Leucovorin Calcium for Injection

What is Leucovorin Calcium for Injection?
Leucovorin Calcium for Injection is a folate analog and a reduced form of folic acid. While it is not a chemotherapy drug itself, it is an essential "rescue" agent used in oncology. It works by protecting healthy cells from the toxic effects of certain anticancer drugs or by enhancing the effectiveness of others. Because it does not require the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase to be converted into its active form, it is highly effective even when that enzyme is inhibited by medication.
Uses of Leucovorin Calcium for Injection
Methotrexate Rescue: To prevent or "rescue" the body from severe toxicity following high-dose Methotrexate therapy in osteosarcoma.
Colorectal Cancer: Used in combination with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) to enhance the drug's effectiveness in treating advanced colorectal cancer.
Megaloblastic Anemia: Treatment of folate-deficiency anemia when oral folic acid is not an option.
Folate Antagonist Overdose: Emergency treatment for accidental overdosage of folic acid antagonists (like trimethoprim or pyrimethamine).
Advanced Gastric Cancer: Part of combination chemotherapy regimens to improve patient outcomes.
How Does Leucovorin Calcium for Injection Work?
Leucovorin works in two distinct ways depending on the partner drug. In Methotrexate therapy, it provides a source of reduced folate that bypasses the metabolic block created by the chemo, allowing healthy cells to continue DNA synthesis ("Leucovorin Rescue"). In 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) therapy, Leucovorin binds with the enzyme thymidylate synthase and 5-FU, creating a stable complex that shuts down DNA production in cancer cells more effectively, thereby enhancing the "killing power" of the chemo.
FAQs on Leucovorin Calcium for Injection
1. Is Leucovorin Calcium a type of chemotherapy? No. It is often called a "biomodulator" or "chemoprotectant." It is used alongside chemotherapy to either protect the body from side effects (with Methotrexate) or to make the chemotherapy work better (with 5-Fluorouracil).
2. Why is timing critical for "Leucovorin Rescue"? When used after Methotrexate, the timing is vital. If given too early, it may protect the cancer cells; if given too late, it may not be able to prevent permanent damage to the patient’s healthy cells, such as bone marrow or the digestive tract.
3. Can it be administered with other drugs in the same IV line? Leucovorin should not be mixed in the same infusion bag with 5-Fluorouracil because a precipitate may form. It is also incompatible with certain other drugs like Droperidol. Always flush the IV line between different medications.
Therapeutic Category
Others (Cytotoxic Protector / Antineoplastic Adjunct)
Looking for a reliable Leucovorin Calcium for Injection manufacturer? Contact Farbe Firma Pvt. Ltd. for dossier support, registration assistance, and export supplies. We provide high-purity oncology adjuncts and sterile injectables compliant with international quality standards.