Leucovorin Injection
Prescription Required
Product introduction
Leucovorin Injection is used to prevent the harmful effects of methotrexate (anticancer medicine). It is also used to treat overdose of methotrexate.
Leucovorin Injection is given as a slow injection into veins under the supervision of a doctor. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects.
Injection site reactions (pain, swelling, redness) are common side effects of this medicine. If these bother you or appear serious, let your doctor know. There may be ways of reducing or preventing them. Regular blood tests are required to check your blood cells and serum methotrexate concentration in blood.
Before taking it, tell your doctor if have seizures, liver, or kidney problems or are taking any medicines to treat infections. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your healthcare team know all medications you are using, especially phenytoin for your seizures. To make sure it is safe for you, let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking this medicine.
Leucovorin Injection is given as a slow injection into veins under the supervision of a doctor. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects.
Injection site reactions (pain, swelling, redness) are common side effects of this medicine. If these bother you or appear serious, let your doctor know. There may be ways of reducing or preventing them. Regular blood tests are required to check your blood cells and serum methotrexate concentration in blood.
Before taking it, tell your doctor if have seizures, liver, or kidney problems or are taking any medicines to treat infections. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your healthcare team know all medications you are using, especially phenytoin for your seizures. To make sure it is safe for you, let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking this medicine.
Uses of Leucovorin Injection
Benefits of Leucovorin Injection
In Prevention of Harmful effects of methotrexate
Leucovorin Injection helps protect the body cells against the harmful effects of methotrexate, an anti-cancer medicine. It is a form of vitamin B that is given after 24 hours of methotrexate administration. This makes sure that methotrexate has achieved its anti-cancer effects and also, Leucovorin Injection will prevent the other side effects such as anemia.
Side effects of Leucovorin Injection
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of Leucovorin
- Injection site reactions (pain, swelling, redness)
How to use Leucovorin Injection
Your doctor or nurse will give you this medicine. Kindly do not self administer.
How Leucovorin Injection works
Leucovorin Injection is a form of vitamin B. It works by protecting healthy cells from the toxic effects of methotrexate (anticancer medicine) while allowing it to enter and kill the cancer cells.
Safety advice
Alcohol
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Leucovorin Injection. Please consult your doctor.
Pregnancy
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Leucovorin Injection may be unsafe to use during pregnancy. Although there are limited studies in humans, animal studies have shown harmful effects on the developing baby. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.
Breast feeding
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Information regarding the use of Leucovorin Injection during breastfeeding is not available. Please consult your doctor.
Driving
SAFE
Leucovorin Injection does not usually affect your ability to drive.
Kidney
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
There is limited information available on the use of Leucovorin Injection in patients with kidney disease. Please consult your doctor.
Liver
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
There is limited information available on the use of Leucovorin Injection in patients with liver disease. Please consult your doctor.
What if you forget to take Leucovorin Injection?
If you miss a dose of Leucovorin Injection, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.
All substitutes
For informational purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.
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Quick tips
- You have been prescribed Leucovorin Injection to reduce the side effects of the medicine methotrexate.
- Take it 24 hours after taking methotrexate. If taken at the same time, it may counteract the effect of methotrexate.
- Inform your doctor if you are also taking certain medications such as phenytoin for your seizures as Leucovorin Injection may counteract the antiepileptic effects.
Fact Box
Chemical Class
Glutamic acid Derivatives
Habit Forming
No
Therapeutic Class
BLOOD RELATED
Action Class
Cytoprotective agents- methotrexate
Patient concerns
User feedback
Patients taking Leucovorin Injection
Once A Day
40%
Once A Week
20%
Alternate Day
20%
Thrice A week
20%
FAQs
What is Leucovorin Injection used for?
Leucovorin Injection is used to prevent harmful effects of methotrexate (cancer chemotherapy medication) when methotrexate is used to treat certain types of cancer. Leucovorin Injection is also used to treat people who have accidentally received an overdose of methotrexate or similar medications. It is also used for the treatment of megaloblastic anemia due to folic acid deficiency and when oral therapy is not feasible.
What is megaloblastic anemia?
Anemia is a blood disorder in which the number of red blood cells (RBCs) that carry oxygen is lower than usual. As a result, your tissues and organs don’t get enough oxygen. Megaloblastic anemia is a form of anemia characterized by very large red blood cells and a decrease in the number of those cells. Usually, megaloblastic anemia is due to vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency. How long does it take for Leucovorin Injection to work?
How long does it take for Leucovorin Injection to work?
Leucovorin Injection starts acting on the body within 5 minutes of administration. However, this might vary with respect to dosage, the patient receiving the drug, and response to treatment.
What are some of the laboratory tests conducted before or during the treatment with Leucovorin Injection?
Your doctor will prescribe blood tests to check your levels of serum methotrexate concentration (in case of methotrexate chemotherapy or overdose) to determine the optimal dose and duration of treatment with Leucovorin Injection. You will also be prescribed a complete blood count to monitor the number of red blood cells (in case of megaloblastic anemia). Along with this, your calcium levels will also be monitored in order to prevent hypercalcemia (excess calcium) since Leucovorin Injection contains calcium.
What measures should be taken to ensure the prompt excretion of methotrexate during treatment with Leucovorin Injection?
Maintenance of urine output above 2,500 mL/24hr in adults by increasing oral or intravenous fluids 12 hours before and for 36 hours after the end of methotrexate infusion. To monitor alkalinization of urine (this enhances drug excretion) so that the urinary pH is greater than 7.0 before methotrexate infusion. Foods, drinks, and drugs that may increase urinary acidity should be avoided during the therapy. Finally, blood methotrexate concentration should be measured at least 24, 48, and 72 hours after the initiation of the methotrexate infusion.
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Disclaimer:
Tata 1mg's sole intention is to ensure that its consumers get information that is expert-reviewed, accurate and trustworthy. However, the information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This may not cover everything about particular health conditions, lab tests, medicines, all possible side effects, drug interactions, warnings, alerts, etc. Please consult your doctor and discuss all your queries related to any disease or medicine. We intend to support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship.References
- Calcium folinate. Hurley, Maidenhead: Hospira UK Ltd.; 2003 [revised Jan. 2018]. [Accessed 26 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from:
- Levoleucovorin. Parsippany, New Jersey: Actavis Pharma; 1952 [revised Sep. 2016]. [Accessed 26 Mar. 2019](online) Available from:
Marketer details
Name: Dabur India Ltd
Address: 8/3, Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi-110002
Country of origin: India
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