Purinethol Prices, Discounts & Coupons
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Manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals
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MEDICAL INFORMATION
Purinethol Key Facts
What is Purinethol?
Purinethol is the brand name for mercaptopurine and is available as an oral tablet.
What dosages is Purinethol available in?
Purinethol is available as a 100 mg oral tablet.
What is Purinethol used for?
Purinethol is an antimetabolite that is used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
How does Purinethol work?
Purinethol is a type of antimetabolite medication called a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor. It stops cancer cells from being able to make their own genetic material. This kills cancer cells and stops cancer growth.
How do I take Purinethol?
Purinethol is dosed based on your body weight, so your provider will help determine the right dose for you. The recommended starting dose is 1.5 mg/kg to 2.5 mg/kg of weight by mouth once a day. Your dose might differ if you have side effects (e.g., severely low blood cell counts) or if you take allopurinol (Zyloprim).
Is it safe for me to take Purinethol?
Purinethol is a safe and effective treatment when used for FDA licensed indications. However, like all medications, they may give you unwanted side effects. You should always discuss potential side effects with your physician to ensure the medication is suitable and right for you.
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.
Purinethol Common Side Effects
Common side effects of Purinethol:
- Anemia (low red blood cell count)
- Low white blood cell count
- Low platelet count
- Low appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- General feeling of discomfort
- Rash
Purinethol Serious Side Effects
Serious side effects are rare with Purinethol. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Low blood cell counts: fever, sore throat, frequent infections, unusual bleeding or bruising, pale skin, tiredness
- problems: yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, loss of appetite, stomach bloating
Effects of other drugs, drug classes and over-the-counter products on Purinethol
The following medications may interact with Purinethol:
- When allopurinol and mercaptopurine are administered concomitantly, the dose of mercaptopurine must be reduced to one third to one quarter of the usual dose to avoid severe toxicity
- There is usually complete cross-resistance between mercaptopurine and thioguanine
- The dosage of mercaptopurine may need to be reduced when this agent is combined with other drugs whose primary or secondary toxicity is myelosuppression.
- Enhanced marrow suppression has been noted in some patients also receiving trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
- Inhibition of the anticoagulant effect of warfarin, when given with mercaptopurine, has been reported
Who makes Purinethol?
Teva Pharmaceuticals
Is Purinethol safe in pregnancy?
Purinethol can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Women receiving Purinethol in the first trimester of pregnancy have an increased incidence of abortion.
What is the generic name for Purinethol?
Medical Disclaimer
NowPatient has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that all material is factually accurate, complete, and current. However, the knowledge and experience of a qualified healthcare professional should always be sought after instead of using the information on this page. Before taking any drug, you should always speak to your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider.
The information provided here about medications is subject to change and is not meant to include all uses, precautions, warnings, directions, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or negative effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a particular medication does not imply that the medication or medication combination is appropriate for all patients or for all possible purposes.














