Chlorambucil can cause a decrease in the number of blood cells in your bone marrow. Your doctor will order laboratory tests before, during, and after your treatment to see if your blood cells are affected by this drug. Keep all appointments with the laboratory.
Chlorambucil may increase the risk that you will develop other cancers. Talk to your doctor about this risk.
Chlorambucil may interfere with the normal menstrual cycle (period) in women and may stop sperm production in men. Chlorambucil may cause permanent infertility (difficulty becoming pregnant); however, you should not assume that you cannot get pregnant, or that you cannot get someone else pregnant. Women who are pregnant should tell their doctors before they begin taking this drug. You should not plan to have children while receiving chemotherapy or for a while after treatments. (Talk to your doctor for further details.) Use a reliable method of birth control to prevent pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking chlorambucil, call your doctor immediately. Chlorambucil may harm the fetus.
Chlorambucil is used treat a certain type of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL; a type of cancer of the white blood cells). Chlorambucil is also used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin's disease (types of cancer that begin in certain white blood cells that normally fight infection). Chlorambucil is in a class of medications called alkylating agents. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in your body.
Chlorambucil comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day for 3 to 6 weeks, but sometimes may be taken intermittently, as a single dose once every 2 weeks, or as a single dose once a month. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of cancer you have. Take chlorambucil at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take chlorambucil exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Your doctor may adjust your dose of chlorambucil depending on your response to treatment and any side effects that you experience. Talk to your doctor about how you are feeling during your treatment. Do not stop taking chlorambucil without talking to your doctor.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
nausea
vomiting
sores in the mouth and throat
tiredness
missed menstrual periods (in girls and women)
skin rash
unusual bruising or bleeding
black, tarry stools
red urine
cough
sore throat
congestion
fever
difficulty breathing
seizures
yellowing of the skin or eyes
pain in the upper right part of the stomach
dark colored urine
frequent urination
unusual lumps or masses
Chlorambucil may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking 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].
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it in the refrigerator. 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.
Keep all appointments with your doctor.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
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.