💊 Medicine Name:
Calcium Folinate (also known as Leucovorin Calcium)
💉 Formulation:
Injection for IV/IM use
💪 Strength:
3 mg/mL
(Available in 5 mL, 10 mL, or 20 mL ampoules/vials)
📜 Description:
Calcium folinate is the reduced, active form of folic acid. It is used in oncology, toxicology, and nutritional deficiency cases. Unlike folic acid, it does not require conversion by dihydrofolate reductase, allowing it to bypass metabolic blocks.
🧾 Prescription:
Prescription-only (Rx)
Administered by healthcare professionals, mostly in hospital or clinical settings.
🎯 Indications / Uses:
- Rescue therapy after high-dose methotrexate treatment
- Enhancement of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) cytotoxicity in colorectal cancer
- Treatment of folate deficiency or megaloblastic anemia
- Methanol poisoning (as adjunct to folate therapy)
- Antidote to folic acid antagonists (e.g., trimethoprim, pyrimethamine)
📦 Packaging:
- Glass ampoules or vials
- 3 mg/mL strength (e.g., 5 mL = 15 mg, 10 mL = 30 mg)
- Supplied in cartons of 1, 5, or 10 ampoules
🧊 Storage:
- Store at 2–8°C (Refrigerated)
- Protect from light
- Do not freeze
👨⚕️ Patient Advice:
- You may need regular blood tests during treatment
- Inform your doctor about any allergies or kidney problems
- If used with chemotherapy, notify the care team of any mouth ulcers, diarrhea, or fever