Busulfan
About Busulfan
Busulfan belongs to a group of medicines called cytotoxics (also called chemotherapy). Busulfan is used for certain blood problems and cancers of the blood such as Chronic myeloid leukaemia, Polycythaemia vera, Thrombocythemia, and Myelofibrosis. On the other side, it can be used in bone marrow or stem cell transplant therapy. Blood cancers are cancers that develop in the blood. This can affect the production of blood cells and also how they work.
Busulfan contains Busulfan, which works by interfering with the production of blood cell DNA. Thus, it prevents the cells from growing and maturing, which ultimately leads to the death of these cells.
Busulfan should be administered to patients only in a hospital setting under the supervision of a physician qualified by training and experience to administer cancer chemotherapeutic agents. The most common adverse reactions that occur while on therapy are feeling or being sick, anaemia, bruising, bleeding gums or nosebleeds, headaches, tummy pain, constipation, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, liver changes, and increased risk of getting an infection, Symptoms include a change in temperature, aching muscles, headaches, feeling cold and shivery and generally unwell. Most of these side effects of Busulfan do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist, contact your doctor.
To treat your condition effectually, continue taking Busulfan for as long as your doctor has prescribed. It is expected to cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman, so it should not be used in pregnant women. Both women and men using this Busulfan should use birth control to avoid pregnancy. Discontinue nursing while on therapy, considering the importance of the drug to the mother. Caution should be exercised while using Busulfan in patients with infections, hepatic, renal, heart dysfunction and or Lower-than-normal levels of blood count, so inform your doctor about all your medical conditions and medications you are currently taking.
Uses of Busulfan
Medicinal Benefits
Busulfan contains Busulfan, which belongs to a group of medicines called cytotoxics (also called chemotherapy). It works by interfering with the production of blood cell DNA. Thus, it prevents the cells from growing and maturing, which ultimately leads to the death of these cells. Thereby, it treats certain blood problems and cancers of the blood, such as Chronic myeloid leukaemia, Polycythaemia vera, Thrombocythemia, and Myelofibrosis.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Busulfan
- Anaemia
- Bruising, bleeding gums or nosebleeds
- Feeling or being sick
- Headaches
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Risk of infection
- Inflammation of the food pipe
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Loss of appetite
- Liver changes
- High levels of substances in the blood
- Change in temperature
- Aching muscles
- Hiccups
- Headaches
- Tummy pain
- Swollen tummy
- Generally unwell
- High levels of creatinine in your blood
- Joint, back or muscle pain
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling confused
Drug Warnings
Before taking the Busulfan, let your doctor know about all your allergic or hypersensitivity reactions to medicines or food. Before taking Busulfan, inform your doctor about your medical history and other medications you are currently taking in order to rule out any potential negative effects. Busulfan may cause fertility problems in women if they take it. Please discuss this with their doctor before starting treatment. Women of childbearing age should use effective contraception during and up to 3 months after treatment with Busulfan. Avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Busulfan may raise your chances of developing other types of cancer. Discuss the risks of receiving busulfan with your doctor. It is recommended not to take you. You have taken Busulfan before, and it did not work.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Busulfan interacts with immunomodulatory medication (e..g adalimumab, ozanimod), vaccinations (e.g. BCG Vaccine, dengue vaccine, influenza virus vaccine, live), antipsychotic medications (e.g. Clozapine), medication used for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (e.g. deucravacitinib) and antirheumatic drug (e.g. leflunomide).
Drug-Food Interactions: Do not drink grapefruit juice or alcoholic beverages while you are being treated with Busulfan. It can affect the way the medicine works.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Busulfan may potentially interact with various disease conditions, including infections (bacterial/fungal/protozoal/viral), myelosuppression (Bone Marrow Depression/Low Blood Counts, Fever, Bleeding), severe hepatic and renal impairment.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionAvoid alcohol consumption while on treatment with Busulfan.
Pregnancy
unsafeBusulfan should not be used during pregnancy because it can harm your fetus (newborn baby).
Breast Feeding
cautionDo not breastfeed during this treatment because the medicine may pass into your milk. Doctors normally advise against breastfeeding throughout this treatment and for a certain period of time after the final medication is taken.
Driving
cautionBusulfan may make you feel dizzy or tired. Do not drive or use machines if you feel tired or dizzy.
Liver
cautionThis treatment may affect how your liver works. Please inform your doctor before prescribing Busulfan if you have liver impairment. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Busulfan.
Kidney
cautionThis treatment may affect how your kidneys work. Please inform your doctor before prescribing Busulfan if you have kidney impairment. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Busulfan.
Children
cautionTalk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. Special care may be needed.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- De-stress yourself by meditating, reading books, taking a warm bubble bath or listening to soothing music.
- Performing yoga may also help in improving both physical and mental health.
- Maintain a healthy weight by performing regular low-strain exercises and eating healthy food.
- Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to maintain proper weight.
- Include leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, fatty fish, berries, yoghurt, apples, peaches, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, beans, and herbs.
- Get optimal sleep; rest well.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Avoid fast food, fried food, processed meats, refined carbs and added sugars.
Special Advise
- Pregnancy testing is recommended for females of reproductive potential prior to initiating treatment with Busulfan.
- Busulfan should be taken under strict medical supervision. The doctor will regularly monitor your condition while taking Busulfan.
- Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order laboratory tests before, during and after your treatment to check your body's response to busulfan to see if your blood cells are affected by this drug.
- Do not donate sperm during treatment with Busulfan and for three months after your last dose.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Cancer: Cancer is a condition where cells in a specific body part grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The cancerous cells can invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissue, including organs. Cancer sometimes begins in one body part before spreading to other areas.
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is also known as chronic myelogenous leukemia. It is a type of cancer that begins in the bone marrow's blood-forming cells.
Polycythemia vera is a form of blood cancer (pol-e-sy-THEE-me-uh VEER-uh). It causes your bone marrow to produce an abnormally large number of red blood cells. These extra cells thicken your blood, delaying its flow and even causing major complications like blood clots.
Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a rare blood condition that causes an abnormally large amount of platelets to develop in the blood. These are blood cells that help with coagulation. Clotting is referred to as thrombosis, and blood cells are referred to as cythaemia.
Myelofibrosis (MF) is a rare type of blood cancer characterized by the formation of scar tissue, known as 'fibrosis,' in the bone marrow. As scar tissue grows, the bone marrow is unable to produce enough healthy blood cells.
FAQs
Busulfan contains Busulfan, which works by interfering with the production of blood cell DNA. Thus, it prevents the cells from growing and maturing, which ultimately leads to the death of these cells.
Suppose you have polycythaemia vera (PV). Busulfan can control your blood count, which helps to reduce the risk of both blood clots and bleeding.
If you have essential thrombocythemia (ET), using busulfan to reduce and control platelet counts minimises the risk of blood clotting, bleeding and developing MF.
It is recommended not to be used in the population who are allergic to Busulfan or any other ingredients in this medication, is a pregnant woman, has too low blood cell counts, or suffers from severe liver or hepatic impairment.
Yes, Busulfan can cause a severe decrease in the number of blood cells in your bone marrow. Your doctor will monitor peripheral blood cell counts and adjust the dose as appropriate.
With a high dose of Busulfan, women's periods may stop, fertility may be compromised, and menopause may begin early. Please seek medical advice from your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this.
