LEUKERAN
Generic: CHLORAMBUCIL
Basic Information
Manufacturer
Waylis Therapeutics LLC
Product Type
HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG
Route of Administration
ORAL
FDA Set ID
58a3c995-5ad6-465d-8437-5970c9088213
Indications & Usage
INDICATIONS AND USAGE LEUKERAN (chlorambucil) is indicated in the treatment of chronic lymphatic (lymphocytic) leukemia, malignant lymphomas including lymphosarcoma, giant follicular lymphoma, and Hodgkin’s disease.
It is not curative in any of these disorders but may produce clinically useful palliation.
It is not curative in any of these disorders but may produce clinically useful palliation.
Warnings
WARNINGS Because of its carcinogenic properties, chlorambucil should not be given to patients with conditions other than chronic lymphatic leukemia or malignant lymphomas.
Convulsions, infertility, leukemia, and secondary malignancies have been observed when chlorambucil was employed in the therapy of malignant and non-malignant diseases.
There are many reports of acute leukemia arising in patients with both malignant and non-malignant diseases following chlorambucil treatment.
In many instances, these patients also received other chemotherapeutic agents or some form of radiation therapy.
The quantitation of the risk of chlorambucil-induction of leukemia or carcinoma in humans is not possible.
Evaluation of published reports of leukemia developing in patients who have received chlorambucil (and other alkylating agents) suggests that the risk of leukemogenesis increases with both chronicity of treatment and large cumulative doses.
However, it has proved impossible to define a cumulative dose below which there is no risk of the induction of secondary malignancy.
The potential benefits from chlorambucil therapy must be weighed on an individual basis against the possible risk of the induction of a secondary malignancy.
Chlorambucil has been shown to cause chromatid or chromosome damage in humans.
Both reversible and permanent sterility have been observed in both sexes receiving chlorambucil.
A high incidence of sterility has been documented when chlorambucil is administered to prepubertal and pubertal males.
Prolonged or permanent azoospermia has also been observed in adult males.
While most reports of gonadal dysfunction secondary to chlorambucil have related to males, the induction of amenorrhea in females with alkylating agents is well documented and chlorambucil is capable of producing amenorrhea.
Autopsy studies of the ovaries from women with malignant lymphoma treated with combination chemotherapy including chlorambucil have shown varying degrees of fibrosis, vasculitis, and depletion of primordial follicles.
Rare instances of skin rash progressing to erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis, or Stevens-Johnson syndrome have been reported.
Chlorambucil should be discontinued promptly in patients who develop skin reactions.
Pregnancy Chlorambucil can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman.
Unilateral renal agenesis has been observed in 2 offspring whose mothers received chlorambucil during the first trimester.
Urogenital malformations, including absence of a kidney, were found in fetuses of rats given chlorambucil.
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus.
Women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant.
Convulsions, infertility, leukemia, and secondary malignancies have been observed when chlorambucil was employed in the therapy of malignant and non-malignant diseases.
There are many reports of acute leukemia arising in patients with both malignant and non-malignant diseases following chlorambucil treatment.
In many instances, these patients also received other chemotherapeutic agents or some form of radiation therapy.
The quantitation of the risk of chlorambucil-induction of leukemia or carcinoma in humans is not possible.
Evaluation of published reports of leukemia developing in patients who have received chlorambucil (and other alkylating agents) suggests that the risk of leukemogenesis increases with both chronicity of treatment and large cumulative doses.
However, it has proved impossible to define a cumulative dose below which there is no risk of the induction of secondary malignancy.
The potential benefits from chlorambucil therapy must be weighed on an individual basis against the possible risk of the induction of a secondary malignancy.
Chlorambucil has been shown to cause chromatid or chromosome damage in humans.
Both reversible and permanent sterility have been observed in both sexes receiving chlorambucil.
A high incidence of sterility has been documented when chlorambucil is administered to prepubertal and pubertal males.
Prolonged or permanent azoospermia has also been observed in adult males.
While most reports of gonadal dysfunction secondary to chlorambucil have related to males, the induction of amenorrhea in females with alkylating agents is well documented and chlorambucil is capable of producing amenorrhea.
Autopsy studies of the ovaries from women with malignant lymphoma treated with combination chemotherapy including chlorambucil have shown varying degrees of fibrosis, vasculitis, and depletion of primordial follicles.
Rare instances of skin rash progressing to erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis, or Stevens-Johnson syndrome have been reported.
Chlorambucil should be discontinued promptly in patients who develop skin reactions.
Pregnancy Chlorambucil can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman.
Unilateral renal agenesis has been observed in 2 offspring whose mothers received chlorambucil during the first trimester.
Urogenital malformations, including absence of a kidney, were found in fetuses of rats given chlorambucil.
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus.
Women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant.
Adverse Reactions
ADVERSE REACTIONS To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Waylis Therapeutics LLC Toll-Free at 1-888-514-4727 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Hematologic The most common side effect is bone marrow suppression, anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, or pancytopenia.
Although bone marrow suppression frequently occurs, it is usually reversible if the chlorambucil is withdrawn early enough.
However, irreversible bone marrow failure has been reported.
Gastrointestinal Gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and oral ulceration occur infrequently.
CNS Tremors, muscular twitching, myoclonia, confusion, agitation, ataxia, flaccid paresis, and hallucinations have been reported as rare adverse experiences to chlorambucil which resolve upon discontinuation of drug.
Rare, focal and/or generalized seizures have been reported to occur in both children and adults at both therapeutic daily doses and pulse-dosing regimens, and in acute overdose (see PRECAUTIONS: General).
Dermatologic Allergic reactions such as urticaria and angioneurotic edema have been reported following initial or subsequent dosing.
Skin hypersensitivity (including rare reports of skin rash progressing to erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome) has been reported (see WARNINGS).
Miscellaneous Other reported adverse reactions include: pulmonary fibrosis, hepatotoxicity and jaundice, drug fever, peripheral neuropathy, interstitial pneumonia, sterile cystitis, infertility, leukemia, and secondary malignancies (see WARNINGS).
Hematologic The most common side effect is bone marrow suppression, anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, or pancytopenia.
Although bone marrow suppression frequently occurs, it is usually reversible if the chlorambucil is withdrawn early enough.
However, irreversible bone marrow failure has been reported.
Gastrointestinal Gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and oral ulceration occur infrequently.
CNS Tremors, muscular twitching, myoclonia, confusion, agitation, ataxia, flaccid paresis, and hallucinations have been reported as rare adverse experiences to chlorambucil which resolve upon discontinuation of drug.
Rare, focal and/or generalized seizures have been reported to occur in both children and adults at both therapeutic daily doses and pulse-dosing regimens, and in acute overdose (see PRECAUTIONS: General).
Dermatologic Allergic reactions such as urticaria and angioneurotic edema have been reported following initial or subsequent dosing.
Skin hypersensitivity (including rare reports of skin rash progressing to erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome) has been reported (see WARNINGS).
Miscellaneous Other reported adverse reactions include: pulmonary fibrosis, hepatotoxicity and jaundice, drug fever, peripheral neuropathy, interstitial pneumonia, sterile cystitis, infertility, leukemia, and secondary malignancies (see WARNINGS).