What is leucovorin used for?

Leucovorin is used to prevent harmful effects of methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall; cancer chemotherapy medication) when methotrexate is used to treat certain types of cancer. Leucovorin is also used to treat people who have accidentally received an overdose of methotrexate or similar medications.

Is leucovorin the same as folic acid?

Leucovorin is a compound similar to folic acid, which is a necessary vitamin. It has been around and in use for many decades. Leucovorin is a medication frequently used in combination with the chemotherapy drugs fluoruracil and methotrexate.

Is leucovorin an antidote?

Leucovorin is used as an antidote to the harmful effects of methotrexate (a cancer medicine) that is given in high doses. It is used also to prevent or treat certain kinds of anemia. Leucovorin acts the same way in the body as folic acid, which may be low in these patients.

Does leucovorin cross blood brain barrier?

Background: At sufficiently high doses, methotrexate (HDMTX) achieves substantial CNS penetration, whereas other tissues can be rescued from the effects of HDMTX by leucovorin rescue (LR), which does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier.

Why is leucovorin given with 5 Fu?

On the flip side of a chemoprotectant, this drug can also enhance certain chemotherapy drugs such as 5-FU when treating colorectal and head and neck cancers. If given alone, 5-FU only stays in the body for a short period of time; however, adding leucovorin improves the binding of 5-FU to an enzyme in cancer cells.

What does the name leucovorin mean?

leucovorin(Noun) A particular drug used in the treatment of cancer. U.S. National Library of Medicine(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition: Leucovorin The active metabolite of FOLIC ACID. Leucovorin is used principally as its calcium salt as an antidote to folic acid antagonists which block the conversion of folic acid to folinic acid.

Is leucovorin hazardous?

Many people using Leucovorin Calcium do not have serious side effects. Infrequent side effects of Leucovorin Calcium include: facial flushing, nausea, and. vomiting.

How does leucovorin work?

Leucovorin is in a class of medications called folic acid analogs. It works by protecting healthy cells from the effects of methotrexate or similar medications while allowing methotrexate to enter and kill cancer cells.