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Treosulfan

Clinical author's note

Michael Stewart 24/08/2024: Treosulfan 250 mg capsules have been discontinued in the United Kingdom. At the time of review there are no branded or generic tablets or capsules containing treosulfan available in the UK. Treosulfan is still available as a solution for infusion, administered in hospital. The information in this leaflet may still be relevant if you are being treated with treosulfan infusions. Please read the information given to you by your hospital and refer to any manufacturer's information supplied with your medicine.

Treosulfan will be prescribed for you by a specialist doctor.

Please keep your regular appointments with your doctor or hospital. You will need to have frequent blood tests.

If you think you are getting an infection or if you have a high temperature, please see your doctor straightaway.

At a glance

  • Treosulfan is a chemotherapy medicine used to treat ovarian cancer.

  • It is given as an injection, but used to be available as capsules.

  • Treosulfan prevents cancer cells from multiplying.

  • You will need regular blood tests and check-ups during treatment.

  • Drink plenty of fluids to help prevent a serious type of cystitis.

  • If you develop a sore throat or a fever, contact your doctor straight away.

  • Do not get immunisations without talking to your specialist doctor first.

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About treosulfan

Type de médicament

Un médicament de chimiothérapie alkylant

Utilisé pour

Cancer of the ovaries

Disponible sous forme de

Capsules (discontinued) and injection

Treosulfan is used to treat cancer de l'ovaire in women. In cancer, certain cells in your body grow and multiply too fast. Chemotherapy medicines like treosulfan work by preventing cells from multiplying. This reduces the number of cancer cells made.

Treosulfan may be given alongside other medicines or treatments to help treat your condition.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking treosulfan it is important that your doctor knows:

  • Si vous êtes enceinte ou si vous allaitez.

  • Si vous avez une infection ou si vous ne vous sentez pas bien.

  • If you have a rare inherited blood condition called porphyria.

  • Si vous avez déjà eu une réaction allergique à un médicament.

  • Si vous prenez d'autres médicaments. Cela inclut tous les médicaments que vous prenez et qui sont disponibles à l'achat sans ordonnance, ainsi que les médicaments à base de plantes et les médecines complémentaires.

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  • Before you start this treatment, read any printed information you have been given by your doctor and the printed manufacturer's leaflet. These will give you more information about treosulfan and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from having treatment.

  • Treosulfan will be prescribed for you by a specialist doctor who is experienced in treating your condition.

  • While you are having treosulfan treatment, it is important that you drink plenty of fluid and that you pass urine frequently. Drinking lots of water and other fluids will help prevent a serious type of cystitis sometimes caused by this medicine.

  • You must try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor or hospital. This is so your doctor can check on your progress. You will need to have regular blood tests and check-ups during your treatment with treosulfan.

  • While you are having treosulfan and for six months after you have stopped the treatment, do not have any immunisations (vaccinations) without talking to your specialist doctor first. Treosulfan lowers your body's resistance and there is a risk that you will get an infection from some vaccines.

  • It is important that you do not get pregnant while you are having treosulfan. If appropriate, please discuss with your doctor which types of contraception are suitable for you and your partner.

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Medicines used to treat cancer can have a number of side-effects, some of which can be delayed for several days or weeks after taking the medicine. Most chemotherapy medicines can lower the number of white cells in your blood, which increases the risk of you getting an infection. While you are taking treosulfan you should take precautions to reduce the risk of getting an infection - you can do this by avoiding being with people who you know have an infection. If you think you are getting a sore throat or if you have a high temperature, please let your doctor know as soon as possible so that you can get some treatment straightaway.

Your doctor will discuss with you the possibility of unwanted side-effects from your treatment, although not everyone experiences these. The table below contains some of the side-effects associated with treosulfan. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. Please let your doctor know if you experience any of the following:

Very common treosulfan side-effects (these affect more than 1 in 10 women)

Que puis-je faire si je ressens cela ?

Une température élevée (fièvre), ou des symptômes d'une infection

Informez votre médecin de cela immédiatement

Se sentir malade (nausée) ou être malade (vomissements)

Stick to simple meals - avoid rich or spicy food. If this becomes troublesome, let your doctor know, as you can be prescribed an anti-sickness medicine

Some loss of hair; a bronze skin colouration

Discuss these with your doctor if you are concerned

Rare treosulfan side-effects

Que puis-je faire si je ressens cela ?

