Common use
Purinethol is used to treat acute lymphatic leukemia along with other medicines. It is an antimetabolite. It works by blocking the growth of certain cancer cells.

Dosage and directions
Take the medicine by mouth with or without food. It is recommended to drink extra fluids while you are taking Purinethol.

Precautions
Before using Purinethol discuss with your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding; if you have allergies to food, medicines, other substances ; if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medication, herbal product, or dietary supplements; if you have liver or kidney problems, or gout; an infection (including chickenpox), a history of frequent or prolonged infections, or you have had a vaccination recently, if you have certain enzyme deficiencies, a blood transfusion, if you have a history of bone marrow problems, anemia, low white blood cells or platelet levels, or unusual bruising or bleeding; if you are taking a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug.

Contraindications
Do not use the medicine if you have allergy to any ingredient of Purinethol; you have previously taken Purinethol or thioguanine and your cancer did not respond to it; you are taking azathioprine.

Possible side effects
No common side effects were reported. Seek medical attention if you experience one of this severe side effects:allergic reactions (rash; itching; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); dark urine; darkening of the skin; severe or persistent diarrhea; sores or white patches in the mouth; stomach pain, fever, chills, or sore throat; increased or painful urination; loss of appetite; nausea; pale stools; swelling, or tenderness; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual growths or lumps; unusual tiredness or weakness; vomiting; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Drug interaction
The following medicines can interact with Purinethol: anticoagulants as warfarin and hydantoins as phenytoine, alkylating agents such as chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, melphalan, allopurinol, aminosalicytates such as olsalazine, mesalazine, sulfasalazine, angiotensin -converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as enalapril, doxorubicin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, azthioprine.

Missed dose
If you miss a dose of Purinethol, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Overdose
Seek medical help if you think that you overdosed the medicine. Overdose symptoms are dark urine; loss of appetite; severe or persistent diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting; stomach pain; unusual bruising or bleeding; yellowing of the eyes or skin.

Storage
Store Purinethol at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Purinethol out of the reach of children and away from pets.

Disclaimer
We provide only general information about medications which does not cover all directions, possible drug integrations, or precautions. Information at the site cannot be used for self-treatment and self-diagnosis. Any specific instructions for a particular patient should be agreed with your health care adviser or doctor in charge of the case. We disclaim reliability of this information and mistakes it could contain. We are not responsible for any direct, indirect, special or other indirect damage as a result of any use of the information on this site and also for consequences of self-treatment.