Thioguanine

Thioguanine is used to treat acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (a type of blood cancer), sometimes along with other cancer medicines.

Thioguanine may also be used for reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may change your dose from time to time. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

You must remain under the care of a doctor while taking thioguanine.

You may be given other medications to help prevent certain side effects. Keep using these medicines for as long as your doctor has prescribed.

Thioguanine can increase your risk of bleeding or infection. You will need frequent blood tests, and your next dose may be delayed based on the results.

Thioguanine can also cause liver damage. You may need weekly or monthly blood tests to check your liver function.

Store at cool room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package.

Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

You should not use thioguanine if you are allergic to it, or if you have ever used thioguanine or mercaptopurine and they were not effective in treating your condition.

Tell your doctor if you've ever had liver problems.

Thioguanine may work better in younger people than in older people. How well you respond to thioguanine may also depend on whether you've had prior treatments for leukemia.

Thioguanine may harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

You should not breastfeed while taking thioguanine.

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

Stop using thioguanine and call your doctor if you have possible signs of liver damage:

• stomach bloating, rapid weight gain;
• unusual tiredness, trouble breathing while lying down;
• nausea, loss of appetite, upper stomach pain; or
• dark urine or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Thioguanine may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• easy bruising, unusual bleeding;
• bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds; or
• low blood cell counts--fever, chills, tiredness, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath.

Common side effects of thioguanine may include:

• fever, chills, or other signs of infection; or
• high uric acid levels.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose of Thioguanine.

Seek emergency medical help or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an overdose may include nausea, vomiting, sweating, feeling light-headed, less urination, fever, chills, or other signs of infection.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using thioguanine. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor right away if you notice signs of infection.

Thioguanine can harm your liver, especially if you also take certain medicines for infections, tuberculosis, birth control, hormone replacement, high cholesterol, heart problems, high blood pressure, seizures, pain, or arthritis (including Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, or Aleve).

Inform your doctor about all your other medicines, especially those used to treat ulcerative colitis such as balsalazide, mesalamine, olsalazine, mesalamine, or sulfasalazine.

Other drugs may affect thioguanine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Let your doctor know about all your current medicines and any medicine you begin or stop using.