Chlorambucil
Chlorambucil is a chemotherapy tablet used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and some lymphomas, sold here as Leukeran 2mg and 5mg tablets.
What chlorambucil is used for
Chlorambucil treats chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), a cancer of the white blood cells, and is also used for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease, which begin in the white cells that normally fight infection. It is an alkylating agent, part of a chemotherapy group that slows or stops cancer cells dividing. Smaller doses are occasionally given in conditions where the immune system is overactive, so it is not only a cancer medicine.
How chlorambucil works and how a course is taken
Inside a cell, chlorambucil latches onto DNA and ties the two strands together. A cell whose DNA is cross-linked in this way cannot copy itself, so it stops dividing and dies. Cancer cells divide fast and take the brunt, but the medicine travels through the whole body, and blood cells are made fast too: the bone marrow's output drops, which is why blood counts are checked before and during a course.
Tablets are swallowed with water. The usual pattern is one dose a day for three to six weeks, then a break; some schedules use a single dose every two weeks, or once a month. Taking it at a fixed point in the day makes the routine easier to hold to, and courses often run for months. A missed tablet can be taken later the same day. If the next dose is almost due by then, let the missed one go and carry on as usual; two tablets at once is not a way to catch up.
Side effects worth knowing about
Tiredness, nausea and vomiting, and sore patches in the mouth or throat are the usual complaints. Appetite can dip, and periods may stop. Blood counts fall, so infections, bruising, nosebleeds and bleeding gums turn up more easily, and low red cells leave you short of breath on effort. A fever, unusual bruising or bleeding, black tarry stools, blood in the urine, a rash, difficulty breathing or a seizure needs urgent treatment. Chlorambucil can also raise the risk of a second cancer later in life.
Leukeran 2mg and 5mg: what you can order
The shop's chlorambucil product is Leukeran, a tablet in 2mg and 5mg sold under both the Leukeran name and as plain Chlorambucil tablets. Same ingredient either way and the same two strengths; the strength is the choice you make when you order. It sits in the Oncology category with the rest of the cancer medicines. Tablets are the only form here — no capsules, liquids or injections.
Sources
- Chlorambucil: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / U.S. National Library of Medicine
- B. PACKAGE LEAFLET (Chlorambucil) — UK Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC)
Can I order Chlorambucil online in Hong Kong?
Chlorambucil can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The page lists generic Leukeran, also sold as Chlorambucil tablets, in 2mg and 5mg tablets. You can cancel within 24 hours if the order has not been dispatched, and support answers 24/7 in English and Cantonese.
How much does Chlorambucil cost?
It depends on the strength and pack size. The chlorambucil product listed here shows its current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Can I buy generic Leukeran in Hong Kong?
Yes, generic Leukeran is listed as 2mg and 5mg tablets and contains chlorambucil. It is also sold as the plain version, Chlorambucil tablets, in the same 2mg and 5mg. Both names are tablets with the same two strengths.
What are the other names for chlorambucil?
Leukeran is a brand name of chlorambucil. Here, chlorambucil can be bought online as generic Leukeran. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does chlorambucil take to work?
It is not a drug that works in hours. Treatment runs in cycles, usually a few weeks at a time, and blood counts taken during the course show how the leukaemia is responding. The number of cycles and the total length of treatment are set by that response.
Can chlorambucil affect fertility?
Yes. Periods often stop during treatment, and sperm production can stop in men. For some people the change is permanent afterwards. Chlorambucil can also harm an unborn baby, so pregnancy is avoided during a course.
Do I need a special diet with chlorambucil?
No. The tablets go down with water, with or without food, and a normal diet carries on. Nausea and vomiting are common, so small plain meals tend to sit better than large rich ones on the days the stomach is unsettled.
Can I have a vaccination while taking chlorambucil?
Live vaccines are not given during a course, because the immune system is suppressed and a live vaccine could cause an infection. Other medicines that lower blood counts, including some chemotherapy drugs, add to the effect chlorambucil already has on the bone marrow.