Details

Thioguanine is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body. Thioguanine is used to treat certain types of leukaemia. Thioguanine is sometimes given with other cancer medications. To make sure thioguanine is safe for you tell your doctor if you have liver disease kidney disease or any type of viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. Do not use thioguanine if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Thioguanine can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. Your blood will need to be tested often. Your kidney and liver function may also need to be checked. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results of these tests.

Typical Uses

Thioguanine is used along with other drugs to treat a certain type of cancer (acute nonlymphocytic leukaemia). Thioguanine belongs to a class of drugs known as purine antagonists. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells.

Side Effects

Common thioguanine side effects may include liver problemsnausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-coloured stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea low red blood cells (anaemia)-pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating or signs of infection-fever, swollen gums, painful mouth sores, pain when swallowing, skin sores, cold or flu symptoms, cough, trouble breathing.

Drug Interactions

• Thioguanine+adalimumab- Using adalimumab together with thioguanine may increase the risk of serious and potentially life-threatening infections. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
• Thioguanine+certolizumab- Using thioguanine together with certolizumab may increase the risk of serious and potentially life-threatening infections. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
• Thioguanine+deferiprone- Deferiprone can lower white blood cell count, and combining it with other medications that can also affect bone marrow function such as thioguanine may increase the risk. You may be more likely to develop serious and potentially life-threatening infections as a result.
• Thioguanine+fingolimod- Using fingolimod together with thioguanine may increase the risk of serious infections. Because fingolimod can stay in your blood for a prolonged period after the last dose, interactions with other drugs may occur for some time even after you have stopped taking it.
• Thioguanine+leflunomide- Using leflunomide together with thioguanine may increase the risk of serious infections. Rarely, these medications may also cause liver damage. Because leflunomide can stay in your blood for a prolonged period after the last dose, interactions with other drugs may occur for some time even after you have stopped taking it. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

Mechanism of action

Thioguanine is antineoplastic\anticancer drugs. Thioguanine is structural analogue of naturally occurring purine, guanine, both used by cells for DNA synrhesis. It belongs to a class of anti-metabolite, with actions and uses similar to that of mercaptopurine.

Pregnancy Category : D