Busulfan injection can cause a severe decrease in the number of blood cells in your bone marrow. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the medications you are taking. If you receive busulfan with other medications that may cause a low blood count, the side effects of the medications may be more severe. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: fever, sore throat, ongoing cough and congestion, or other signs of infection; unusual bleeding or bruising.
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.
Busulfan may increase the risk that you will develop other cancers. Talk to your doctor about the risks of receiving busulfan.
Busulfan injection is used to treat a certain type of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML; a type of cancer of the white blood cells) in combination with other medications to destroy bone marrow and cancer cells in preparation for a bone marrow transplant. Busulfan is in a class of medications called alkylating agents. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in your body.
Busulfan comes as a solution (liquid) to be given intravenously (into a vein) over 2 hours by a doctor or nurse in a medical facility. It is usually given every 6 hours for 4 days (for a total of 16 doses) before bone marrow transplant.
Busulfan injection may cause seizures during therapy with the medication. Your doctor will give you another medication to help prevent seizures before and during therapy with busulfan injection.
Busulfan injection is also used in combination with other drugs to destroy the bone marrow and cancer cells in preparation for a bone marrow transplant in people with other types of cancer.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
nausea
diarrhea
loss of appetite
weight loss
constipation
sores in the mouth and throat
dry mouth
headache
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
feeling unusually anxious or worried
dizziness
swelling of the face, arms, hands, feet, ankles or lower legs
chest pain
joint, muscle or back pain
rash
itching and dry skin
darkened skin
hair loss
black, tarry stools
red urine
vomiting
stomach pain
unusual tiredness or weakness
difficulty breathing
seizures
Busulfan may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while receiving this medication.
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].
This medication will be stored in the hospital or medical facility where you receive each dose
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.
black, tarry stools
red urine
unusual bruising or bleeding
unusual tiredness or weakness
Keep all appointments with your doctor.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Last Revised - 07/15/2011
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.