Chemotherapy Drug Information
<< BackLeucovorin Calcium
Your doctor has ordered the drug leucovorin to help treat your illness. The drug is given by injection into a vein.
Leucovorin is a vitamin derivative. When used in combination with fluorouracil, it enhances the ability of the chemotherapy to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells in your body. In diseases where the amount of folate is low, it can replace the body's supply of the vitamin. Leucovorin also can prevent or treat the toxicities associated with a group of drugs known as folate antagonists. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of disease you have.
Leucovorin in combination with fluorouracil is also used to treat other types of gastrointestinal cancers. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.
Before taking leucovorin,
- Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should tell their doctors before they begin taking this drug. You should not plan to have children while receiving chemotherapy or for a while after treatments. (Talk to your doctor for further details.) Use a reliable method of birth control to prevent pregnancy.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- shortness of breath
- rash
- itching