Leevarin 15mg Tablet contains the active substance Leucovorin calcium which is chemically related to a vitamin called folic acid. Methotrexate (a medicine used to treat cancer and other diseases) can lower your body’s levels of folic acid. This medicine is used to reverse the effects caused by methotrexate and help to maintain folic acid levels. This is also known as leucovorin rescue. It is also used to treat a form of anemia (megaloblastic) that results from decreased levels of folic acid.
Do not take Leevarin 15mg Tablet if you are allergic to Leucovorin calcium or any other ingredients of this medicine if you have certain types of anemia (pernicious anemia or megaloblastic anemia) where vitamin B12 is deficient. Before initiating the treatment, inform your physician if you have anemia, kidney, heart, or liver problems. Notify your physician if you face any symptoms of wheezing or trouble breathing, skin rash, itching or hives, or swelling in the lips, face, or tongue.
Uses of Leevarin 15mg Tablet
Therapeutic Effects of Leevarin 15mg Tablet
Methotrexate is a folate antagonist that inhibits the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase in cells. Leevarin 15mg Tablet is a folate derivative that does not require reduction by the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase before being used in DNA synthesis. Leucovorin, in contrast, can increase the therapeutic effect and toxicity of 5 fluoropyrimidines, such as 5-fluorouracil, by increasing the drug's binding. It protects healthy cells from the effects of methotrexate or similar medications.
Interaction of Leevarin 15mg Tablet with other drugs
Inform your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, nutritional and vitamin supplements, and herbal products. Certain medications may interact with the effects of Leevarin 15mg Tablet and reduce its effectiveness by causing undesirable side effects.
More Information about Leevarin 15mg Tablet
How to consume Leevarin 15mg Tablet
Your doctor will decide the dose and duration of the treatment based on your disease condition, severity, and other factors. Take the tablets as prescribed by your doctor. Do not break, crush, or chew the tablets. Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. It is important to take your medicine at the same time every day.
Safety Advices for Leevarin 15mg Tablet
Pregnancy
There is a limited number of studies on the safety of Leevarin 15mg Tablet during pregnancy, and it is unknown whether the medicine can be given during pregnancy. Inform your physician if you are pregnant, suspect pregnancy, or planning to become pregnant.
Breast Feeding
Limited information is available on Leevarin 15mg Tablet safety during breastfeeding. Inform your physician if you are planning to breastfeed.
Lungs
It is unknown whether Leevarin 15mg Tablet can be used in patients with lung disorders. Consult your doctor if you have any lung diseases before starting the treatment.
Liver
It is unknown whether Leevarin 15mg Tablet can be used in patients with liver disorders. Consult your doctor if you have any liver diseases before starting the treatment.
Alcohol
It is unknown whether it is safe to consume alcohol when taking Leevarin 15mg Tablet. Consult your doctor for more advice.
Driving
It does not affect the ability to drive or operate heavy machinery after taking Leevarin 15mg Tablet because you may feel dizzy, drowsy, or get blurred vision.
Side Effects of Leevarin 15mg Tablet
Side effects are unwanted symptoms caused by medicines. Even though all drugs cause side effects, not everyone gets them.
Common
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Inflammmed and sore mouth
- Tiredness
Serious
- Allergic reactions
Word of Advice
If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking these medicinal products. If you accidentally take too much Leevarin 15mg Tablet, contact your doctor and seek medical advice immediately. Do not stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you to. Your doctor will regularly do lab tests to check the effectiveness of the medicine.
FAQs
Q 1. Why is Leevarin 15mg Tablet given 24 hours after methotrexate?
Leevarin 15mg Tablet is usually administered 24 hours after methotrexate so that it does not interfere with the therapeutic effect of methotrexate. It can also be used in methotrexate overdose; it should be administered as soon as possible.
Q 2. Can Leevarin 15mg Tablet cause swelling?
Leevarin 15mg Tablet may cause allergic reactions like rash, low blood pressure, wheezing, shortness of breath, and swelling of the face or throat.
Q 3. Can Leevarin 15mg Tablet cause seizures?
There is no evidence that Leevarin 15mg Tablet cause seizures. But the medicine can affect the effect of seizure medication when administered concurrently. Inform your physician about all the medicines that you are taking, including over-the-counter medications.
Q 4. How long does it take for Leevarin 15mg Tablet to work?
Leevarin 15mg Tablet starts acting on the body within 20-30 minutes of oral intake. However, this might vary with respect to dosage, the patient receiving the drug, and response to treatment.
Q 5. What measures should be taken to ensure the prompt excretion of methotrexate during treatment with Leevarin 15mg Tablet?
A healthcare professional will monitor you during the treatment with this medicine. Maintenance of urine output above 2,500 mL/24hr in adults by increasing oral or intravenous fluids 12 hours before and for 36 hours after the end of methotrexate infusion. To monitor the alkalinization of urine (this enhances drug excretion) so that the urinary pH is greater than 7.0 before methotrexate infusion. Foods, drinks, and drugs that may increase urinary acidity should be avoided during the therapy. Finally, blood methotrexate concentration should be measured at least 24, 48, and 72 hours after the initiation of the methotrexate infusion.
Fact Box of Leevarin 15mg Tablet
Molecule name: Leucovorin Calcium | Therapeutic class: 1. Antineoplastics 2. Antidote 3. Rescue agents |
Pharmacological class: Folic acid analogs | Indications: 1. Methotrexate overdose and toxicity 2. Diminish the counter effects of methotrexate 3. Megaloblastic anemia |