Download Mercaptopurine

Drug – Mercaptopurine
Office for Human Research Studies
DANA-FARBER / HARVARD CANCER CENTER
Mercaptopurine
FDA Approved
Risks Associated with Mercaptopurine
Frequent (Between a 10-50% chance that this will happen)
 Loss of appetite and weight loss
 Skin irritation, rash
 Feeling tired, tiredness, weakness.
 Liver damage which can cause fatigue, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and
eyes). Although this is usually mild and reversible, this can be serious or life
threatening and may require hospitalization and surgery.
Occasional (Between a 1-10% chance that this will happen)
 Condition in which the number of white blood cells circulating in the blood is
abnormally low. This increases the risk of infection, which may be serious or life
threatening.
 Low number of red blood cells that can causes tiredness and shortness of
breath. May require a blood transfusion.
 Low number of platelets, which may cause bleeding and bruising. Bleeding may
be serious or life threatening and may required a blood transfusion.
 Pain
 High body temperature, a fever
Rare (Less than a 1% chance that this will happen)
 Inflammation of the lungs, which can cause shortness of breath and difficulty
breathing. If severe, this can be life threatening.
 Inflammation of the pancreas causing pain in the upper abdomen. This could
become severe and cause nausea and vomiting, fever and rapid heart rate. This
could require hospitalization and may be life threatening.
 A second cancer related to the treatment of your first cancers. This usually
occurs years after treatment for the first cancer.
CF Builder Generated Version: 05.27.2016
DFCI IRB Approved Version: 05.20.2016