What is levoleucovorin?
Levoleucovorin is used to treat or prevent toxic effects of methotrexate in people who have received methotrexate to treat bone cancer.
Levoleucovorin is also used to treat or prevent toxic effects of methotrexate in people whose bodies do not eliminate methotrexate properly after the drug is metabolized. Levoleucovorin may also be used to treat toxic effects of an accidental overdose of methotrexate.
Levoleucovorin is also used in combination chemotherapy with fluorouracil (5-FU, Adrucil, Efudex, Carac, Fluoroplex) to treat colorectal cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Levoleucovorin treats only the symptoms of colorectal cancer but does not treat the cancer itself.
Levoleucovorin should not be used to treat anemia that is caused by a lack of vitamin B12.
Levoleucovorin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about levoleucovorin?
You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to levoleucovorin or to folic acid or folinic acid.
If possible, before you receive levoleucovorin, tell your doctor or caregivers if you have kidney or liver disease, or if you are dehydrated.
Tell your doctor if you are taking sulfa drugs, seizure medication, a cancer medication called fluorouracil (5FU), or a multivitamin or mineral supplement than contains folic acid.
In an emergency situation, it may not be possible before you are treated to tell your caregivers about all of your medical conditions or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. However, make sure any doctor caring for you afterward knows that you have received this medication.
Tell your doctor or caregivers at once if you have fever, chills, white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips, severe or ongoing diarrhea, confusion, urination problems, or if you feel very thirsty or hot, if you are unable to urinate, and you have heavy sweating or hot and dry skin.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before I receive levoleucovorin?
You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to levoleucovorin or to folic acid or folinic acid.
If possible, before you receive levoleucovorin, tell your doctor or caregivers if you have:
kidney disease;
liver disease; or
if you are dehydrated.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether levoleucovorin will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
It is not known whether levoleucovorin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using levoleucovorin.
In an emergency situation, it may not be possible before you are treated with levoleucovorin to tell your caregivers if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Make sure any doctor caring for your pregnancy or your baby knows you have received this medication.