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Calcium Folinate
This page contains brief details about the drug calcium folinate, it’s indication, dosage & administaration, mechanism of action, related brands with strength, warnings and common side effects.
Background and Date of Approval
Calcium Folinate is an anticancer drug that belongs to the category of medicines known as detoxifying agents. It was approved by the U.S FDA in 2002 to treat megaloblastic anaemia.
Mechanism of Action of Calcium Folinate
Folinic acid, also known as calcium folinate, is crucial for DNA production and the formation of red blood cells. It is particularly important when cells are rapidly dividing, such as in cancer cells or the normal cells of the bone marrow, as folic acid is essential for cell division. Calcium folinate works by enhancing the action of folic acid in the body. It is absorbed by cells through a specific transporter protein and converted into the active form of folic acid, which cells use to produce DNA and generate new cells. This drug is often administered after methotrexate treatment to help protect normal cells that need folate for growth.
AVAILABLE BRANDS
Calcium Folinate
Uses of Calcium Folinate
Calcium Folinate are the detoxifying agents used in the treatment Megaloblastic Anaemia, Overdose of Folic Acid Antagonists, and also reduce the toxicity of methotrexate.
Calcium Folinate Drug administaration and Dosage available
The medicine will be administered to you by a healthcare professional in a hospital setting. This injection will be given slowly into a vein (as an injection or infusion) or it may be injected into a muscle. Do not self-administer this medicine. The dose of the injection will be decided by your doctor based on your disease condition and other factors.
Warnings, Precautions and Side Effects of Calcium Folinate
Warnings
This drug is contraindicated in patients who have hypersensitivity reactions. This medicine may cause allergic reactions in some people. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include itching, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, and a rapid heartbeat. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. Excessive calcium folinate doses must be avoided since this might impair the antitumor activity of methotrexate, especially in CNS tumours where calcium folinate accumulates after repeated courses.
Precautions
There are no indications that folic acid induces harmful effects if administered during pregnancy and it is not known whether calcium folinate can cause foetal harm, when administered to pregnant women. Calcium folinate should be used during pregnancy only when clearly needed. During pregnancy, methotrexate should only be administered on strict indications, where the benefits of the drug to the mother should be weighed against possible hazards to the foetus. It is not known whether calcium folinate is excreted into human breast milk. Calcium folinate can be used during breast feeding when considered necessary according to the therapeutic indications.
Side Effects
The common side effects of Calcium Folinate are nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhoea, redness, swelling in palms of hands and soles of feet. Other serious side effects include reduced number of blood cells, inflammation in the lining of mouth and intestine, and severe allergic reactions. Inform your physician if you face any of the symptoms.
Word Of Advice
Special care is needed if you are elderly and you are about to receive any fluorouracil treatment and Calcium Folinate at the same time in case you undergo radiotherapy or stomach trouble. Please tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Frequently Asked Question
This drug is eliminated from the body primarily through the kidneys. Patients with impaired kidney function may need a lower dose or less frequent dosing of Calcium Folinate.
Yes, Calcium Folinate is used as an antidote to reduce the toxic effects of methotrexate, a chemotherapy drug that is used to treat certain types of cancer.
Calcium Folinate works by supplying the body with the necessary folate, which is required for the production of red blood cells, DNA synthesis, and other important cellular functions.
Calcium Folinate should not be given to patients who have had an allergic reaction to it or any of its components.
Calcium Folinate rescue is typically used in cancer treatment, particularly in the treatment of leukaemia and lymphoma. This involves administering Calcium Folinate to patients who are receiving high-dose methotrexate treatment. Calcium Folinate helps to reduce the toxic effects of methotrexate on healthy cells by providing a form of folic acid that can be used by the body to make new cells and DNA.
Disclaimer
The drug information on this page is different from medical advice. It is meant for educational purposes only. For further details, consult your doctor about your medical condition to know if you can receive this treatment.