Unifolin 50mg Injection
Active substance: Leucovorin calcium (chemically related to folic acid).
Class: Folic acid analogs.
Uses:
- Methotrexate overdose and toxicity.
- Preventing the harmful effects of methotrexate or similar medications.
- Treatment of colorectal cancer (cancer that begins in the colon or rectum).
- Treatment of anemia caused by low levels of folic acid in the body.
Contraindications:
- Do not take if you are allergic to Leucovorin calcium, calcium folinate, or any other ingredients of this medicine.
- Do not take if you have certain types of anemia (pernicious anemia or megaloblastic anemia) where vitamin B12 is deficient.
- Consult your physician if you have anemia, kidney, heart, or liver problems.
- Inform your physician if you are using any medications for treating seizures.
Warnings:
- 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.
- Store Unifolin 50mg Injection in a refrigerator at 2° to 8°C.
- Keep the injection away from the reach of children and pets.
- If you forgot your dosing schedule, inform your healthcare professional immediately and reschedule the dosing.
Administration:
- A trained physician or nurse in cancer chemotherapy will administer the drug to you.
- The dose and duration of the treatment will be decided by your doctor based on your disease condition, severity, and other factors.
- The medicine is administered either intravenously (into your vein) or intramuscularly (into your muscle) based on your disease condition.
Safety advices:
- Pregnancy: Inform your physician if you are pregnant, suspect pregnancy, or planning to become pregnant.
- Breast feeding: Inform your physician if you are planning to breastfeed.
- Lungs: Consult your doctor if you have any lung diseases before starting the treatment.
- Liver: Consult your doctor if you have any liver diseases before starting the treatment.
- Alcohol: Consult your doctor for more advice.
- Driving: It does not affect the ability to drive or operate heavy machinery after taking Unifolin 50mg Injection.
Side effects:
- Common: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, inflamed and sore mouth, tiredness.
- Serious: allergic reactions.
FAQ:
Q 1. Why is Unifolin 50mg Injection given 24 hours after methotrexate? Unifolin 50mg Injection 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 Unifolin 50mg Injection cause swelling? Unifolin 50mg Injection may cause allergic reactions like rash, low blood pressure, wheezing, shortness of breath, and swelling of the face or throat.
Q 3. Can Unifolin 50mg Injection cause seizures? There is no evidence that Unifolin 50mg Injection causes seizures. But the medicine can affect the effect of seizure medication when administered concurrently. Inform your physician about all your medicines, including over-the-counter medications.
Q 4. How long does it take for Unifolin 50mg Injection to work? Unifolin 50mg Injection starts acting on the body within 5 minutes of administration. 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 Unifolin 50mg Injection? 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.