Question 1

what are leucovorin injections used for?

Accepted Answer

Leucovorin injection: "Leucovorin calcium rescue is indicated after high-dose methotrexate therapy in osteosarcoma. Leucovorin calcium is also indicated to diminish the toxicity and counteract the effects of impaired methotrexate elimination and of inadvertent overdosages of folic acid antagonists.
Leucovorin calcium is indicated in the treatment of megaloblastic anemias due to folic acid deficiency when oral therapy &gt;

Question 2

who should not use leucovorin injections?

Accepted Answer

Leucovorin injection: "Leucovorin is improper therapy for pernicious anemia and other megaloblastic anemias secondary to the lack of vitamin B12. A hematologic remission may occur while neurologic manifestations continue to progress."  See:  http://www.drugs.com/pro/leucovorin-injection.html

Question 3

do you need a prescription for leucovorin injections?

Accepted Answer

Leucovorin: The injection is prescribed. See:  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a608038.html

Question 4

how effective are leucovorin injections for treating colon cancer?

Accepted Answer

Not anti tumor: Leukovorum is used as an adjuvant or modifier of single or combinations of chemotherapeutic agents. It helps to  prevent the toxic side effects of a number of chemotherapeutic agents including  methotrexate. It  also can be used to treat  anemia caused by a lack of folic acid. It is added to combination of drugs employed in the  supportive care of patients with colon cancer but does not have anticancer effects on diseases such as colon cancer, .

Question 5

should cytoxan, fludara, (fludarabine) leucovorin be taken together or only one of them at a time during chemotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Not a common combo: This is not a common combination of agents. What is being treated?

Question 6

what's folinic acid?

Accepted Answer

Leucovorin: Essentially a vitamin but a reduced form of folic acid.  Commonly used in combination with certain chemotherapy drugs when treating cancer.  In colon cancer it is used because the tumor is deficient in folinic acid so by replacing it, the chemo works better.  When using high dose methotrexate, you have to use this called leucovorin rescue, otherwise the side effects are terrible.

Question 7

i'm currently on my 7th cycle of chemo (mtx+folinic acid) for molar pregancy &my hcg readings are 790 >150 >16 > 8 >7.9> 5.5 > 8. what is my prognosis?

Accepted Answer

Good: Your doctor should have explained that levels less than 10 are considered negative, at most labs.

Question 8

my mom, 60, is on methotrex 10 mg per week and leflunomide 10 mg/day for her r.a. for  1 year. does she require folinic acid or is folate (folic acid) 5mg/day ok?

Accepted Answer

Folic acid ok!: She will do fine with the folic acid! 10mg of mtx is a low dose.  By the way, recent paper suggested that the drugs your mom takes very effective for ra. Just read it today!

Question 9

am i dying?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Yes, we are all in the process of dying, only the rate of change is unknown

Question 10

am i dying?

Accepted Answer

We all are: A 3-word question with no details... well, life is short on Earth, regardless of whether a person lives 3 days, 3000 days, or 30,000 days. It is not length of one's life that matters, but the quality of the life lived. The goal is not to live a long life, but to live a good life. Even if a person makes it all the way to age 82, that's only 30,000 days.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

Leucovorin

A member asked:

What are leucovorin injections used for?

A member asked:

Who should not use leucovorin injections?

A member asked:

Do you need a prescription for leucovorin injections?

A member asked:

How effective are leucovorin injections for treating colon cancer?

A member asked:

Should cytoxan, fludara, (fludarabine) leucovorin be taken together or only one of them at a time during chemotherapy?

A member asked:

What's folinic acid?

A member asked:

I'm currently on my 7th cycle of chemo (mtx+folinic acid) for molar pregancy &my hcg readings are 790 >150 >16 > 8 >7.9> 5.5 > 8. what is my prognosis?

A member asked:

My mom, 60, is on methotrex 10 mg per week and leflunomide 10 mg/day for her r.a. for 1 year. does she require folinic acid or is folate (folic acid) 5mg/day ok?

A member asked:

Am i dying?

A member asked:

Am i dying?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?