Leucovorin Calcium (patient information)

About your treatment

Your doctor has ordered the drug leucovorin to help treat your illness. The drug is given by injection into a vein or taken by mouth with tablets.

This medication is used:

• to prevent or treat the toxicities of medications known as folic acid antagonists such as methotrexate (MTX, Rheumatrex), trimetrexate (Neutrexin), trimethoprim (Proloprim, Trimpex), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra), pyrimethamine (Daraprim), and pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine (Fansider).
• to treat folate-deficient megaloblastic anemias.
• in combination with fluorouracil (Adrucil, 5-FU) for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer.

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Leucovorin is a vitamin derivative. When used in combination with fluorouracil, it enhances the ability of the chemotherapy to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells in your body. In diseases where the amount of folate is low, it can replace the body's supply of the vitamin. Leucovorin also can prevent or treat the toxicities associated with a group of drugs known as folate antagonists. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of disease you have.

Other uses for this medicine

Leucovorin in combination with fluorouracil is also used to treat other types of gastrointestinal cancers. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.

Precautions

Before taking leucovorin:

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to leucovorin or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, including vitamins.
• women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should tell their doctors before they begin taking this drug. You should not plan to have children while receiving chemotherapy or for a while after treatments. (Talk to your doctor for further details.) Use a reliable method of birth control to prevent pregnancy.

Side effects

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• shortness of breath
• rash
• itching

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Storage conditions

Keep leucovorin in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Special instructions

Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take leucovorin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Continue to take leucovorin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking leucovorin without talking to your doctor.

Brand names

• Wellcovorin®

Other names

• Folinic acid