Leucovorin

  • Brand Name : Leucovorin
  • Drug Class : Antidotes, Other, Rescue Agents Chemotherapy
  • Medical Author : Sarfaroj Khan, BHMS, PGD Health Operations
  • Medical Reviewer :
  • _eael_post_view_count : 13

What Is Leucovorin and How Does It Work?

Leucovorin is a prescription medication used to treat Methotrexate Overdose, High Dose Methotrexate Rescue, Megaloblastic Anemia Due to Folate Deficiency, Advanced Colorectal Carcinoma (with 5FU), Methanol Poisoning, and Trimethoprim Toxicity.

  • Leucovorin is available under different brand names.

What Are Dosages of Leucovorin?

Adult and pediatric dosage

Tablets

  • 5mg
  • 10mg
  • 15mg
  • 25mg

Injection, powder for reconstitution

  • 50mg
  • 100mg
  • 200mg
  • 350mg
  • 500mg

Injectable solution

  • 10mg/mL

Methotrexate Overdose

Adult and pediatric dosage

  • Administer as soon as possible and within 24 hours methotrexate level is greater than 10-6 M or 48 hours level is over 9×10-7 M, the dose of leucovorin should be increased to 100 mg/m2 IV every 3 hours until methotrexate level is less than 10-8 M. 

High Dose Methotrexate Rescue

Adult and pediatric dosage

  • 10 mg/m2 IV every 6 hours for 10 doses; starts 24 hours after beginning of methotrexate infusion. 
  • May give orally after 1st IV dose

Megaloblastic Anemia Due to Folate Deficiency 

Adult and pediatric dosage

  • Up to 1 mg daily; there is no evidence that doses greater than 1 mg/day have greater efficacy than those of 1 mg; additionally, loss of folate in urine becomes roughly logarithmic as the amount administered exceeds 1 mg

Advanced Colorectal Carcinoma (with 5FU)

Adult dosage

  • Recommended 20 mg/m2 IV followed by 425 mg/m2 fluorouracil
  • Dose reduction treatment pause may be necessary based on hematologic toxicity 

Methanol Poisoning

Adult dosage

  • 1 mg/kg (50-70 mg adults) IV every 4-6 hours

Trimethoprim Toxicity

Adult and pediatric dosage

  • 10 mg/m2 orally every 6 hours

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

  • See “Dosages.”

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