What is busulfan?
Busulfan is a cancer (antineoplastic) medication. Busulfan interferes with the growth of cancer
cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.
Busulfan is used to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia (a type of blood cancer).
Busulfan may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking busulfan?
Before taking busulfan, tell your doctor if you have
You may not be able to take busulfan, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Busulfan is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that busulfan is known to cause
birth defects in an unborn baby. Busulfan may also affect egg production in women and sperm
production in men.
Do not
take busulfan without first talking to your doctor if you are
pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Contraceptive measures are recommended
during treatment with busulfan.
It is not known whether busulfan passes into breast milk.
Do not
take
busulfan without first talking to your doctor if you are breast feeding a baby.
How should I take busulfan?
Take oral busulfan exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these
instructions, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to explain them to you.
Take each oral dose with a large glass of water.
Take busulfan tablets at the same time each day.
Taking busulfan on an empty stomach is preferable. Continue to take busulfan even if
nausea and vomiting occurs. Do not stop taking the medicine without first talking to your doctor. Check
with your doctor if vomiting occurs shortly after taking a dose of busulfan. Your doctor may want you
to take another dose, but do not do this without checking with your doctor first.
Injectable busulfan should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare
provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Your doctor will determine the correct amount and frequency of treatment with busulfan
depending upon the type of cancer being treated and other factors. Talk to your doctor if you have any
questions or concerns regarding the treatment schedule.
Adequate hydration is important during treatment with busulfan. Your doctor may prescribe
the administration of intravenous fluids and/or recommend additional fluid intake by mouth during
treatment.
Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests and other medical
evaluations during treatment with busulfan to monitor progress and side effects.
Store busulfan tablets at room temperature away from heat and moisture. Keep this
product out of the reach of children.
Your healthcare provider will store busulfan injection as directed by the manufacturer. If you are
storing busulfan injection at home, follow the directions provided by your healthcare provider.
What happens if I miss a dose of busulfan?
Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of busulfan.
Where can I get more information about busulfan?
Your pharmacist has information about busulfan written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of busulfan?
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, seek emergency medical
attention or contact your doctor immediately:
-
an allergic reaction (shortness of breath; closing of the throat;
difficulty breathing; swelling of your lips, face, or tongue; or hives);
-
unusual bleeding or bruising;
-
fever or chills;
-
sudden weakness or unusual fatigue;
-
persistent cough, congestion, or shortness of breath;
-
flank, stomach or joint pain;
-
decreased appetite or weight loss; or
-
pronounced nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness,
confusion, or darkening of the skin.
In some cases, secondary cancers have been reported to occur during and
following treatment with busulfan. Also, busulfan has been associated with development of pulmonary
fibrosis, a lung disorder which may be fatal. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of this
medication.
Other less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Talk to your doctor if you
experience
-
dryness of the mouth, nose, and throat;
-
mouth sores;
-
stopping of normal menstruation and beginning symptoms
of menopause;
-
infertility;
-
temporary hair loss;
-
itching and rash; or
-
changes in skin color.
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. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about busulfan?
Busulfan should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider
experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Serious side effects have been reported with the use of busulfan including: allergic reactions
(difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); unusual bleeding
or bruising; fever or chills; persistent cough; congestion; shortness of breath; flank, stomach or joint
pain; sudden weakness; unusual fatigue; decreased appetite or weight loss; infertility; pronounced
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, confusion, or darkening of the skin; secondary cancers,
pulmonary fibrosis (a lung disorder), and others. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects
from treatment with busulfan.
What should I avoid while taking busulfan?
Busulfan can lower the activity of your immune system making you susceptible to infections.
Avoid contact with people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses and do not receive
vaccines that contain live strains of a virus (e.g., live oral polio vaccine) during treatment with busulfan.
In addition, avoid contact with individuals who have recently been vaccinated with a live vaccine. There
is a chance that the virus can be passed on to you.
Skin accidentally exposed to busulfan injection should be rinsed thoroughly with soap and warm
water.
What other drugs will affect busulfan?
Before taking busulfan, tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of
the following:
-
acetaminophen (Tylenol, others);
-
cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar);
-
itraconazole (Sporanox);
-
phenytoin (Dilantin); or
-
metronidazole (Flagyl).
You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment
if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.
Do not receive "live" vaccines during treatment with busulfan. Administration of a live
vaccine may be dangerous during treatment with busulfan.
Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with busulfan. Talk to your doctor and
pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins,
minerals, and herbal products, during treatment with busulfan.
What happens if I have an overdose of busulfan?