What is thioguanine?
Thioguanine is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.
Thioguanine is used to treat certain types of leukemia. Thioguanine is sometimes given with other cancer medications.
Thioguanine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about thioguanine?
Do not use thioguanine if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby.
You should not use thioguanine if you are allergic to it, or if you have ever used thioguanine or mercaptopurine (Purinethol) and they were not effective in treating your condition.
Before taking thioguanine, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, or any type of infection.
Stop taking this medication and call your doctor at once if you have easy bruising or bleeding, fever, flu symptoms, mouth sores, dark urine, upper stomach pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), or ongoing diarrhea.
Thioguanine can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. Your blood cells, kidney function, and liver function may need to be tested often. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results of these tests. Do not miss any follow up visits to your doctor for blood or urine tests.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking thioguanine?
You should not use thioguanine if you are allergic to it, or if you have ever used thioguanine or mercaptopurine (Purinethol) and they were not effective in treating your condition.
To make sure you can safely take thioguanine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use thioguanine if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether thioguanine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while taking thioguanine.