✅ Prescription (Indications):
6-Mercaptopurine 50 mg is prescribed for:
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) – maintenance therapy
- Sometimes used off-label for:
- Crohn’s disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Autoimmune hepatitis (in specific cases)
📄 Description:
- Generic Name: 6-Mercaptopurine
- Brand Names: Purinethol, Mercaptopurine, 6-MP
- Strength: 50 mg per tablet
- Formulation: Oral tablet
- Class: Antimetabolite (Purine analog)
- Mechanism of Action:
6-MP interferes with DNA and RNA synthesis by incorporating faulty purine nucleotides into nucleic acids, which inhibits the proliferation of rapidly dividing cells, especially cancerous lymphoblasts.
🌟 Advantages:
- Effective in long-term maintenance therapy for childhood and adult ALL
- Oral administration allows at-home treatment under supervision
- Can reduce dependence on corticosteroids in IBD treatment
- Often used with methotrexate or cyclophosphamide in protocols
⚗️ Nature of the Drug:
- Type: Antineoplastic / Immunosuppressant
- Prescription-only: Yes
- Bioavailability: Low (affected by food and first-pass metabolism)
- Half-life: ~1 hour (but active metabolites last longer)
📦 Common Packaging:
- Tablet strength: 50 mg
- Color/Shape: Usually pale yellow, round or oval (varies by brand)
- Packaging: Blister strips or HDPE bottles (usually 25, 30, or 100 tablets)
🧊 Storage:
- Store at 15–25°C (room temperature)
- Protect from moisture and light
- Store in the original container
- Keep out of reach of children
- Handle with care (cytotoxic precautions)
👨⚕️ Patient Advice:
Before Use:
- Inform your doctor if you have:
- Liver dysfunction or jaundice
- TPMT (thiopurine methyltransferase) deficiency – risk of severe toxicity
- Bone marrow suppression or infection
- Gout or taking allopurinol
During Use:
- Take at the same time every day, preferably on an empty stomach (1 hour before or 2 hours after food)
- Do not crush or chew the tablet
- Regular blood tests (CBC, liver function, etc.) are required
- Report any signs of:
- Fatigue, infection, bruising, bleeding
- Yellowing of skin/eyes
- Severe diarrhea or vomiting