageal cancer, gastric cancer and colorectal cancer.

Indications:

• After high dose methotrexate therapy in osteosarcoma
• To diminish the toxicity and counteract the effects of impaired methotrexate elimination and of inadvertent overdosages of folic acid antagonists
• In the treatment of megaloblastic anemias due to folic acid deficiency when oral therapy is not feasible
• For use in combination with 5-fluorouracil to prolong survival in the palliative treatment of patients with advanced colorectal cancer (Note: Leucovorin (leucovorin calcium) should not be mixed in the same infusion as 5-fluorouracil because a precipitate may form)

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