Busulfan

Fact Sheet – Everything You Should Know

In this Busulfan fact sheet, you’ll get to know about the precautions, usage, possible side effects, and the types of cancer that you can treat with this chemo drug.

Busulfan Fact Sheet

Embed this Infographic on your site:

<a href='https://dr-adem.com/busulfan-fact-sheet/'><img src='https://dr-adem.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Busulfan.jpg' alt='Busulfan Fact Sheet'/></a>

Here’s the Busulfan fact sheet to get detailed information about Busulfan

It Is Used To Treat These Cancers
(Cancer types that you can treat with this chemo drug)

  • Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML); CML is a cancer of the white blood cells.
  • Other types of cancer that need treatment with a stem cell or bone marrow transplant.
  • Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)

How To Take it
(What are the forms of application)

  • Intravenous
  • Oral

Precautions
(Things that you should avoid)

Avoid taking Aspirin or receiving any vaccination. Before taking busulfan, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions.

Especially tell your doctor if you:

  • are allergic to busulfan
  • have previously received radiation therapy or treatment with other chemotherapy medications
  • have or have ever had seizures or a head injury
  • have taken busulfan before, but your cancer did not respond to the medication
  • are pregnant or breastfeeding

Mechanism of Action of Busulfan
(How does the drug affect cancer cells)

The drug damages the DNA of cells, which prevents them from dividing, and causes them to die

Drug Interactions
(Medicine that can affect the chemo drug negatively)

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Especially tell your doctor if you take:

  • Metronidazole (antibiotic)
  • Levetiracetam (anti-seizure drug)
  • Furosemide (diuretic)
  • Levofloxacin (antibiotic)
  • Escitalopram (antidepressant)
  • Paracetamol (pain killer)
  • Penicillin (antibiotic)
  • Pantoprazole (medicine against stomach ulcers, reflux)

Reproductive Concerns
(Things that are related to your sexual health)

  • Sperm production may stop
  • You may face vaginal dryness
  • Prevent becoming pregnant
  • Stop breastfeeding

Possible Side Effects
(Unpleasant effects of the treatment)

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Blurred vision
  • Chest pain
  • Weight gain
  • Loss of fertility
  • Skin rash
  • Low white blood cells, can lead to serious infections
  • Low red blood cells (anemia), can lead to shortness of breast and fatigue
  • Low platelets (thrombocytopenia), can cause intestinal bleeding
  • Mouth Ulcers
  • Appetite loss
  • Liver complications
  • Heart complications (cardiac tamponade)
  • Lung complications (pulmonary fibrosis)

When To Call the doctor
(Emergency that needs professional support)

  • Vomiting (> 4 times in 24h)
  • Diarrhea (> 4 episodes in 24h)
  • Black stool; could be a sign of intestinal bleeding
  • Blood in the urine
  • Extreme fatigue