Complete adverse effect profile including incidence rates and management
Important Safety Information
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any unexpected symptoms. For serious or life-threatening side effects, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
ADVERSE REACTIONS Allergic sensitization, including anaphylactoid reactions and urticaria, has been reported following the administration of both oral and parenteral leucovorin.
No other adverse reactions have been attributed to the use of leucovorin per se .
The following table summarizes significant adverse events occurring in 316 patients treated with the leucovorin/5-fluorouracil combinations compared against 70 patients treated with 5-fluorouracil alone for advanced colorectal carcinoma.
These data are taken from the Mayo/NCCTG large multicenter prospective trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of the combination regimen.
PERCENTAGE OF PATIENTS TREATED WITH LEUCOVORIN/FLUOROURACIL FOR ADVANCED COLORECTAL CARCINOMA REPORTING ADVERSE EXPERIENCES OR HOSPITALIZED FOR TOXICITY (High LV*) /5-FU (Low LV † ) /5-FU 5-FU Alone (N=155) (N=161) (N=70) Any ‡ Grade 3 +§ Any ‡ Grade 3 +§ Any ‡ Grade 3 +§ (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) Leukopenia 69 14 83 23 93 48 Thrombocytopenia 8 2 8 1 18 3 Infection 8 1 3 1 7 2 Nausea 74 10 80 9 60 6 Vomiting 46 8 44 9 40 7 Diarrhea 66 18 67 14 43 11 Stomatitis 75 27 84 29 59 16 Constipation 3 0 4 0 1 - Lethargy/Malaise/Fatigue 13 3 12 2 6 3 Alopecia 42 5 43 6 37 7 Dermatitis 21 2 25 1 13 - Anorexia 14 1 22 4 14 - Hospitalization for Toxicity 5% 15% 7% * High LV = Leucovorin 200 mg/m 2 † Low LV = Leucovorin 20 mg/m 2 ‡ Any = percentage of patients reporting toxicity of any severity § Grade 3+ = percentage of patients reporting toxicity of Grade 3 or higher
WARNINGS In the treatment of accidental overdosages of folic acid antagonists, intravenous leucovorin should be administered as promptly as possible.
As the time interval between antifolate administration (e.g., methotrexate) and leucovorin rescue increases, leucovorin's effectiveness in counteracting toxicity decreases.
In the treatment of accidental overdosages of intrathecally adminstered folic acid antagonists, do not adminster leucovorin intrathecally.
LEUCOVORIN MAY BE HARMFUL OR FATAL IF GIVEN INTRATHECALLY.
Monitoring of the serum methotrexate concentration is essential in determining the optimal dose and duration of treatment with leucovorin.
Like all medications, Leucovorin Calcium can cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes this medication will experience them. Many side effects are dose-dependent and may improve as your body adjusts to the medication. Others may require dose adjustment or medical attention.
Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you experience:
Seek immediate emergency medical care if you experience signs of: