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Purinethol or Purinethol or Mercaptopurine

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Purinethol or Mercaptopurine belongs to a group of drugs known as antimetabolites. It resembles a normal cell nutrient needed by cancer cells to grow. The cancer cells take up Purinethol or Mercaptopurine which then interferes with their growth.

Purinethol or Mercaptopurine also is used to treat many types of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, acute idiopathic polyneuritis, acute idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, psoriatic arthritis, erythroid aplasia, or myelofibrosis; idiopathic hemolytic anemia; macroglobulinemia; idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura; idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis; multiple sclerosis; myasthenia gravis; uveitis; and ulcerative colitis. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.

Before taking Purinethol or Mercaptopurine

tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Purinethol or Mercaptopurine or any other drugs.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially allopurinol (Zyloprim), anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin), aspirin, and vitamins.
you should know that Purinethol or Mercaptopurine may interfere with the normal menstrual cycle (period) in women and may stop sperm production in men. However, you should not assume that you cannot get pregnant or that you cannot get someone else pregnant. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding 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. Purinethol or Mercaptopurine may harm the fetus.
do not have any vaccinations (e.g., measles or flu shots) without talking to your doctor.

Side effects of Purinethol or Mercaptopurine

Side effects from Purinethol or Mercaptopurine are common and include:

headache
weakness or achiness
darkening of the skin
loss of appetite or weight

Tell your doctor if either of these symptoms is severe or lasts for several hours:

mouth blistering
fatigue

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

painful urination or red urine
black, tarry stools
diarrhea
pain in the abdomen
unusual bruising or bleeding
shortness of breath
swelling of the feet or legs
cough
fever
sore throat
nausea and vomiting
rash
yellowing of the skin or eyes
joint pain

Special instructions

Drink plenty of fluids. Drink about 10 eight-ounce glasses of fluid and urinate frequently during the first 24 hours after treatment to keep your kidneys working.
The most common side effect of Purinethol or Mercaptopurine 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 the drug.

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