A burning feeling as you pass urine, blood in your urine

Continue to drink plenty of water and try to pass urine frequently. If you notice blood in your urine, please let your doctor know straightaway

Feeling short of breath

Let your doctor know about this straightaway. It could be a sign of a rare but serious lung condition

Si vous ressentez d'autres symptômes que vous pensez être dus aux capsules, veuillez consulter votre médecin ou votre pharmacien pour obtenir des conseils supplémentaires.

  • Gardez tous les médicaments hors de la portée et de la vue des enfants.

  • Conserver dans un endroit frais et sec, à l'abri de la chaleur et de la lumière directes.

Informations importantes sur tous les médicaments

Ne prenez jamais plus que la dose prescrite. Si vous soupçonnez que vous ou quelqu'un d'autre avez pris une surdose de ce médicament, rendez-vous au service des urgences de votre hôpital local. Emportez le contenant avec vous, même s'il est vide.

Ce médicament est pour vous. Ne le donnez jamais à d'autres personnes, même si leur état semble être le même que le vôtre.

Si vous subissez une opération ou un traitement dentaire, informez la personne qui effectue le traitement des médicaments que vous prenez.

If you buy any medicines, always check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take with your prescribed medicines.

Ne gardez pas de médicaments périmés ou indésirables. Apportez-les à votre pharmacie locale qui s'en débarrassera pour vous.

Si vous avez des questions concernant ce médicament, demandez à votre pharmacien.

Signaler les effets secondaires d'un médicament ou d'un vaccin

Si vous ressentez des effets secondaires, vous pouvez les signaler en ligne via le Yellow Card website.

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Questions fréquemment posées

What is treosulfan typically used for in cancer treatment?

Treosulfan is specifically used to treat ovarian cancer in women. It is a chemotherapy medicine that tackles cancer by stopping cells from multiplying too fast, which helps to reduce the number of cancer cells being produced.

Are there any specific activities I should avoid while taking treosulfan?

Yes, while on treosulfan and for six months after stopping the treatment, you should avoid having any immunisations without first speaking to your specialist doctor. This is because treosulfan lowers your body's resistance and increases the risk of infection from some vaccines. Additionally, it's crucial to avoid becoming pregnant during treatment.

What should I do if I experience a high temperature or symptoms of infection while on treosulfan?

If you develop a high temperature, experience symptoms of an infection, or think you are getting a sore throat, you should let your doctor know straightaway. Treosulfan can lower your white blood cell count, increasing your risk of infection, so prompt medical attention is important.

How can I manage feeling sick or vomiting due to treosulfan?

If you experience feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting), try to stick to simple meals and avoid rich or spicy food. If these symptoms become troublesome, inform your doctor, as they may be able to prescribe anti-sickness medicine to help.

What should I do if I notice a burning sensation or blood in my urine?

If you experience a burning feeling when you pass urine or notice blood in your urine, continue to drink plenty of water and try to pass urine frequently. You should also let your doctor know about these symptoms straightaway, especially if you see blood in your urine.

Why is it important to drink plenty of fluids while on treosulfan treatment?

Drinking plenty of fluids and passing urine frequently is very important while you are having treosulfan treatment. This helps to prevent a serious type of cystitis, which can sometimes be caused by this medicine.

Do I need to worry about hair loss or changes in skin colour with treosulfan?

Some loss of hair and a bronze skin colouration are listed as very common side-effects of treosulfan. If these are a concern for you, you should discuss them with your doctor.

Lectures complémentaires et références

Continuez à lire ci-dessous

About the authorView full bio

Author image

Michael Stewart, MRPharmS

Medicine Leaflet Review Manager – Contractor, Pharmacist

BPharm (Hons), MRPharmS

Michael is a community pharmacist practicing in the Midlands and South Yorkshire with more than 20 years’ experience advising on medicines and medical conditions. He has a strong background in healthcare training, having produced and delivered training courses for pharmacy teams and staff of residential care settings, including nurses. He has also contributed to pharmacy advisory boards for the management of low acuity conditions in the community.

About the reviewer

Author image

Sid Dajani

Sultan Dajani qualified at the London School of Pharmacy in 1994 and became the youngest elected member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society council since its founding in 1842.

Historique de l'article

Les informations sur cette page sont rédigées et examinées par des cliniciens qualifiés.

  • Prochaine révision prévue : 25 août 2027
  • 23 août 2024 | Dernière version

    Dernière mise à jour par

    Michael Stewart, MRPharmS

    Revu par

    Sid Dajani
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