Your doctor has ordered the drug thioguanine to help treat your illness. The drug can be taken by mouth in tablet form.
leukemia
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Thioguanine belongs to a class of medications known as antimetabolites. It resembles a normal cell nutrient needed by cancer cells to grow. The cancer cells take up thioguanine, which then interferes with their growth.
headache
weakness or achiness
darkening of the skin
loss of appetite or weight
mouth blistering
fatigue
painful urination or red urine
black, tarry stools
diarrhea
stomach pain
unusual bruising or bleeding
shortness of breath
swelling of the feet and/or legs
cough
fever
sore throat
nausea and vomiting
yellowing of the skin or eyes
pain in the joints
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].
Keep thioguanine in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
Drink plenty of fluids and urinate frequently during your treatment.
The most common side effect of thioguanine is a decrease in the number of blood cells. Your doctor may order tests before, during, and after your treatment to see if your blood cells are affected by this medication.
Last Reviewed - 09/01/2010
AHFS® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2012. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.